Video Detection and Tracking of Tracer Particles in a Model Packed-Bed Reactor

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 thoughout 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.