Fundamentals

★ Particle Size Distribution

★ Specific Surface Area
★ Distribution Function
★ Grade Efficiency Curve
HST: The Majestic
Sombrero Galaxy
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Fundamentals / 1E
 Fundamentals of Particle Size Analysis
★ Introduction ★ Specific surface area
✰ Definition
★ Particle size distribution
✰ Evaluation from PSD
✰ Physical particle properties
✰ Blaine principle
✰ Types of quantity
✰ Measures of quantity ★ Distribution functions
✰ Equivalent diameters ✰ RRSB distribution
✰ PSA methods ✰ RRSB distribution grid

★ Graphic presentation of PSD ★ Grade efficiency curve

✰ Cumulative distribution Qr(x) ✰ Definition
✰ Density (differential) distribution ✰ Tromp curve
qr(x) ✰ Characterisation of a separation

★ References

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Fundamentals / 2E
 Introduction [3]
★ Particle size analysis comprises the measurement and the quantitative
description of physical properties of particulate matter
★ Particulate or disperse systems consist of a finely divided particulate phase in a
continuous carrier or dispersion medium
★ Particulate phase and dispersion medium may be solid, liquid or gaseous
★ Particle size analysis predominantly investigates such systems as suspensions,
emulsions, aerosols (sprays) and aero-dispersions (dry powders)
★ In PSA every possible physical principle has been used to determine the particle
size distribution
✰ Only very few have reached an important position in industrial application, e.g.:

Sieving

Sedimentation

Laser diffraction

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Fundamentals / 3E
 Particle Size Distribution [3]
The distribution will be generated by single particles of dispersed materials.
These particles can be classified according their size.
The distribution is characterised by a quantity, e.g. the number or the mass
of particles present in individual size classes.
Physical particle properties used in PSA are:
★ Geometric properties
✰ Linear dimension
✰ Surface area, projected area
✰ Volume
★ Mass
★ Settling velocity
★ Distortion of electrical, optical, acoustic field

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Fundamentals / 4E
 The types of quantity used in PSA are defined as follows:
Quantity type Index r
Number 0
Length 1
Area, surface 2
Volume 3
mass 3 (if ρs = const.)

Measures of quantity used in PSA are:

★ Cumulative distribution Qr
★ Density or differential distribution qr
Equivalent diameters are diameters of spheres that yield the same value of a
certain physical property when analysed under the same conditions as the
irregularly shaped particles

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Fundamentals / 5E
 PSA methods related to physical properties and quantity types, e.g.:
Method Particle property Quantity type
Sieve analysis linear dimension mass
Sedimentation settling velocity mass
Coulter counter volume number
Laser diffraction distortion of optical field area

Graphic Presentation of PSD [4]

In a two dimensional graphic presentation of PSA data, the independent
variable, plotted on the abscissa, describes the physical property chosen to
characterise the size of the particles.
The dependent variable characterises type of quantity and measure of
quantity and is plotted on the ordinate (refer to ISO 9276-1).

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Fundamentals / 6E
 1

Qr
Qr(x)

0.5
∆Qr(x1,x2)
Qr(x2)

Qr(x1)
[length]
0
xmin x1 x2 x50 x xmax

Cumulative distribution
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Fundamentals / 7E
 qr [length]-1

qr(x)

qr(x)
∆Qr(x1,x2)=qr(x)⋅∆x

[length]
xmin x xmax

Density of differential distribution

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Fundamentals / 8E
 The shaded area in the density or differential distribution curve
dQr (x) = qr (x) dx

represents the quantity of particles dQr (x) between x and x + ∆x.

The area below the density distribution curve qr (x) always equals ONE
(condition of normalisation) !

xmax

⌠
 qr (x) dx = Qr (xmax) - Qr (xmin) = 1
⌡
xmin

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Fundamentals / 9E
 Specific Surface Area [5]
Definition:
Volume related specific surface

SV = S/V [ m2 / cm3 ]

Mass related specific surface

Sm = S/m [ cm2 / g ]

Sm = SV / ρs

ρs = density of solid

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Fundamentals / 10E
 Evaluation from Particle Size Distribution
Definition of momentum:
xmax k = exponent k of equivalent diameter x
⌠ r = quantity measure of q
Mk,r= xk . qr (x) dx k = ... -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 ...
⌡ r = 0, 1, 2, 3
xmin

M 2.0
SV = 6 ⋅ f ⋅ = 6 ⋅ f ⋅ M -1.3
M 3.0
x max
1
SV = 6 ⋅ f ⋅ ∫
x min
x
⋅ q 3 (x)dx

f = Heywood shape factor

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Fundamentals / 11E
 Blaine Principle: (DIN 66127)
3
SV = Volume related specific surface
ε τ K = Instrument constant
SV 2 = K ⋅ 2 [ m2 / cm3 ]
(1 − ε ) η ε = void ratio, permeability, porosity
τ = time
η = dynamic viscosity

k = Kozeny constant
2 g ρM D g = Gravity constant
K= ⋅ ⋅ 
k L In (ξ1 / ξ 2)  d  L = Height of bulk package
ρM = Density of manometer liquid
D = Diameter of package
d = Diameter of capillary
ln (ξ1/ξ2) = Height of manometer liquid
between position 1 and 2

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Fundamentals / 12E
 Principle of Blaine instrument
ν filter paper
D powder package
L
filter paper
punched disk
d
1 ξ
reference marks

2
reference line

manometer liquid

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Fundamentals / 13E
 Distribution Functions
RRSB distribution (DIN 66145)
(Rosin, Rammler, Sperling, Bennet)

R(x) = 1 - Q3(x) = exp (- (x/x’) n)

Two parameter function:

x’ = Position parameter
n = Scatter parameter

x’ : R3(x’) = e-1 = 0,368

Q3(x’) = 0,632

n : Slope of straight line in RRSB grid

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Fundamentals / 14E
 RRSB distribution grid refer to DIN 66145
S v d’lf 7,6 8 9 10 11 12 15 20 30 40
50
n 15 10 5 4 3 2,5 2 1,5 1,4 1,3 1,2 1,1 1,0
60
0,999 0,9
0,995
0,99
100
0,95 0,8
0,90
0,80
200
0,70
0,632
0,60 0,7 300
0,50
500
0,40
Verteilungssumme Q 3 Durchgang D

0,30 0,6 1000

0,20
5000
0,5 10 4
0,10

0,05 0,4

0,02 0,3

0,01
0,2
0,005

0,1
0,002

0,001 0
10 2 5 2 5 3 5 4 55 7 10 2 5 2 5 3 5 4 55 7 10 2 5 2 5 3 5 4 55 7 10 2 5 2 5 3 5 4 55 7 10

Pol Äquivalentdurchmesser x

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Fundamentals / 15E
 Grade Efficiency Curve T(x) [3]
Definition
The grade efficiency curve T(x) (Tromp Curve) describes the efficiency of a classification or a
separation process.
T(x) represents the ratio of the relative amount of material of certain size present in the coarse
material (oversize, reject) (C.qc(x)dx), to the relative amount of the same size initially present
in the feed material (qF(x)dx).

C ⋅ q C (x)
T(x) =
q F (x)

C = relative amount of coarse material

MC M'C
C= =
MF M'F

MF, M’F = amount mass flow rate of feed material

MC, M’C = amount mass flow rate of coarse material
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Fundamentals / 16E
 Measures for sharpness of cut
Ecat Terra: ET = (x75 – x25)/2
Imperfection: I = (x75 – x25)/2 · x50

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Fundamentals / 17E
 Grade Efficiency
Curve T(x)

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Fundamentals / 18E
 References
[1] Particle Technology [4] Representation of Results of Particle
(Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik) Size Analysis
Hans Rumpf ISO 9276-1: Graphical representation
CHAPMAN and HALL, 1990 ISO 9276-2: calculation of average
ISBN 0-412-35230-3 particle size

[2] Particle Size Measurement [5] Darstellung und Auswertung von

Terence Allen Partikelgrößenmessungen
CHAPMANN and HALL, 4th edition DIN 66141 – 66145
ISBN 0-412-35070-X
[6] Perry Chemical Engineer’s
[3] Representation and Evaluation Handbook; 8th ed.
of Particle Size Analysis Data Robert H. Perry
Kurt Leschonski Chapter Particle Sizing
Particle Characterisation 1 Dr. Wolfgang Witt
(1984), 89 – 95

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Fundamentals / 19E