On the Use of a Rotatable ECT Sensor to Investigate Dense Phase Flow: A Feasibility Study.

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Measurement Science
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Pneumatic conveying systems are crucial for material transport.
• Accurate dynamic flow measurement in dense phase is challenging.
• Electrical Capacitance Tomography (ECT) offers non-invasive imaging capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a rotatable ECT sensor for dynamic flow measurement.
• To evaluate the impact of sensor rotation on imaging dense phase flow.
• To compare image reconstruction algorithms for rotatable ECT data.

Main Methods:

• A rotatable ECT sensor was implemented in a horizontal pneumatic conveying flow loop.
• Dense phase flow, including slugs and settled layers, was investigated.
• Two image reconstruction methods, Linear Back Projection (LBP) and iterative back projection, were compared with and without sensor rotation.

Main Results:

• The rotatable ECT sensor demonstrated feasibility for dynamic flow monitoring.
• Sensor rotation enhanced the imaging of flow structures like slugs and settled layers.
• Quantitative analysis of solids concentration was improved by rotating the sensor.

Conclusions:

• Rotatable ECT is a viable technique for dynamic flow measurement in dense phase pneumatic conveying.
• Sensor rotation significantly improves image quality and quantitative analysis.
• The findings support the use of rotatable ECT for process optimization and control.