A Triple-Modality Ultrasound Computed Tomography Based on Full-Waveform Data for Industrial Processes

Abstract

Ultrasound computed tomography (USCT) is gaining interests in many application areas in industrial processes. The recent scientific research focuses on the possible uses of USCT for varied fields of industry such as flow monitoring in pipes, non-destructive inspection, and monitoring of stirred tanks chemical processes. Until now, most transmission tomography (UTT) and reflection tomography (URT) have been demonstrated individually for these applications. A full waveform USCT contain large amount of information on process under evaluation. The developed approach in this paper is focusing on demonstration of a triple modality USCT. First, an optimised transmission image is formed by fusion of time-of-flight (TOF) and acoustic attenuation (AA) images. Secondly, a reflection image is being optimised by using the information from the transmission image. This triple modality method enables integration of a shape-based approach obtained by URT mode with the quantitative image-based approach UTT mode. A delicate combination of the different information provided by various features of the full-wave signal offers optimal and increased spatial resolution and provides complementary information. Verification tests have been implemented using experimental phantoms of different combinations, sizes, and shapes, to investigate the qualitative imaging features. Moreover, experiments with different concentrations solutions further validate the quantitative traits to benefit from both reflection and transmission modes. This work displays the potential of the full-waveform USCT for industrial applications.

Optimisation of Technological Processes by Solving Inverse Problem through Block-Wise-Transform-Reduction Method Using Open Architecture Sensor Platform

“…The traditional approach to modelling an ultrasonic tomograph is to approximate the system behaviour with a model of simple propagation rays between two ultrasonic probes. Publications verify the effectiveness of this solution reliably being able to image the positions of inclusions and the domain of the tomographic system [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. Moreover, the effectiveness of such models can be verified by a practical study from measurement data.…”

“…Ultrasound tomography, and in particular ultrasound computer tomography (UCT), can be broadly classified into two basic classes: diffraction and classical, and these in turn are divided into reflection and transmission [25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

An Ultrasound Tomography Method for Monitoring CO2 Capture Process Involving Stirring and CaCO3 Precipitation

“…The biggest y-value (the y-axis is a measurement value that represents the amplitude of the receiving wave) within a 20% signal's window in the transmitted pulse "region" indicates the recorded pulse's amplitude, depicted by the black point in the graph. A more detailed method for signal picking can be seen in [37], where the hardware is also briefly described. In both TOF and amplitude data, the "Deleting Outliers" statistical filtering method was used to handle the noise coming from multi-backscattering.…”

“…This may lead to some limitations for the TOF data to be used in malfunction identification (e.g., failure of the pump or mixer) and the process control implementation. In [37], we developed a full waveform USCT algorithm taking into account the acoustic attenuation, as well as the TOF data. Indeed, for the amplitude attenuation, the image reconstruction process follows a similar procedure as the transmission time-of-flight-mode USCT.…”

“…Regarding TOF data, only the positive TOF delays were considered for this study as diffraction of the ultrasound is expected from the dispersed phase, especially at the low excitation frequency of 400 kHz. A multi-modality USCT, as developed in [37], and further information fusion from TOF and AA could be investigated in future studies. To conclude, the reactive crystallization experiment was a full-scale test on live-process challenges.…”