Principles and industrial applications of electrical capacitance tomography

For years scientists have been writing horrendously complicated programs to try to simulate on computer screens what they think goes on inside pipelines, chemical-mixing vessels and reactors. Their aim was to improve the transport of fluids through pipes and mixing in chemical plants so as to cut costs and increase efficiency. This work has led to new designs of process plants that have saved millions of pounds. Now they can find out if their simulations were right. Members of the UMIST Process Tomography Group describe a tomographic scanning technique which allows them to 'see' through the walls of pipelines and enclosed Vessels to monitor the flow of fluids and other materials inside.