Method of and apparatus for measuring the volume of material in

Abstract

A method of measuring volume of materials in suspensions in a liquid includes providing a sample of liquid containing particulate materials in suspension, passing a laser light beam through the liquid, the laser being diffracted upon exit from the sample, and measuring the diffracted light with at least two photoelectric cells positioned at differing distances from the central ray of the laser. Electrical signals F and F' from the photoelectric cells are produced and the volume (V) of materials in suspension is determined according to the relation Vd=aF+a'F', where d is the average minimum diameter of the particles and a and a' are respective balancing factors. An apparatus for carrying out the method, particularly as it relates to determining the quality of water, includes raw water and flocculating agent sources upstream from a purification station and at least one coagulation-settling system, which includes a pipe coupled to the supply sources and a settling tank in which flocs settle. At least one laser diffractometer is coupled to said coagulation-settling system to receive continuously settled water therefrom, the laser diffractometer photoelectric cells for producing at least one signal representative of suspended materials remaining in the water.