Passive resonance sensor based method for monitoring particle suspensions

• Inductively coupled passive resonance sensor is used to measure ceramic slurry.
• Robust system allows online measurements directly from a mixer container.
• Amount of dispersing agent and concentration of ceramic can be measured.
• Method can be used to monitor particle suspension preparation processes.

Control of particle suspensions is needed in several modern industrial processes. A reason for the difficulty in this task has been the lack of a fast and reliable measurement. In this study, we tested the measurement of particle suspension by using a method based on a passive resonance sensor. The relative amounts of dispersing agent and aluminium oxide in the suspension were varied. The studied method yielded signals which depended on the complex permittivity of the suspension. The results indicated that we were able to measure information that can be used as feedback for the suspension preparation process. In addition, the tested instrumentation was simple and robust and thus this method may allow online measurements directly from the industrial processes.