Application of electrical capacitance tomography for measurement of gas-solids flow characteristics in a pneumatic conveying system

Transient three-dimensional multiphase flows are a characteristic feature o f many industrial processes. The experimental observations and measurements of such flows are extremely difficult. and industrial process tomography h as been developed over the last decade into a reliable method for investiga ting these complex phenomena. Gas-solids flows, such as those in pneumatic conveying systems, exhibit many interesting features and these can be succe ssfully investigated by using electrical capacitance tomography. This paper discusses the current state of the art in this field. advantages and limit ations of the technique and required future developments. Various levels of visualization and processing of tomographic data obtained in a pilot-plant -scale pneumatic conveying system are presented. A case study outlining the principles of measuring the mass flow rate of solids in a vertical channel is shown.