Virtual Centre for Industrial & Process Tomography

Imaging Solid-Liquid Mixing

The VCIPT has been pivotal in delivering solutions to complex industrial sensing and measurement challenges (See: What is the Virtual Centre for more details). It has facilitated major progress in developing the science, technology and applications of Industrial Process Tomography (IPT), which provides unparalleled information on internal distribution and behaviour in a wide range of processes, as illustrated alongside. (See: What is the Industrial Process Tomography for more details). Powerful first generation IPT instrumentation products are now available and in use around the world in a wide range of application sectors.

As applications are addressed new challenges inevitably have emerged in several ‘dimensions’:-

• In terms of the spatial resolution can we sense structure and composition at smaller length scales?
• In the temporal dimension can we gain insight into fast moving processes such as multi-component flows?
• Can we separately identify different components and compositions, perhaps in terms of spectroscopic data, as well as their spatial distribution?
• Where we now have to periodically sample a process, and submit this to laboratory examination, to gain quality information can we do this on-line and in real-time?
• Where processes feature multiple components can we use multiple sensing modes to gain integrated information?

These questions are typical of the new challenges that are the focus of the VCIPT-Super Sensing Consortium (VCIPT-SSC); a new foundation for industry and academia research collaboration.

The Consortium aims to closely engage industrial members from diverse sectors, such as: food, minerals, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals; with researchers in key UK universities, to address the questions and challenges above.

For further information please contact: Professor Brian Hoyle.