Apparatus for performing at least two measurements of characteristics in a particle suspension

摘要

An apparatus for performing at least two measurements of characteristics in a suspension of particles, including two chambers separated by a measuring orifice through which the suspension of particles flows in response to a pressure difference between the two chambers. A glass plate is disposed a short distance beyond the measuring orifice in the direction of flow and at right angles to the direction of flow, and diverts the flow at substantially right angles to its flow direction through the measuring orifice. An optical measuring device is provided and situated coaxially with the flow through the measuring orifice and downstream of the glass plate. The optical measuring device produces an irradiation of the particles in suspension and the fluorescence thereby induced is measured. Another measurement is achieved by measuring a voltage pulse utilizing a pair of electrodes, one in each of the two chambers. The voltage pulse is varied as a function of the particle size passing the measuring orifice. The amplitude of the voltage pulse is therefore a measure of the volume of the particle. The measurements are made simultaneously.