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The Magic of Lasers: How Does a Particle Counter Use the Principle of Light Scattering?
In today's environment of rapid technological development, particle counters have become an important tool for monitoring and diagnosing particle pollution, and are widely used in various cleaning media, such as air, water and chemicals. Its importance is not limited to electronic components and manufacturing processes, but also extends to many fields such as medicine and industrial technology.
Particle counters use the light scattering principle of lasers to provide accurate particle size and number data, which is critical to ensuring the cleanliness of the manufacturing environment.
Technical principles
The operation of particle counters mainly relies on the principle of light scattering and is combined with other technologies to perform multiple detections. The structure usually includes a high-intensity light source (laser), controlled media flow (gas or liquid), and a highly sensitive photodetector. Laser optical particle counters usually include five major systems, including laser and optical systems, control flow systems, photodetectors, pulse height analyzers (PHA) and black box circuits.
Laser light travels through the sample medium and scatters light as particles pass through it. A photodetector records the scattered light and converts it into an electrical signal.
In this process, a light detector senses scattered light from the particles and converts it into electrical signals; these signals are then fed into a pulse height analyzer, which further analyzes the size of the particles. Key to the successful operation of such systems is measuring the intensity of scattered light or light blocking.
Detection method
Particle counting detection methods can be divided into several categories, including light blocking, light scattering, Coulter's principle and direct imaging. Light blocking techniques are typically used to detect particles larger than 1 micron and are based on the degree to which the particles block light as they pass through the detection area. In contrast, light scattering technology can detect smaller particles with a sensitivity of 0.05 microns.
Direct imaging technology uses high-resolution cameras and light sources to detect particles, providing more accurate particle size measurement and analysis.
For example, when a high-precision camera works with a light source, it is not only possible to explore the size of particles, but also to analyze color and shape, which is particularly important for pure water quality testing or liquid cleanliness testing in production processes.
Application fields
Particle counter applications can be divided into three categories: aerosol, liquid and solid. Among them, aerosol particle counters are often used to determine indoor air quality, which is particularly critical for maintaining controlled environments such as clean rooms. Cleanrooms are commonly used in semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical production. All cleanrooms have clear particle count limits and are classified primarily through the international standard ISO 14644-1.
In liquids, particle counters have critical applications, such as ensuring the safety of drinking water or testing the cleanliness of chemicals used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
Professional type
In the category of particle counters, professional types such as remote particle counters, handheld particle counters and multi-function particle counters are receiving more and more attention. These devices can not only continuously monitor particle levels at fixed locations, but can also quickly conduct on-site inspections, which is particularly important for the needs of high-tech industries.
Conclusion
With the evolution of technology and industrial needs, particle counters play a key role in avoiding product contamination and protecting human health. By utilizing the principle of light scattering, these devices not only provide critical particle data, but also ensure the cleanliness and quality of the manufacturing process. How will such technology be further developed in the future to cope with more complex needs?
