Positron Emission Projection Imaging: A technique for concentration field measurements in opaque industrial systems (Open Access)--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Hart-Villamil, R., Sykes, J., Ingram, A., Windows-Yule, C. R. K., & Gupta, S. K. (2024). Positron Emission Projection Imaging: A technique for concentration field measurements in opaque industrial systems. Particuology, 94, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2024.07.009

Positron Emission Projection Imaging: A technique for concentration field measurements in opaque industrial systems (Open Access)

Roberto Hart-Villamil^a, Jack Sykes^{a b}, Andy Ingram^a *, Christopher R.K. Windows-Yule^a, Santosh Kumar Gupta^c

a School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
b School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
c Hindustan Unilever R&D, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560066, India

10.1016/j.partic.2024.07.009

Volume 94, November 2024, Pages 1-15

Received 8 June 2024, Revised 6 July 2024, Accepted 16 July 2024, Available online 31 July 2024, Version of Record 7 August 2024.

E-mail: A.ingram@bham.ac.uk

Highlights

• New PEPI algorithm enhances spatial and temporal resolution for imaging.

• Validated using synthetic data from a PET scanner digital twin.

• Applied PEPI to image laminar flow mixing in a ploughshare mixer.

• PEPI effectively validates CFD models for industrial processes.

• Future: refine algorithm and expand industrial applications of PEPI.

Abstract

A novel Positron Emission Projection Imaging (PEPI) algorithm designed to compute the plane-projected spatial distribution of radiolabelled materials without the need for collimation is introduced. By leveraging improved data efficiency, we have achieved a technique with enhanced spatial resolution and temporal resolution compared to previous PEPI algorithms. Validation of this algorithm was conducted using synthetic data generated from a digital twin of a PET scanner, demonstrating its accuracy for practical applications. The industrial advantage of this novel algorithm was applied in the imaging of laminar flow mixing within a ploughshare mixer, with the experimental results compared against those obtained from validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. This comparison highlights an important use case for PEPI as a robust validation tool for CFD simulations, crucial for enhancing industrial processes. PEPI, which uses deeply penetrating gamma-photons, is now capable of imaging opaque fluids and solids in industrial casing. Future directions for this work include further algorithmic refinements and expanding its application across various industrial systems, establishing PEPI as a robust tool for in-depth industrial process analysis. The advancements presented here allow for optimized mixer design and enhanced process efficiency, extending the frontiers of tomographic imaging in industrial applications.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Positron emission projection imaging; Positron emission particle tracking; Computational fluid dynamics; Mixing; Ploughshare mixer

文章导读