A new rapid on-line imaging method to determine particle size distribution of granules.

The purpose of this research was to study the feasibility of the new image analysis method in the particle size determination of the granules. The method is capable of forming a three-dimensional topographic image of a sample surface from a digital picture. In the method, a flat granule bed surface was illuminated from three different directions, using the three primary colors (red, green, and blue). One color picture was taken by a digital camera, after which a topographic image of the object surface was constructed. The particle size distribution was then calculated from the image data. The particle size analysis method was tested both off-line and on-line. Off-line particle size measurement results determined by the image analysis method corresponded quite well to those of sieve analysis in the size fraction range 250-1,000 microm. In on-line application, images were successfully retrieved and median granule size trend could be calculated and followed during fluid bed granulations.