News, Research & Development

A Unique Second-generation Tomograph is Developed

CMR Prototech has been the lead contractor in developing the gamma-ray tomograph, based on technology originally developed at University of Bergen (UiB).

 

SECOND GENERATION TOMOGRAPH

 

The one-of-a-kind tool was used to measure multi-phase or multi-component fluids flowing through a 2” diameter pipe. The idea of developing a second-generation tomograph came up in a meeting between Geir Anton Johansen and Bernt Skeie three years ago. This new version has been developed by CMR Prototech together with researchers from Science & Technology at Christian Michelsen Reserach (CMR), scientists from University of Bergen and from Integrated Detector Electronics AS (IDEAS).

– This new gamma-ray tomograph is much improved with regards to temporal and spatial resolution, software visualization, user friendliness and radiation safety, project leader Kevin Cox from CMR Prototech explains.

 

STUDY PIPE FLOWS

 

SRC will use the tomograph to study pipe flows with water or oil and sand to advance numerical models for describing these complex fluid dynamics. The tool implements five Am-241 radioactive sources oriented radially around the pipe which emit photons through the pipe and into five radiation detectors on the opposite side.

– Each detector measures a 2D band-shaped region across the pipe diameter and counts the number of photons passing through the pipe and striking various pixels in the detector.  Denser regions within the fluid will absorb more photons than less dense regions.  The counts from the five detectors are reconstructed into a circular cross-section image and output through a Labview script to show a real-time image of the density distribution in the fluid-sand mixture flowing through the pipe, Cox fills in.

The project, with a total budget of $651,000 USD, started in the 2nd Quarter of 2014 and was successfully completed after installation and commissioning in the 4th Quarter of 2016.