Tomography for Improving the Design and Control of Particulate Processing Systems

The ability to interrogate the dynamic internal characteristics of processing plants by using conventional instrumentation is severely limited for most practical conditions. The results of recent work, employing non-intrusive electrical sensors to obtain 2-dimensional images of component concentration profiles in cross-sections through process equipment, is making industry aware of new prospects for improving the design and control of many processes. The range and status of sensing techniques and other enabling technology for the new subject of "Process Tomography" is outlined in this paper. This is followed by a discussion of the applications and future technical challenges which must be considered if process tomographic techniques are to find widespread application, with a particular emphasis on electrically-based sensor technology.