Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography

A dynamic volume imaging based on the principle of electrical capacitance tomography (ECT), namely, electrical capacitance volume tomography (ECVT), has been developed in this study. The technique generates, from the measured capacitance, a whole volumetric image of the region enclosed by the geometrically three-dimensional capacitance sensor. This development enables a real-time, 3-D imaging of a moving object or a real-time volume imaging (4-D) to be realized. Moreover, it allows total interrogation of the whole volume within the domain (vessel or conduit) of an arbitrary shape or geometry. The development of the ECVT imaging technique primarily encloses the 3-D capacitance sensor design and the volume image reconstruction technique. The electrical field variation in three-dimensional space forms a basis for volume imaging through different shapes and configurations of ECT sensor electrodes. The image reconstruction scheme is established by implementing the neural-network multicriterion optimization image reconstruction (NN-MOIRT), developed earlier by the authors for the 2-D ECT. The image reconstruction technique is modified by introducing into the algorithm a 3-D sensitivity matrix to replace the 2-D sensitivity matrix in conventional 2-D ECT, and providing additional network constraints including 3-to-2-D image matching function. The additional constraints further enhance the accuracy of the image reconstruction algorithm. The technique has been successfully verified over actual objects in the experimental conditions     

基于梯度投影稀疏重建算法的电容层析成像图像重建

为解决两相流中存在中心物体、物体比较小或存在多个物体且相距较近时电容层析成像(ECT)重建图像精度较差的问题,基于稀疏分布的流型其介电常数分布满足稀疏性的先验条件,采用梯度投影稀疏重建(GPSR-BB)算法进行ECT图像重建。仿真及实验测试结果表明:GPSR-BB算法对于流体中小目标以及复杂流型的图像重建质量较好,重建图像的形状保真度高。     

Application of electrical capacitance tomography in particulate process measurement – A review

Particulate process measurement presents challenges because it often involves multiphase flow. Due to its advantages over other tomography modalities, electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is widely applied in monitoring and measuring particulate processes. This paper presents a review on the application of ECT in particulate process measurement, including the monitoring of flow regime and solids distribution, solids flow velocity measurement, and fluidized bed dryers. The electrostatic phenomenon and the effect of electrostatics on the performance of ECT systems are also addressed. Finally, the challenges to ECT for particulate process measurement are given.     

Three-dimensional simulation of the particle distribution in a downer using CFD–DEM and comparison with the results of ECT experiments

A three-dimensional numerical model of the down-flow fluidized bed (Downer) with a newly designed distributor was applied to investigate the particle distribution profiles using combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the discrete element method (DEM). A realistic model of DEM, which calculates the contact force acting on the individual particles, is used to monitor the movement of individual particles in the bed. The contact force is calculated using the concepts of the spring, dash-pot, and friction slider. The flow field of gas is predicted by the Navier–Stokes equation. This CFD–DEM model provides information regarding the particle movement and distribution, the particle velocity, and the gas velocity in the bed under different air-particle mixture conditions. The results demonstrate that the air supply conditions directly influence the particle distribution uniformity. Furthermore, the numerical predictions for the axial and radial profiles of the particle distribution were found to agree well with the experimental results obtained by electrical capacitance tomography (ECT).     

一种电容层析成像图像重建优化算法

提出一种电学层析成像(ECT)图像重建优化算法。通过将传统正则化算法转化为最小二乘问题进行求解,结合lp范数逼近正则化最小化问题,利用重新加权的方法进行迭代计算。以油-气两相流模型进行仿真及静态实验,将所提出的优化算法与常用的LBP、Landweber迭代及Tikhonov正则化算法进行对比。结果表明,与常用算法相比,采用该优化算法对管道中心物体及多物体分布流型进行图像重建,其图像相对误差均为最低,且重建图像的形状保真度明显提高。     

Helmholtz-Type Regularization Method for Permittivity Reconstruction Using Experimental Phantom Data of Electrical Capacitance Tomography

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) attempts to image the permittivity distribution of an object by measuring the electrical capacitance between sets of electrodes placed around its periphery. Image reconstruction in ECT is a nonlinear ill-posed inverse problem, and regularization methods are needed to stabilize this inverse problem. The reconstruction of complex shapes (sharp edges) and absolute permittivity values is a more difficult task in ECT, and the commonly used regularization methods in Tikhonov minimization are unable to solve these problems. In the standard Tikhonov regularization method, the regularization matrix has a Laplacian-type structure, which encourages smoothing reconstruction. A Helmholtz-type regularization scheme has been implemented to solve the inverse problem with complicated-shape objects and the absolute permittivity values. The Helmholtz-type regularization has a wavelike property and encourages variations of permittivity. The results from experimental data demonstrate the advantage of the Helmholtz-type regularization for recovering sharp edges over the popular Laplacian-type regularization in the framework of Tikhonov minimization. Furthermore, this paper presents examples of the reconstructed absolute value permittivity map in ECT using experimental phantom data.      

电容层析成像系统阵列电极三维优化设计

基于COMSOL软件构建了电容层析成像传感器三维有限元模型,并实现其正问题求解,在此基础上,进行了电容层析成像3层分布的阵列电极传感器参数的无量纲优化设计。首先,分析了传感器的屏蔽层半径R3、电极高度h、电极宽度w及电极层间距l对灵敏度均匀性指标P及电容值动态范围D的影响规律;然后,通过设计正交试验,综合分析各结构参数对优化指标的影响;最终,得到一组电容层析成像三维传感器的优化结构参数:R3=1.50,h=0.20,w=0.20,l=0.06。     

Preliminary evaluation of cryogenic two-phase flow imaging using electrical capacitance tomography

The potential application of the 2-D eight-electrode electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) to the inversion imaging of the liquid nitrogen-vaporous nitrogen (LN₂-VN₂) flow in the tube is theoretically evaluated. The phase distribution of the computational domain is obtained using the simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique with variable iterative step size. The detailed mathematical derivations for the calculations are presented. The calculated phase distribution for the two detached LN₂ column case shows the comparable results with the water-air case, regardless of the much reduced dielectric permittivity of LN₂ compared with water. The inversion images of total eight different LN₂-VN₂ flow patterns are presented and quantitatively evaluated by calculating the relative void fraction error and the correlation coefficient. The results demonstrate that the developed reconstruction technique for ECT has the capacity to reconstruct the phase distribution of the complex LN₂-VN₂ flow, while the accuracy of the inversion images is significantly influenced by the size of the discrete phase. The influence of the measurement noise on the image quality is also considered in the calculations.     

Online Voidage Measurement of Two-Phase Flow Based on the Ant System Algorithm

Based on the 12-electrode electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) system and the ant system algorithm (ASA), a new method was proposed for online voidage measurement of oil-gas two-phase flow. In practical voidage measurement, based on the 66 measurement capacitances obtained from the ECT system, the real-time flow pattern of oil-gas two-phase flow was first identified. Then, according to the flow pattern identification result, an appropriate measurement model was selected, and the measurement voidage value was calculated. The measurement models related to the flow pattern were developed in advance using the ASA. Static and dynamic experimental results show that the proposed voidage measurement method is effective. Moreover, the real-time performance and measurement accuracy are satisfactory.     

基于非线性最小二乘的电容层析成像图像重建算法

针对电容层析成像技术中的"软场"效应和病态问题,提出了基于非线性最小二乘算法的新电容层析成像(ECT)算法。在分析非线性最小二乘问题残量原理的基础上,给出了目标函数中二阶信息项的割线近似的校正公式,并利用Lipschitz空间连续的性质对非线性最小二乘算法的收敛性进行了证明,在此基础上探讨了ECT应用该算法的可行性。该算法满足收敛条件且重建图像误差小。仿真和实验结果表明,与LBP、Landweber和共轭梯度算法相比,对于简单流型该算法兼备成像质量高、边界均匀稳定等优点,该算法的提出为ECT图像重建算法的研究提供了一个新的思路。     

基于电容层析成像系统测量信号稀疏性的两相流流型辨识

提出了基于电容层析成像(ECT)测量电容信号稀疏性的两相流流型辨识算法,该算法首先使用所有流型对应的归一化测量电容值信号构建一个过完备字典,并将待辨识样本通过该过完备字典进行稀疏表示,使其具有稀疏性并满足稀疏重构的基本要求,然后以压缩感知的正交匹配追踪(OMP)算法求取各标准样本对应于完备样本集的稀疏解,最后根据待辨识样本与标准样本稀疏解之间的线性相关程度进行流型辨识。使用该方法对5种典型的两相流流型识别进行了仿真及实验研究,结果表明:该方法的流型正确识别率均高于98%。     

Dual imaging modality of granular flow based on ECT sensors

In this study, a previously developed dual modality imaging system is applied to image the flow of granular matter with different electrical properties in cylindrical vessels. The imaging system is based on both capacitance and power measurements acquired by an electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) sensor located around the vessel. The measurement data are then used to reconstruct cross-sectional images of both permittivity and conductivity distributions. A neural network multi-criterion optimization reconstruction technique (NN-MOIRT) is used for the inverse (reconstruction) problem. The contribution of this technology to the field of granular matters is explored through review of research articles that can be a direct application of this development. We discuss the capabilities of this dual-modality acquisition system using synthetic data for granular matter with different electrical properties.     

一种电容层析成像系统电极组合激励测量方法

针对电容层析成像图像重建具有非线性不适定性的问题,提出了8组24电极旋转激励测量方案,并与传统12电极电容层析成像传感器进行了对比分析,包括电容值大小及其动态范围、敏感场分布均匀性以及重建图像质量。应用COMSOL软件及Matlab软件对两种传感器激励模式进行仿真,结果表明:所提出的8组电极旋转激励测量模式,其电容独立测量数与传统12电极传感器相近,可较好地保证实时成像速度,测量电容值较大且动态范围较小,降低了信号检测电路设计难度,测量区域灵敏场均匀性有所改善,对中心物体的成像质量明显提高。     

基于ECT的航空复合材料缺陷检测研究

针对航空复合材料制件在生产和服役过程中产生的缺陷损伤,提出了一种基于电容敏感原理的同面多电极阵列传感器无损检测方法。基于电容边缘效应,设计了一套同面电极阵列的胶粘缺陷检测系统,模拟航空复合材料缺陷的真实分布。电容层析成像(ECT)系统以单电极激励方式工作,根据缺陷材料介电特性变化引起的电容测量值的变化,采用共轭梯度成像算法复现缺陷位置和形状。实验结果表明,所述方法能够准确地判断出胶粘缺陷的位置和大小,能够对2mm厚度碳纤维复合材料内侧的8mm胶粘结构缺陷进行可视化检测,ECT检测系统重建图像质量较高、边缘伪影较少,为航空复合材料缺陷检测提供了一种新的研究方向。     

基于MO-PLP-ELM及电容层析成像的两相流流型辨识

提出一种基于多目标优化并行感知器的极限学习机(MO-PLP-ELM)及电容层析成像(ECT)技术的两相流流型辨识算法。首先,为保证样本具有代表性,采用随机思想生成7类流型的训练及测试样本集;其次,对样本模型的电容数据归一化处理;最后,采用MO-PLP-ELM算法进行流型辨识,并与常用的BP神经网络、支持向量机、极限学习机及并行感知器改进极限学习机算法进行比较,结果表明,提出的MO-PLP-ELM算法其辨识率明显高于其它算法,平均辨识率达96.1%。     

Image reconstruction algorithm based on the extended regularised total least squares method for electrical capacitance tomography

Electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) is a non-invasive imaging technology that aims at the visualisation of the cross-sectional permittivity distribution of a dielectric object based on the measured capacitance data. Successful applications of ECT depend greatly on the precision and speed of the image reconstruction algorithms. ECT image reconstruction is a typical ill-posed problem, and its solution is unstable, that is, the solution is sensitive to noises in the input data. Methods that ensure the stability of a solution while enhancing the quality of the reconstructed images should be used to obtain a meaningful reconstruction result. An image reconstruction algorithm based on the regularised total least squares (TLS) method that considers the errors in both the sensitivity field matrix and the capacitance data for ECT is presented. The regularised TLS method is extended using a combination robust estimation technique and an extended stabilising functional according to the ill-posed characteristics of ECT, which transforms the image reconstruction problem into an optimisation problem. In addition, the Newton algorithm is employed to solve the objective functional. Numerical simulations indicate that the algorithm is feasible and overcomes the numerical instability of ECT image reconstruction; for the cases of the reconstructed objects considered here, the spatial resolution of the reconstructed images obtained using the algorithm is enhanced; as a result, an efficient method for ECT image reconstruction is introduced.     

太赫兹技术在水泥基材料研究中的应用

本文介绍了太赫兹波的特性以及太赫兹技术的工作原理及其应用,重点介绍了太赫兹时域光谱技术和太赫兹成像技术在水泥水化过程、水泥基材料的微观结构检测和水泥基材料耐久性能三方面的研究进展.利用太赫兹光谱技术可跟踪硅酸三钙、硅酸二钙以及主要水化产物水化硅酸钙、氢氧化钙在水化过程中的变化情况;利用水分对太赫兹波强烈吸收的特性,能够...     

数字化电容层析成像系统

基于电容敏感原理设计的数字化电容层析成像（ECT）系统，利用有限元法，分析了阵列电极结构对敏感场分布的影响，通过优化设计和仿真试验，改善了敏感场分布的均匀性；构建了以数字信号处理器（DSP）为核心、现场可编程门阵列（眦）协同工作的12电极的数字化ECT系统，提出了由离线预迭代和在线一步成像所构成的新的图像重建算法——预迭代法，其成像速度及精度均明显得到提高。     

低场核磁共振技术在水泥基材料中的应用

近年来,核磁共振技术已经成为表征水泥基材料水化进程、非化学结合水量和孔结构的一种重要手段。简单介绍了核磁共振基本原理和低场核磁共振主要参数;阐述了低场核磁共振技术在水泥基材料测试中的应用,主要包括水化进程、孔结构、水分迁移和扩散等方面的内容;展望了低场核磁共振技术在水泥基材料研究中的应用前景。     

方形电容层析成象系统的仿真研究

本利用自行开发的软平台,引入方形管道电容成象系统的模型,用限元法计算了敏感场的分布,并结合多种图象重建算法针对１２电极方形ＥＣＴ系统进行了仿真实验,得到了令人满意的结果。