Tomographic KT-1 signature of phase-fraction distributions in multiphase bubble columns

Characterization of multiphase bubble column flow conditions is performed via the KT-1 signature route of computerized tomography (CT). Cross-sectional images of the bubble column are used for this study. These images were obtained non-invasively by the dual energy X-ray CT developed at Leibniz University Hannover. The solid phase is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) granules, the liquid phase is water and the gaseous phase is air. A convolution back-projection algorithm is used for tomographic reconstruction. Quantification of CT images (obtained for various combinations of liquid velocity, gas velocity and solid concentration of bubble column) is performed using CT fundamentals. The use of KT-1 as a tool for further analysis (of physical phenomenon from CT images) is demonstrated giving a very good insight into bubble column physics. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.