Particle Sizing Using a Two-Dimensional Image

Particle size data is available from the scattered light pattern collected by a still camera in a typical particle image velocimetry(PIV) experiment. While most PIV experiments are primarily interested in fluid velocities for a seeded flow, in a fuel spray the spray droplets may be used as the scattering particles in dilute areas of the spray. Conventional PIV processing can provide a local average particle velocity in the plane of illumination. In addition, analysis of the scattering signature of the ensemble of particles in a small area of the PIV photograph can provide an average particle size.

Examples of the proposed experimental technique will be given, as well as a suitable inversion scheme for obtaining particle size distributions from the diffraction pattern using an integral inversion.