Sample Gathering for Particle Size Analysis

The following points are applicable when obtaining a sample for particle size analysis  

In addition to the above factors, other important factors that need to be considered when measuring particle size distribution are 

Avoid a dissolved gas flotation effect. The produced water sample is depressurized as it passes through the choke valve 

The free oil formed may easily adhere to the walls of the sample container as a thin and almost invisible film. This film is easily lost as the initial sample is spht into suhsamples. The fraction of oil in the sample ending up as free oil may he as high as 50-80%. 

One way of avoiding droplet shear and gas flotation effects is to conduct an online sample measurement. This technique, however, requires specialized equipment, such as the Melvem Mastersizer, and is constrained in terms of the maximum pressure it can tolerate. Alternatively, a sample pressure cylinder (homh) can he used to avoid droplet shear and the gas flotation effect. Here, the sample is taken in a stainless steel cylinder with a needle valve and a ball valve and thus minimizes the shearing of droplets during sampling. 

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