International Society for Industrial Process Tomography

3D-printed Multilayer Sensor Structure for
Electrical Capacitance Tomography

A.Kowalska^*, R.Banasiak, R.Wajman, A.Romanowski and D.Sankowski

Institute of Applied Computer Science, Lodz University of Technology,

Lodz, Poland

^*Email: akowalska@iis.p.lodz.pl

ABSTRACT

Typically an inaccurate hand-made and approach for a 3D Electrical Capacitance Tomography sensor structure fabrication is used. More over this procedure is usually complicated and time-consuming. Another disadvantage is that a diameter, a thickness and a shape of a hand-made 3D ECT sensor profiles sensor depend on pipes, tanks and containers available on the market. In this paper a novel approach to the 3D ECT sensors fabrication process is developed and experimentally verified. Proposed solution uses 3D computer modelling and 3D printing technique for building 3D ECT sensor of any shape and electrode layout suitable for using in a broad range of industrial applications. The solution starts from bringing a concept of 3D ECT sensor to its real design by using the Blender modeler. This led to final adjustment of the model using principles and constraints of 3D printing. Finally the sensor 3D printout using 3D printer can be done. The last stage is to fill up the printed structure by electrical elements and connect the wires system. This paper analyses and compares measurement abilities of a previously used 3D ECT sensor with a new 3D-printed device. The authors compared both: experimental and FEM simulated capacitance measurement and 3D image reconstruction for a set of permittivity distribution phantoms. The results are promising and show a potential of the new 3D printed spatial capacitance sensor regarding to the significant fabrication time reduction as well as to the improvement of overall measurement accuracy and stability.

Keywords 3D, ECT, 3D-printing, sensors, modeling

Industrial Application oil and gas, chemical and powder, pharmaceuticals, foods