Imaging Nylon Polymerisation Processes by Applying Electrical Tomography

T. Dyakowski1, Michal Mikos2, Dimiter Vlaev1, Reg Mann1, G.W.Follows3 Arthur Boxman3 and M.P.W. Wilson4

1Department of Chemical Engineering, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QD United Kingdom

2Institute of Heat Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology

3DuPont (U.K.) PO Box 401, Middlesbrough, TS6 8JE

4DuPont (U.K.) Ltd, Gloucester GL4 3HP

1The authors are members of the Virtual Centre of Industrial Process Tomography

Abstract - The paper presents an application of electrical resistivity tomography for imaging a nylon polymerisation process at elevated temperatures (up to 275 °C) and pressures (up to 22 bar). The process was realised within a metal walled tank using a sensor constructed in the form of a ceramic sleeve with electrodes coated on the inner surface. The images obtained show the dynamic behaviour of the process and how the electrical properties of the material varied with time.

Keywords: electrical tomography, nylon polymerisation, and plasma technology