Real-time image reconstruction for various flow regimes using an optical tomography sensor in a gravity flow conveyor

Abstract

The aim of this project is monitoring real-time flow imaging when various baffles are created to block certain areas of a pipe so that flowing particles can be controlled using difference patterns with the same flow rate. The generated flow regimes are full flow, three-quarter flow, half flow and quarter flow. A vertical pneumatic conveyor is designed for holding a 85-mm inner diameter pipeline. The corresponding optical tomography sensor uses a parallel beam projection approach with an IR light source so that the sensor is free of noise from any surrounding visible light source. The two orthogonal projections and two rectilinear projections are ideally in the same layer. The sensor readings provide cross-sectional distribution information in the conveyor. It can be related to the varying light intensity affected by the dropping particles. By using computer programming, the information will be reconstructed to form an image by referring to a color intensity bar. The results obtained from this project show that flow imaging follows the artificial flow regime. It will beneficial in the industrial production line to maintain the flow rate.