Ultrasonic spectrometry has potential for monitoring chemical processes on line; an important application is the detection of the suspended particle size distribution (PSD) in emulsions. Measured ultrasonic wave attenuation as a function of frequency is compared to the predictions of an adaptive wave propagation model to obtain an estimate of the PSD. Current models are based either on scattering physics, heat transfer, or hydrodynamics, or on a combination of these. Most models give good prediction of attenuation for dilute and semi-dilute systems, but they are known to break down at high dispersed phase concentrations and for very small (10s of nm) particles. The limits of applicability are not known in a formal sense. The principal aim and contribution to knowledge of this research is to formally determine the limits of existing theory and to set out which model or models are appropriate for use with emulsions with large or very small particles (nano-emulsion), and at small and large concentrations of dispersed phase. The second aim is to answer the same question for the case of encapsulated emulsions in which the droplets are encapsulated in a thin polymer shell. The project combines computational methods based on analytic theories of wave propagation with a comprehensive experimental programme.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:444610 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Chen, Yinghui |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11701/ |
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