Integrated millimeter-wave radar system for measuring particle flows

The characterization of particle streams is important in various areas. A key issue today is the high level of particulate matter pollution in cities, which is largely caused by combustion processes in industry, traffic and households. Particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10) are classified as particulate matter. In addition to local atmospheric particulate matter controls (e.g. at traffic junctions), it makes sense to carry out emission controls directly at the source (e.g. at chimneys) in order to be able to intervene to regulate the generation process. Another important field of application is industrial process analysis, where the measurement of smoke development or flow rates, for example, can be used for process optimization and control. Among other possible applications, volcano research is also a conceivable scenario in which the resulting ash clouds are to be examined with regard to their particle concentration and composition. Various measurement methods exist, each of which has advantages and disadvantages for certain applications. This application deals both in theory and in practice with sensors based on radar technology with integrated circuits in the high-frequency millimetre wave range at approx. 94 GHz and at 300 GHz, which are able to characterize the aerosol flows with regard to particle mass charge, particle velocity, mass flow rate, particle size and particle type. New concepts for multistatic operation using newly developed integrated circuits at 300 GHz are to be researched and tested experimentally. The aim is to find the optimum conditions for the arrangement of transmitting and receiving elements based on the investigation of the scattering behavior of particle streams. In addition, new, high-performance MMIC radar sensors based on silicon-germanium technology at 300 GHz are to be developed, which will be coupled together for coherent multistatic operation.

Part­ners
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (Institute of High-Frequency Technology), Ruhr-Uni­ver­si­tät Bo­chum (Institute of Integrated Systems)