Open AccessELECTROSTATIC SURFACE STRUCTURES OF COAL AND MINERAL PARTICLES
Author(s) -
M K Mazumder,
D A Lindquist,
K B Tennal
Publication year - 1999
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/780839
Subject(s) - photoelectric effect , ion , electric field , electron , spectrometer , optics , chemistry , materials science , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
We have developed a video image analyzer for measuring the size and charge of airborne particles. Particles are illuminated by laser light and subjected to a sinusoidal electric field while images of the trajectories of the particles are captured using a video camera and a frame grabber. Analysis of the particle tracks allows the size and charge of the particles to be determined. The instrument can be used to measure size and charge spectra of charged coal and mineral particles in real time. Appendix I shows size and charge distributions of coal and flyash particles measured with the image analyzer. A second instrument, an Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectrometer (UPS) for measuring effective work functions of insulator and semiconductor surfaces in air is under development. Work function data for individual macerals and minerals in a coal matrix will be related to triboelectric charging properties. In this instrumental method, originally developed by Kirhata, the surface of a test sample is bombarded by monochromatic ultraviolet light of known wavelength. At atmospheric pressure, the photo-ejected electrons attach to air molecules forming negative ions. The ions are attracted by an applied electric field into a detector where they are accelerated to sufficient energy that they cause momentary dielectric breakdown or discharge in the air inside the detector. The rate at which these discharges occur is proportional to the rate at which photoelectrons are generated at the sample surface. From a plot of the discharge rate as a function of photon energy the minimum energy needed to remove an electron can be determined. The mechanical components of our instrument have been completed. A number of electronic circuit difficulties remain to be solved. The counting circuits are able to produce a count rate proportional to the ion concentration generated using a corona gun. However, when the high voltage accelerating potential is applied the circuit oscillates preventing proper operation. Our current focus on this instrument is to attain stability of operation