Investigation of Using Physical Optical Reflectivity Probes in Evaluating and Monitoring Powder Mixtures of Sugar and Slag

Abstract

A preliminary investigation of some factors which can affect the reflected light intensity from granular and icing sugar has been carried out using an end viewing hemispherical tip probe. It is found that the reflectance is strongly dependent on the size range of the sugar particles, with the finer particles being more reflective. This property could be very useful in monitoring segregation in mixtures of mono-colored powders having different size distributions. Force applied to the probe will also affect the intensity readings. A layered mixture of sugar and slag powder was used to compare the sampling performance of the above probe with a side viewing wedge tip probe. Calibration curves for reflected light intensity versus percent slag concentration are obtained for two types of slag.