Industrial Process Tomography

Research in Industrial Process Tomography at the University of Manchester has taken place in Manchester since 1987 and spans the schools of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Chemical Engineering & Analytical Science, Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering. We pride ourselves in being one of the world leaders in this field of research.

This relatively new technology is progressing from early foundations in low-frequency electrical tomography to include microwave and optoelectronic techniques. We are world leaders in Electrical tomography instrumentation and this has spawned commercial instruments from Industrial Tomography Ltd. and Process Tomopgraphy Ltd. A £3M Foresight Challenge grant and a £2.2M EPSRC Platform grant were awarded in 1996 and 2001 respectively.

The Essential Information

Modalities

Introduction
The development of Industrial Process Tomography accross the disciplines.

What is tomography
The definition of tomography and its diversity.

Basic principles
Sensors round a pipe or vessel reveal information on the nature and distribution of components within.

Early history & development
A potted history from the pioneers to current research.

Project Results
Current and recent results demonstrate some of the progress that has been made in recent years.

Electrical Capacitance Tomography
Oil, De-ionized Water, Nonmetallic Powders, Polymers, Burning Gases

Electrical Resistance Tomography
Water/Saline, Biological Tissues, Geological Materials, Semiconductors

Electro-Magnetic Tomography
Metals, Some Minerals, Magnetic Materials, Ionised Water

Microwave Tomography
High quality density contrast

Optical Tomography
Distributions of Chemical Species, Gases, Chemical Processes

Multimodality & Impedance (Dielectric) Spectroscopy Imaging Systems
'Component Specificity'