Video detection and tracking of tracer particles in a model packed-bed reactor

Jerry Stephenson
James Wiedenhoeft
James Vallino
Jon Warden

1977 paper on Video detection and tracking of tracer particles in a model packed-bed reactor. Please see http://ieeexplore.ieee.org for more information.

Abstract

A video detection and tracking system was devised to track and record the position versus time of tracer particles moving through a transparent medium. The system was applied to studying the flow-related transport phenomena at all points within packed-bed reactors since the previously proposed mathematical models for describing them have not been proven adequate throughout the entire packed-bed. A modified TV camera was used to obtain a video presentation of the motion of a highly reflective particle in an otherwise transparent bed. A microcomputer was then used to process the video signal, using the vertical and horizontal sync pulses as timing signals. Output of the system was a punched paper tape with position versus time data for later analysis in a large computer.