Ultrafast 3D X-ray tomography of a wire-mesh sensor in operation in a two-phase flow

M. Bieberlea,b, T. Stürzelc, U. Hampela,b, E. Laurienc

aInstitute of Fluid Dynamics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden ? Rossendorf, Bautzner La ndstr. 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany

bAREVA Endowed Chair of Imaging Techniques in Energy and Process Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden,

Germany

cInstitute of Nuclear Energy Technology and Energy Systems, Stuttgart University,Pfaffenwaldring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Abstract

An ultrafast 3D X-ray tomography modality (3D-CT) has been developed in order to study highly dynamic interface structures in multiphase flows. The wire-mesh sensor (WMS) is an intrusive measurement device that quantifies the phase fraction distribution of a two-phase flow within the cross-section of a pipe or column. The WMS is a valuable low-cost imaging technique, but is known to affect the flow at low liquid superficial velocities, which leads to overestimation of the measured gas fraction. In this study, the influencing effect of a WMS on a water-air two-phase flow has been investigated in detail by simultaneous 3D-CT imaging.

Keywords: ultrafast; 3D imaging; X-ray; computed tomography; wire-mesh sensor