In this study, an in situ imaging system has been analysed to characterize the crystal size, the shape and the number of particles during a continuous crystallization process in a Continuous Oscillatory Baffled Crystallizer (COBC). Two image analysis approaches were examined for particle characterization in the suspension containing both small nuclei and larger grown crystals (nonspherical and irregular in shape). The pattern matching approach, in which the particles are approximated to be spherical, did result in an overestimation of the size. Alternatively, a segmentation‐based algorithm resulted in reliable crystal size and shape characteristics. The laser diffraction analysis in comparison to the image analysis overestimated the particle sizes due to the agglomeration of particles upon filtration and drying. The trend in the particle counts during the start of crystallization process, including nucleation, determined by the image analysis probe was comparable with the one measured by FBRM, highlighting the potential of in situ imaging for process monitoring. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 2450–2461, 2018

中文翻译：

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在线成像技术在连续振荡折流结晶器中监测结晶过程的应用

在这项研究中，已对原位成像系统进行了分析，以表征在连续振荡折流结晶器（COBC）中进行连续结晶过程中的晶体尺寸，形状和颗粒数量。检查了两种图像分析方法的悬浮液中含有小核和大生长晶体（非球形和不规则形状）的颗粒特征。模式匹配方法（其中粒子近似为球形）确实导致尺寸的高估。另外，基于分段的算法可产生可靠的晶体尺寸和形状特征。与图像分析相比，激光衍射分析高估了颗粒尺寸，这是由于过滤和干燥时颗粒的团聚所致。由图像分析探针确定的在结晶过程开始时（包括成核）的颗粒计数趋势与由FBRM测量的趋势相当，这突出了用于过程监测的原位成像潜力。©2018美国化学工程师学会AIChE J，64：2450–2461，2018