A technical study on the Spraytec performances: influence of multiple light scattering and multi-modal drop-size distribution measurements

The present paper reports an experimental investigation on the performance of the Spraytec, the recent particle sizer commercialized by Malvern Instruments, Malvern, UK. As with the previous Malvern particle sizers, the Spraytec provides a volume-based drop-size distribution from the analysis of a diffraction pattern resulting from the interaction between a spray and a laser beam. This work focuses on the behavior of the Spraytec in two different situations. First, the influence of multiple scattering caused by the measurement of large and spatially inhomogeneous sprays is investigated. Second, a test of multi-modal drop-size distribution measurement is conducted. Contrary to the previous Malvern instrument, Spraytec's mathematical inversion procedure includes a patented multiple-scattering algorithm that allows measurements of very high concentrated sprays. This algorithm is tested here for large and inhomogeneous sprays for which multiple light scattering affects the measurement. The results show that the Spraytec algorithm cannot satisfactorily correct the measurements in this specific situation. It was also observed that the use of this algorithm is prohibited in the absence of multiple light scattering. In the second part of the study, a test of multi-modal drop-size distribution measurement is conducted. For the investigated situations it was found that the Malvern Spraytec is reliable in measuring such spray drop-size distributions.