ARTICLE IN PRESS

Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305

www.elsevier.com/locate/optlastec

Measurement of mass flow rate of particulate solids in

gravity chute conveyor based on laser sensing array
Yingna Zhenga,b,, Yang Lib, Qiang Liuc,b
a
School of Engineering, Science & Design, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA,UK
b
School of Information Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510643, PR China
c
School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Nottingham University, NG7 2RD, UK
Received 12 January 2005; accepted 25 July 2005
Available online 19 September 2005

Abstract

This paper describes the design, computer simulation and experimental evaluation of a novel measurement system that has been
recently developed for the measurement of mass flow rate of particles in a gravity chute convey pipeline. Comprehensive computer
simulation and numerical calculations show that the proposed method with laser-sensing array is theoretically correct and the
programmed algorithm is effective. This method has been characterized by dynamic testing, real time and continuous measurements.
The results of simulation and experiment have demonstrated that the multi-laser source fan-shaped geometry can be an effective
approach to interrogate the mass flow rate of particles over the pipe cross-section. The mass flow rate of particles derived from
extinction principle has shown a good agreement with the projection sum of light beams and the real mass flow rate.
r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Mass flow rate metering; Laser-sensing array; Optical tomography

1. Introduction particles, such as techniques using thermal methods [2],

On-line measurement of mass flow rate for particulate
solids is often required to provide information for the
control and management of industrial process and to
ensure the quality of the product, reliability of the
process and the efficient use of energy. It is apparent
that mass flow measurement of pneumatically conveyed
particulate solids has long been attracting researchers
and a large numbers of reports can be found in the
literature.
The measurement methodologies of the mass flow rate
of particulate solids in a conveyed pipeline can be
divided into two main categories [1], direct and indirect
methods. A direct solids mass flow-meter has a sensing
element that responds directly to the mass flow rate of
Corresponding author. School of Engineering, Science & Design,
Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA,UK.
E-mail address: yingna.zheng@gcal.ac.uk (Y. Zheng).
acoustic damping methods [3], or the Coriolis method
[4]. On the other hand, an indirect mass flow-meter
determines, respectively, the instantaneous volumetric
concentration and velocity of particles over the cross-
section in the pipe, from which the mass flow rate of
particles can be derived with some limitations and by
making certain assumptions. Various methods have
been employed for measuring the volumetric concentra-
tion and the velocity of the solid particles through the
pipeline. Sensing techniques for particulate solids
concentration measurement are classified into four main
categories according to the sensing principles, including
electrical, attenuation, nuclear magnetic resonance and
tomograph methods [5–11]. Measurements of particles’
velocity can be realized by using Doppler, cross
correlation or spatial filtering methods [12,13]. Based
on indirect measurement principle, Shao Fuqun et al.
have presented the study and industrial evaluation
of mass flow measurement of pulverized coal for

0030-3992/$ - see front matter r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.optlastec.2005.07.012
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305
iron-making production. They measured both volumetric
concentration and velocity using capacitance sensors [14].
Also CSIRO Division of Minerals has developed and
successfully plant-tested a commercial prototype pulver-
ized fuel (PF) mass flow measurement system, which
utilized measurements of the attenuation and velocity of
pulsed beams of 60 kHz ultrasound transmitted across
the boiler pipes to determine the PF mass flow in each
pipe [15]. Mass flow measurement of pneumatically
conveyed solids using radiometric sensors has been
developed by Barratt et al. [16]. And Sen et al. described
a gas–solid two-phase mass flow-meter for pneumatically
conveying systems using an integrated system of capaci-
tance sensor and electrodynamic sensor [17].
In spite of all of these efforts, few commercial mass flow
meters based on inferential technique are yet to receive
wide acceptance from industries. The main reason is that
many variables exist in industrial process, which may
directly affect the response of a solids flow instrument in
ill-defined ways [1]. These include inhomogeneous dis-
tribution of solids over the pipe cross-section, irregular
velocity profiles, variations in particle size, moisture
content, and deposition of fine particles on the inner wall
of the pipeline and so on. Moreover, some of them may be
impossible to be controlled or predicted. These no doubt
make measurement of solids mass flow more difficult.
Therefore, there is a great need for accurate, reliable, on-
line, continuous and non-invasive measurement of solids
mass flow rate in industrial processes.
In this work, based on the extinction and optical
tomography principle, a novel optical method is
presented, which is able to give the concentration
distribution of the particulate solids in an experimental
scale gravity chute conveyor. The system is intended to
employ multi-laser-source array to create the optical-
sensing field interrogating the entire cross-section in
testing pipe to obtain the projection data of particles.
According to the extinction principle, the information of
the spacial distribution of particles over the cross-
section of the testing pipe can be acquired. At the same
time, the flow image over the cross-section in the pipe
can be produced based on projection data by image
reconstruction algorithms. Both of them will reflect
the concentration information of particulate solids in
the testing pipe. When the velocity of the particles is
determined, the mass flow rate of the particles can be
procured. The measurements will be non-invasively and
continuously implemented on real time.
2. Principle and method
2.1. Principle
The attenuation of the light can be expressed by the
extinction principle due to the interaction between the
299
laser beam and particles falling in the gas in the pipeline,
when a beam from a laser source transmits via the cross-
section of the pipe. For a monodisperse system the
extinction of the light can be described by [8]


I p

ln ¼ LD2 Eðl; m; DÞN, (1)
I0 4
where I0 and I are, respectively, the intensities of the
incident and transmitted light, L the length of the light
path in measuring area, D and N the diameter and
number of particles per unit volume, respectively,
Eðl; m; DÞ the extinction coefficient, which is in function
of the wavelength of the light l, the diameter D and the
refractive index of the particle m. Eðl; m; DÞ can be
exactly calculated from the classical Mie theory [18].
When the concentration distribution of the particles
within the cross-section in the pipe is not uniform, the
relationship between the incident and the transmitted
light intensity corresponding a light path L is given by

 Z
I p

ln ¼ D2 Eðl; m; DÞNðx; yÞ dl, (2)
I0 4 L
where N(x,y) is the concentration distribution of the
particles in the pipe. Once the particle size D and
number of particles N have been determined, the volume
concentration of the particles, Cv can be calculated
by [8]
p
C v ¼ D3 N. (3)
6
The mass flow rate of particles can be deduced
according to the following equation [1]:
M ¼ r A v Cv, (4)
where, r is the density of the particles material, A the
cross-section area of the pipe and v the mean particles
velocity, Cv the volume concentration of the particles.
The main problem to measure the mass flow rate of
the particulate solids is then focused on how to
determine the concentration distribution of the particles
in the pipe N(x,y). A novel approach has recently been
developed by means of optical tomogranogy technology
based extinction principle.
2.2. Forward and inverse problems
Supposing X– Y is the Cartesian coordinates of the
object field f(x,y), t– s the Radon coordinates which has
the same origin as X– Y and locates in an identical plane
with X– Y, and s axis direction is consistent with
the projection direction, y the projection angle, L the
arbitrary straight line on the plane, the object field and
the coordinates system are shown in Fig. 1.
The Radon transform is the projection of the object
field intensity along a radial line oriented at a specific
angle. It defines the forward problem with optical
attenuation. Hence, the projection data based on optical
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300 Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305

s Y where, py ðtÞ is the projection of the object field f ðx; yÞ

along the light path, u– v the two dimension frequency
p
(t)
f(x,y) t domain, F ðu; vÞ the two dimension Fourier Transforms
of the object field f ðx; yÞ.
The object field distribution f ðx; yÞ can be obtained by
applying inverse Fourier Transforms to Eq. (6) [20]
Z p Z 1


f ðx; yÞ ¼ dy py ðtÞh1 ðt
aÞ da
X
Z0 p
1
0
¼ dyðh1  py ÞðtÞ, ð7Þ
0
L
where h1(t)is the pulse response function of the filter, 
represents the convolution calculation.
In general, Eq. (7) is called as filtered back projection
(FBP) or convolution back projection. Clearly, the
Fig. 1. Object field, projection and coordinates. calculation expressed by ðh1  py ÞðtÞ actually is to apply
appropriate filtering to the projection data. The integral
calculation represents back projection. The image of the
tomography comes from the light path integral value to object field distribution can be reconstructed from the
measured parameter distribution. The projection is line integrals using the convolution back projection
expressed by Radon Transform as [19,20] algorithm for the fan beam geometry [20]. Of course,
Z Z there are several algorithms available for reconstructing
py ðtÞ ¼ f ðx; yÞdl or py ðtÞ ¼ f ðx; yÞdl, object field distribution. In this work, the least-squares
L t¼x cos yþy sin y
algorithm with constraints is used aimed at the fan-
(5) shaped structure of the sensor array proposed.
where py ðtÞ is the projection of the object field f ðx; yÞ
along the light beam path L, I0 and I, the incident and 2.3. Attenuation and projection
transmitted light intensity, respectively, t the dis-
tance from the origin to the straight line L, Comparing Eq. (2) with Eq. (5), it is apparent that the
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
attenuation rate of the light intensity
lnðI j =I 0 Þ (j ¼ 1,
dl ¼ ðdxÞ2 þ ðdyÞ2 .
2, y, n) is actually the projection value, which can be
The forward problem provides the predicted data obtained from optical array sensors by light beam
under no-flow and flow conditions. The solution of the scanning, i.e.,
forward problem may be thought of as finding the

transfer relation that exists between the real phase Ij
py ðt ¼ xÞ ¼
ln . (8)
distribution (interior, source) within cross-section and I0
the measurable output signals (exterior, projection) of Therefore,
the optical array sensor. R
The main task is to determine the distribution of the f ðx; yÞ dx dy
S
N¼ R , (9)
particles in the pipe f(x,y), which is eventually to solve 2
ðp=4ÞD Eðl; m; DÞ S dx dy
the inverse problem of Eq. (5), i.e., to solve the inverse
Radon transform. According to the Projection Slice where S represents the measured area.
Theorem [19,20], the one dimension Fourier Transforms When the image of the object field distribution f ðx; yÞ
Py ðoÞ of the projection py ðtÞ is equivalent to the value of is reconstructed, the number of particles N in the unit
one straight line that locates at u– v plane and through interrogated area can be obtained from Eq. (9) by
the origin, also angle y will determine the orientation. reasonably limiting the integral area within the light
The value of the straight line is given by the two beam scanning region, i.e., obtaining the line attenua-
dimension Fourier Transforms F ðu; vÞ of the object field tion of each light beam along the beam trajectory within
f ðx; yÞ, i.e., the cross-section in the pipe. In this case, Eq. (9) can be
Z 1 represented
R
Py ðoÞ ¼ py ðtÞ e
i2pot dt S 1 f ðx; yÞ dx dy

1
Z 1Z 1 N¼ R
ðp=4ÞD2 Eðl; m; DÞ S dxdy
1
¼ f ðx; yÞ e
i2pðuxþvyÞ dx dy P P

1
1 p
j yj ðtÞ j pyj ðtÞ
 ¼ P ¼ , ð10Þ
¼ F ðu; vÞu¼o cos y ¼ F ðo; yÞ, ð6Þ ðp=4ÞD E j l j ðp=4ÞD2 EL1
2
v¼o sin y
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Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305 301

where S1 is the covering area of scanning light beams,

pyj the projection data related to jth light beam, lj the
length of the jth light path, L1 the total length of the all
light beam path.
In terms of Eqs. (3), (4) and (10), the mass flow rate of
the particulate solids in the pipe can be deduced
P
p 3 j pyj
M ¼ rAv D
6 ðp=4ÞD2 EL1
2 rAvD X
¼ p , ð11Þ
3 L1 Eðl; m; DÞ j yj

where D is the diameter of particles, Eðl; m; DÞ the

extinction coefficient, r the density of the particles
material, so the parameters D, E and r are related to the
properties of particulate material in the pipe. A is the
cross-section of the measuring pipe, L1 the total length
of the light beam path, these two items depend on the
structure of the optical array sensor, v the particulate
velocity in the pipe.
This means that once the particle material properties
and the structure of the sensor as well as the particle
velocity are determined, Eq. (11) will establish the only
relationship between the mass flow rate ofP the particu-
late in the pipe M and the projection sum py .

3. Experimental set-up

The key elements of the measurement system for mass

flow rate measurement based on extinction and optical
tomography technology are to design the structure of Fig. 2. The fan-shaped arrangements and the sensitivity distribution of
optical-sensing array, establish the optical-sensitive field the sensor array. (a) Sensor array structure. (b) Sensitivity distribution.
and system construction.

3.1. Sensor array structure
The spatial array design of the sensor should be
sufficiently taken into account to match in the geometric
shape, mechanical and physical features of the solid
phase particles in the pipe together with reconstruction
algorithm to ensure that the optical PT measurement
system does work in the optimum model.
To interrogate the cross-section of the measured
object field, the light source-detector array based on
fan-shaped arrangements is designed to obtain a series
of fan projections (see Fig. 2(a)). In the case of Fig. 2(a),
15 laser sources are used and each source supplies five
light beams which are spaced at 121 intervals with a fan
angle of 481. The sensitivity distribution of the fan-
shaped arrangement has been given in Fig. 2(b) with the
pixel grids 43  43.
The optical-sensing field is formed within the cross-
section of the testing pipe along the source-detector
path. Its characteristics and behavior will directly
influence the measurement system. The simulation result
has indicated that the sensitivity level of the optical-
sensing field depends mainly on the number of the light
sources and detectors, i.e., the number of the indepen-
dent light beams. On the other hand, the uniformity of
the sensitivity distribution of the optical-sensing field
relies principally on the fan angle of the fan-shaped
beams and the number of the light sources. Fig. 2(b) has
clearly shown that the sensitivity distribution of the
optical-sensing field is not uniform. The sensitivity of the
areas, where they are nearby the center of the pipe and
adjacent the light sources, looks remarkably higher than
that of other areas, while the sensitivity distribution of
those areas far from light sources looks more even. This
behavior depends mainly on the fan-shaped structure of
laser-detector array. It is really different from the
perpendicular structure of optical sensor array.
3.2. Experimental rig
The experimental set-up shown schematically in
Fig. 3, has been designed and developed to facilitate

302 Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305
the measurement of mass flow rate of the solid particles
in an experimental scale gravity chute convey pipeline.
The system consists of array of laser diode sources,
detector array, signal conditioning, data acquisition unit
and main computer. The experimental rig is shown in
Fig. 3.
The laser source array (15 laser diode modules) and
photodiode array (15 photodiodes) were arranged in the
way alternated between laser source and detector,
surrounded the testing pipe, termed fan-shaped array
with 15 light sources, each source with five beams. The
light from each laser source traverses the cross-section of
the testing pipe. And the transmitted light is received at
same time by five photodiodes right opposite the laser
source, where the light energy is converted into the
electrical signal. The projections available for imaging
construction are produced in a successive order by
stimulating light emitters, i.e., all emitters are lighted in
serial pattern within this entire measuring period for one
frame image reconstructed. Signal conditioning provides
both I/V transform and an electrical signal which
increases in amplitude as the solid particle concentration
increases. In one scanning turn, there will be 15  5 ¼ 75
projection data to be obtained by the photodiode array.
The projection data are sampled by individual sample/
hold circuits. After an analogue/digital conversion the
signals are recorded, stored and reconstructed by a
computer system connected with scanning control
interface. Each data set is processed using appropriate
image reconstruction algorithm to generate a concentra-
tion profile on line.
The screw feeder, via motor controlled by frequency
conversion device, is used to make the particulate solids
Feeder hopper
Screw feeder
Motor
Testing
Pipe
Signal
Conditioning
h
Scanning
A A Control and
Interface
A-A
Laser
Diode
Array
and
Detector
Array
Laser diode Detector
Fig. 3. The experimental rig of optical tomography system for
gas–solid two-phase flow measurement.
ARTICLE IN PRESS
drop down steadily to ensure adjusted flow of solid in
the system.
4. Experimental tests and results
A series of experimental tests were conducted on an
experimental scale gravity chute convey test facility to
investigate the ability of the system to measure the mass
flow rate of solids. The main aims are to reconstruct the
concentration distribution and validate the relationship
between the optical attenuation (projection sum) and the
mass flow rate of the dilute dispersed phase in vertical
pipeline, meanwhile to try to calibrate the measurement
coefficient Z at different screw feeder speed to examine
the dynamic working state of the whole measurement
system.
4.1. Test conditions
According to the relationship described by Eq. (11),
considering that the properties of particulate material
are invariable under certain conditions, extinction
coefficient E, density r and particle diameter D can be
approximately regarded as constant. Meanwhile, cross-
section A and total light path L1 should be fixed
quantities when the structure of the optical array sensor
has been designed and completed. Also, considering that
the height h (h the distance from the exit of the screw
feeder to the sensing section) is much greater than the
sensor-sensing space, the effect of particle acceleration
on the measurement is p expected
ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi to be small. So the
particulate velocity v ¼ 2gh (where g is the gravity
acceleration, h the distance from the exit of the screw
feeder to the sensing section), at which the particles drop
vertically downwards through the sensing section of the
testing pipe, is a constant when the distance h is
determined. Hence, Eq. (11) can be written as
Controlling
Interface 2 rAvD X X
M¼ py j ¼ Z py j , (12)
3 L1 Eðl; m; DÞ j j
Data Acquisition where
Interface
2 rAvD
Z¼ ,
Signal Analysis 3 L1 Eðl; m; DÞ
Image Reconstruction
and Interpretation where Z approximately is a constant, which can be
calibrated in the experimental test process. As a result,
the mass flow rate ofPthe particles M is proportional to
the projection sum py .
4.1.1. Experimental conditions
Gravity chute conveyor in experimental scale.
Workstation
Diameter of testing pipe: +80 mm.
Distance from the exit of the screw feeder to the light
sensing section: 225 mm.
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Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305 303

Free fall velocity of silica sand: 2.1 m/s. The fitted equation between the mass flow rate y and
Mean particle size of the silica sand: 500–1000 mm. the projection sum x can be obtained using least-squares
Speed range of screw feeder: 100–1250 rpm. fitting
Calibration range of the mass flow rate of particle:
6.10–34.20 g/s. y ¼ 0:9466x
0:0441, (13)
Sensor array structure: 15 light sources, each source
where the slope of the fitted curve is the calibration
with five beams.
coefficient Z ðZ ¼ 0:9466Þ. And the residual standard
Projection data: 15  5 ¼ 75.
deviation is given in Eq. (14)
Light sources: laser diode modules.
Wavelength of laser source: 650 nm. sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
PN
Output power of laser source: 4 mw. i ðyi
y ^ i Þ2
s¼ ¼ 0:1843 ðg=sÞ, (14)
N
2

where s is the residual standard deviation, y the real

4.2. Dynamic tests and results
measuring data, y^ the estimated data, N the sample
number.
The dynamic experiment results, including the rela-
tionship between the mass flow rate of the particle and 40
the on-line projection sum of the solids distribution over
35
the cross-section in the pipe and the fitted curve,

Mass Flow Rate M (g/s)

respectively, are given in Table 1, Figs. 4 and 5. 30

Table 1 and Fig. 4 give the relationship between the 25

mass flow rate of particles and the projection sum of the
20
solids distribution over the cross-section. The approx-
15
imate linear relationship is obtained between them. The Measured data
results have demonstrated the suitability of the optical 10 Linear (Measured data)

sensor array for mass flow rate measurement under 5

certain conditions for lightly loaded gas-solid flows. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Projection Sum ∑ p
of Light Beams
With the proposed sensor array, 75 individual
projection readings (15  5 array) are on line obtained Fig. 4. The relationship between the mass flow rate of particles and the
P
in a data set, the image of the object field distribution projection sum py of light beams.
over the cross-section in the testing pipe can be
reconstructed and displayed in time. And the images
of the object field distribution at different mass flow rate
are given in Fig. 5. These reconstructed images basically
represent the variation of the cross-section distribution
of the particles with time. From the on-line recon-
structed images, it is easy to get a dynamic insight into
the real concentration profile of the particles in the
testing pipe.

4.3. Calibration

To calibrate the measurement system of mass flow

rate, data from both the measurement system and
weighing of the cumulative mass flow of the free fall
silicon particles are compared over a range of experi-
mental operating conditions (see Section 4.1 test Fig. 5. The distribution images of silica sand over the cross-section of
conditions). the pipe reconstructed by 15  5 fan-shaped optical array.

Table 1
Relationship between the mass flow rate and the on-line projection sum of solids distribution

Spin speed of screw feeder (rpm) 100 200 300 400 500 600 750 1000 1250
Mass flow rate (g/s)
P 6.10 12.51 18.97 20.10 21.83 24.03 28.21 33.77 34.20
Projection sum ( py ) (non-dimension) 6.90 14.78 17.68 20.12 23.21 25.03 31.00 36.02 37.82
Calibration coefficient Z (g/s) 0.884 0.846 1.073 0.999 0.941 0.960 0.910 0.938 0.904
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304 Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305
Table 2
The comparison of the real weighing data and the estimated data of the mass flow rate ðZ ¼ 0:9466Þ
Spin speed of screw feeder (rpm) 300 400
Real weighing data (g/s) 19.098 20.105
Estimated data (g/s) 19.907 20.242
Error (%) 1.00 0.68
According to Eq. (12) and the calibration coefficient
Z, the estimated value of the mass flow rate can be
calculated from the projection sum in the real measuring
process (see Table 2).
Table 2 gives real weighing data and the estimated
data of the mass flow rate as well as the percentage error
over the measuring range. The largest and the second
largest errors are, respectively, 1.00% and 1.32% versus
real mass flow rate 19.098 and 21.833 g/s while the
measuring errors less than 1% can be gained in majority
measuring spots. The test results have expressed that
there is good correlation between the real weighing data
and the estimated data.
4.4. Error analysis
Many variables exist which may affect the measure-
ment of mass flow rate in ill-defined ways [1] as
mentioned above. The situation is further complicated
since some of these factors may be impossible to be
controlled and predicted. Therefore, the reasons caused
measuring error come from several aspects but there are
three main reasons in this work. Firstly, simplified
assumption was made about the nature of the solid
particle flow medium and operating conditions, which
may influence the measuring accuracy. Next, the non-
zero original velocity and the fluctuation of the solid
particle velocity in free fall process will cause error.
Finally, the non-uniform sensitivity distribution of the
optical-sensing field will result in error.
5. Summary
It is clear that mass flow measurement of pneumati-
cally conveyed solids has been the particular interest of
many industrial organizations and academic institutions
all over the world. On the other hand, it is extremely
difficult to measure accurately mass flow rate in the
pipeline. That is why few are able to operate currently in
industry although a lot of sensors and instruments based
on different principles have been proposed and devel-
oped.
A demonstration measurement system for mass flow
rate measurement of gravity chute conveyed solids has
been designed, fabricated and evaluated. Comprehen-
sive computer simulation and numerical calculations
500 600 750 1000 1250
21.833 24.025 28.215 33.770 34.200
22.122 24.069 28.298 33.846 34.071
1.32 0.18 0.30 0.22 0.38
show that the proposed method with optical-sensing
array is theoretically correct and the programmed
algorithm is effective. This method has been character-
ized by real time and continuous measurements. The
experiment results have illustrated that the multi-sources
fan-shaped geometry can be an effective approach to
interrogate the mass flow rate of particles over the pipe
cross-section. The mass flow rate of particles derived
from extinction principle in some assumption circum-
stances has shown good agreement with the projection
sum of total light beams and the real mass flow rate. The
advantages of the proposed mass flow measurement
system can be summarized as follows:
 The optical-sensing field possesses of hard field
feature using parallel optical beams, the sensing field
will not be influenced by medium distribution.
 The variations in chemical composition and moisture
content of the solid particles have virtually no effect
on the system output because optical sensor is
inherently insensitive to the chemical properties of
solids.
 The system realizes non-invasive measurement which
will not produce any influence on the real flow field.
 It is relatively easy to acquire and display on-line and
real-time image of the flow on a computer screen.
 The system is suitable for measuring the dilute-phase
gas/solid two-phase flow field.
The main limitation of the measurement system is
that the resolution of the array sensor is relatively lower
since structure design and components size limitation.
On the other hand, particle accumulation in the sensing
zone due to static electrical adherence of particles and
other factors presents a problem in some application
because the accumulated solids can block the transmis-
sion of the light beam or contaminated the testing pipe
stopping the light beams from the sources. One method
of overcoming the problem is that some special measure
should be taken to keep the sensing surface clean.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge Prof.
Changying Chen and Prof. Guangzhao Zheng for many
discussions on optical measurement technology as well
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
Y. Zheng et al. / Optics & Laser Technology 39 (2007) 298–305
as the support of Testing Lab and Numerical Control
Lab, School of Information Engineering, Guangdong
University of Technology. The author’s supervisor,
Prof. John Pugh of Glasgow Caledonian University, is
particularly thanked for mending and helpful sugges-
tions in preparing the manuscript. This research work
was funded by the Natural Science Foundation of
PRChina (Ref no. 59975019).
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