Application of Electrical Resistance Tomography to Ice-Water Two-Phase Flow Parameters Measurement

Abstract. The pipeline transport system of ice-water mixed fluid applies widely (e.g., ice cold storage system). Ice-water two phase flow is a non-settlement flow with viscous particles. Due to its complexity and variability, the correct parameter measurement of ice-water two phase flow, in terms of ice packing factor (IPF) and phase distribution, is an extremely challenging task. Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is a novel imaging technology that can display cross-sectional electrical conductivity distribution within a pipe by using a tomography reconstruction algorithm. Compared to computerized tomography (CT), which is a standard tool in medical diagnostics and non-destructive testing of materials, ERT has many advantages in cost, speed and safety. The work described here is to study and learn about ERT implementation in measurement parameters of ice-water two-phase flow. In experiment the reconstructed image clearly display the phase distribution of ice and water in two-phase system. The research results prove that it is possible to monitor on-line the transportation process of ice-water two-phase flow using ERT system.