Front-end circuit in electrical resistance tomography (ERT) for two-phase liquid and gas imaging

Abstract

A steady and precise Voltage Control Current Source (VCCS ) with broad bandwidth plays a very important role in the quality of final images for the Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) system. Therefore, a model of current source is proposed in the paper which implement advanced Howland current pump as VCCS. The model are simulated through a software named multisim, and the simulation results show the proposed high-speed operational amplifier (op-amp) LM7171 is capable to produce constant output current at 10 mA (peak) when the frequency changes between 1 kHz to 500 kHz with load varies from 10 Ω to 1 kΩ. A two-dimensional (2D) simulation was performed using COMSOL and the results showed that the model is capable to detect air bubble (radius=10 mm) in a two-phase liquid and gas. The result presented with opposite excitation method with 150 kHz current at 10 mA. The measurement of boundary potentials are significantly influenced by bubble positions particularly towards the boundary. They are hoped to provide useful approaches for the design of practical and low-cost VCCS in ERT system.