SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT AND DISPLAY OF 3-D SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF PARTICULATE MATERIALS IN SUSPENSIONS

摘要

An apparatus (10) and method in which a still image, or still images, are obtained of a plurality of particles suspended in a fluid medium. Each still image is transferred to an image analyzing unit (20) that measures a set of dimensional characteristics per particle for particles appearing in the image and determine an occurrence characteristic for particles having a matching set of dimensional characteristics. Preferably, a three dimensional representation of the characteristics is displayed in real time. More preferably, the displayed three-dimensional representation is continuously updated and further entries are accumulated on the display as image analysis is performed. The display provides information to a viewer enabling the viewer to determine a shape distribution of the particles within the suspension even when multiple particle shapes are present.