Measurement of Electrostatic Charge on Solid Particles in Solid-Gas Suspension Flow

Abstract

A method for measuring the charge spectrum of particles in a solid‐gas suspension flow is described. The probe, fabricated of hypodermic needle, gives minimal disturbance to the flow stream. The charge spectrum is obtained by a pulse counting technique. Typical results are presented for glass particles of 80 μ diameter in air stream flowing at 8 m/sec inside an aluminum channel. The charge distribution follows essentially an exponential law and the average charge per particle has been found to be 1.3×10⁻¹⁴C. Practically all particles carried a measurable charge.