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Assessing Blending of Non‐Newtonian Fluids in Static Mixers by Planar Laser‐Induced Fluorescence and Electrical Resistance Tomography
Author(s) -
Forte Giuseppe,
Albano Andrea,
Simmons Mark J. H.,
Stitt Hugh E.,
Brunazzi Elisabetta,
Alberini Federico
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201800728
Subject(s) - mixing (physics) , planar , tomography , laminar flow , planar laser induced fluorescence , newtonian fluid , electrical resistance and conductance , materials science , electrical resistivity tomography , optics , resolution (logic) , non newtonian fluid , mechanics , laser , laser induced fluorescence , electrical resistivity and conductivity , computer science , composite material , physics , engineering , artificial intelligence , electrical engineering , computer graphics (images) , quantum mechanics
Planar laser‐induced fluorescence (PLIF) and electrical resistance tomography (ERT) were applied simultaneously to monitor the mixing performance of a KM static mixer for the blending of non‐Newtonian fluids of dissimilar rheologies in the laminar regime. The areal distribution method was used to obtain quantitative information from the ERT tomograms and the PLIF images. Comparison of the ERT and PLIF results demonstrates the ability of ERT to detect the mixing performance in cases of poor mixing within the resolution of the measurement, though the accuracy decreases as the condition of perfect mixing is approached. Thus, ERT has the potential to detect poor mixing within the confines of its resolution limit and the required conductivity contrast, providing potential rapid at‐line measurement for industrial practitioners.