Measurement of the solids volume fraction and velocity distributions in solids–liquid flows using dual-plane electrical resistance tomography

This paper describes a dual-plane Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) system for measuring the local solids volume fraction distribution and the local solids axial velocity distribution in solids–liquid flows. The paper also describes a local, intrusive conductivity probe system for providing reference measurements of the distributions obtained using the dual-plane ERT system. Experiments were performed using both the ERT system and the local probe system in vertically upward and inclined solids–water flows. Good agreement between the two techniques was observed. The local solids volume fraction distribution and the local solids axial velocity distribution obtained using the ERT system enable good estimates to be made of the mean solids volume fraction, the mean solids velocity and the solids volumetric flow rate.