Detection of the shape of liquid metals using electrical capacitance tomography


Detection of the shape of liquid metals using electrical capacitance tomography

Wondrak, T.; Zhang, M.; Soleimani, M.

In metallurgical processes gas-liquid metal two-phase flows play an important role. The monitoring of single bubbles in a free liquid metal jet is quite challenging due to the high temperature and the opaqueness of the melt. In this paper we investigate the applicability of the electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) for imaging the outer surface of a liquid metal strand. The results of this feasibility study are the basis for the development of a new sensor combining ECT for the detection of the outer shape of the jet and mutual induction tomography (MIT) for the detection of bubbles inside the jet at the same time. In order to show the principal applicability, we will present a first static measurement of the level of the eutectic alloy GaInSn in a pipe. An ECT sensor with 12 electrodes was mounted on the outer surface of an acrylic glass pipe with inner diameter of 70 mm. For different levels of liquid metal in the cross section of the sensor, the capacitance was measured and the image was reconstructed. Additionally, we will shorty discuss the challenges of the application of ECT in this setup, such as the wettability of the material of the pipe with liquid metal.

Keywords: electrical capacitance tomography; liquid metal; surface detection

  • Contribution to proceedings
    WCIPT8 - 8th World Congress on Industrial Process Tomography, 26.-29.09.2016, Foz do Iguacu, Brasilia
  • Lecture (Conference)
    WCIPT8 - 8th World Congress on Industrial Process Tomography, 26.-29.09.2016, Foz do Iguacu, Brasilia

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-24650
Publ.-Id: 24650