Application of the ERT for slurry flow regime characterisation

This paper focuses on the combined use of ERT measurements and optical observations to study four types of settling slurry flow regime in horizontal pipeline. The technique is based on the analysis of solids concentration profile and solids axial velocity profile obtained from a dual-plane Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) sensor. Sand-water slurry was used in two throughput concentrations, 2% and 10% and transport velocity range 1.2-5.0 m/s. The predicted flow regimes are reasonably compared to the photographic images of actual flow within the test section. It is expected that this study can provide a new technique for on-line slurry flow regime identification.