Chapter 3

Particle
Sizing
Topics Covered
Measurement methods
Data analysis
Particle Size and Air Pollution
Control
Particle Size?
Aerodynamic Diameter

The diameter of a sphere with a density of

1 g/cm3 that has the same falling
velocity in air as the actual particle

d p  d pCc
Measurement Methods
Microscopy
Optical counters
Electrical aerosol analyzer
Bahco analyzer
Cascade impactors
Ideal Measuring Device
Measure the exact size of each particle
Determine the composition of each particle
Report real-time data instantaneously
Microscopy

Polarized Light Microscopy

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Energy Dispersive X-Ray

Spectroscopy
 Electronic Microscope Optical Microscope

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

microns
Optical Particle Counter
Gas sample
stream inlet

Sensor
View volume
chamber

Cone
Mirror
Photomultiplier Lamp

Calibrator
 Electronic Microscope Optical Microscope

Optical Counter

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

microns
Electrical Aerosol Analyzer
(A)
C h a rg e d
p a r tic le s

- Variable direct
voltage

(B)

Discharged
particles
 Electronic Microscope Optical Microscope

Optical Counter

Electrical Aerosol Analyzer

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

microns
Bahco Analyzer
 Electronic Microscope Optical Microscope

Optical Counter

Electrical Aerosol Analyzer

Bahco Counter

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

microns
Cascade Impactor
Cascade Impactors
 Electronic Microscope Optical Microscope

Optical Counter

Electrical Aerosol Analyzer

Bahco Counter

Inertial Impactor

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

microns
Data Analysis
Log-Normal Distribution
Log-Probability Plots

(log probability paper)

dp
(log scale)

1% 10% 50% 90% 99%

% mass smaller dp
Geometric Mean 50%
Geometric Standard Deviation

d 15.87
g 
d 50
or

d 50
g 
d 84.13
Example 3-1
Determine the mass mean diameter and the
geometric standard deviation of the particle collection
represented by the following distribution:
Size Range (gm) Mass (mg)
<2 1.0
2 to 4 14.5
4 to 6 24.7
6 to 10 59.8
10 to 20 68.3
20 to 40 28.9
>40 2.8
 Refer to the table. Determine the total
Solution… mass and calculate the percentage in
each size range.
2. Starting with the size range
for the smallest particles (<2 Example Particle Size Data
mm), subtract the percent
Size Cumulative %
mass in that range (0.50%) Range Mass % Mass in Mass Less
from 100.00 to determine the (m) (mg) Size Range Than dp max
cumulative percent mass <2 1.0 0.50 99.50
greater than 2 mm (99.50%).
2 to 4 14.5 7.25 92.25
4 to 6 24.7 12.35 79.90
3. For each subsequent size
range, subtract the percent 6 to 10 59.8 29.90 50.00
mass in that range from the 10 to 20 68.3 34.15 15.85
cumulative percent mass of 20 to 40 28.9 14.45 1.40
the previous size range to >40 2.8 1.40 --‑
determine the cumulative TOTAL 200.0 100.0
percent mass less than dp
For example, for the 2-4 m size range, 99.50% -
max for that size range. 7.25% = 92.25%, the cumulative percent mass less
than 4 mm.
And then…
Plot dpmax versus Cumulative Percent Mass Smaller Than dpmax on
log-probability paper:

Geometric Mean 50%

Finally…
The mass mean particle diameter is found at the 50th percentile
and is 10 mm. The geometric standard deviation is calculated
from:

or
Review Questions
1. Calculate the aerodynamic diameter of a spherical
particle having a true diameter of 2 m and a density
of 2.7 g/cm3.

Solution:
Assume that the Cunningham slip correction
factor is 1.
Review Questions
2. Given the following distributions:
Is either distribution lognormal?
If yes, what is the geometric mass mean diameter and the
geometric standard deviation?
Size Range (m) Sample A Mass (mg) Sample B Mass (mg)
<0.6 25.50 8.50
0.6 to 1.0 33.15 11.05
1.0 to 1.2 17.85 7.65
1.2 to 3.0 102.00 40.80
3.0 to 8.0 63.75 15.30
8.0 to 10.0 5.10 1.69
>10.0 7.65 0.01
Solution #2 (a)
Cumulative
Percent Percent
Size Range Mass in Mass Less
(gm) Mass (mg) Size Range Than dpmax
<0.6 25.50 10 90
0.6 to 1.0 33.15 13 77
1.0 to 1.2 17.85 7 70
1.2 to 3.0 102.00 40 30
3.0 to 8.0 63.75 25 5
8.0 to 10.0 5.10 2 3
>10.0 7.65 3 --‑
TOTAL 255.0 1 00 . 0

But wait there is more

Solution #2 (b)
Percent Mass Cumulative Percent
Size Range in Mass Less
(gm) Mass (mg) Size Range Than dpmax
<0.6 8.50 10 90
0.6 to 1.0 11.05 13 77
1.0 to 1.2 7.65 9 68
1.2 to 3.0 40.80 48 20
3.0 to 8.0 15.30 18 2
8.0 to 10.0 1.69 1.99 0.01
>10.0 0.01 0.01 --‑
TOTAL 85.0 100.0

But wait there is more

Finally, Plot them

A) Is
lognormal
B) Is not
lognormal

But wait there is more

And finally…
The geometric mass mean diameter and the geometric standard
deviations for Sample A are:

d 50  1.9m
d 50  1.9m
σg   2.4
d 84.13  0.8m