Real-Time Imaging of Particles Distribution in Centrifugal Particles-Liquid Two-Phase Fields by Wireless Electrical Resistance Tomography (WERT) System

Abstract

A wireless electrical resistance tomography (WERT) system has been developed for the real-time imaging particles distribution in centrifugal particles-liquid two-phase fields. The developed WERT system consists of 1) a constant-current injector; 2) a voltage measurement device; 3) two electrodes switching devices; 4) a wireless transmission device; 5) a microcomputer, and: 6) a host computer. The WERT system provides the advantages of miniaturization and wireless transmission as compared to the conventional wired electrical resistance tomography (ERT) systems. Consequently, we wirelessly imaged the real-time particles distribution in the lab-scale centrifuge in particles-liquid (glass beads-NaCl solution) two-phase flow qualitatively at various measurement positions under various rotational velocities. Based on the images, the particles volume fractions in the centrifugal field are measured quantitatively. The measured particles volume fractions at various measurement positions indicate parabolic separation interfaces between the particles-liquid phases, which are in good agreement with the numerical simulation by Euler-Euler method by an average deviation of 7.21%. As the rotational velocity is increased, particles are pushed outward to be raised along the lab-scale centrifuge because of the increased centrifugal force, which causes a sharper paraboloid interface.