Upgrade of the Existing Tomography Instrument

电阻层析成像（ERT）是一种非侵入式技术，已成功地用于表征混合操作、聚合反应器、固液过滤过程、水力旋流器、气泡塔、生物反应器以及固液、气液和液液操作等多相过程的性能。目前的申请需要资金来升级现有的断层扫描系统，该系统在过去几年中一直是我们研究实验室使用最多的设备之一。许多研究生在他们的研究项目中使用了这个仪器。断层扫描系统的广泛应用也导致许多研究文章在著名的化学工程期刊上发表。这一工具使我们能够与加拿大公司开展许多研究项目。然而，现有的层析成像系统功能不正常，数据质量不足以满足新的研究项目。因此，现有仪器的升级对申请人和共同申请人的研究计划至关重要。他们无法承担以该仪器为主要组成部分的新研究项目。这种需求和紧迫性是巨大的。升级后的断层扫描将大大提高瑞尔森大学的研究能力，为基础研究和应用研究提供新的机会。所要求的设备将用于许多其他目的，包括向工业提供技术和科学服务。利用升级后的技术小组所进行的项目，不但会发展出可申请专利和具商业吸引力的技术，也会为研究界和工业界之间的紧密合作奠定基础。升级后的断层成像系统还将为混合技术、流动可视化和多相流领域的本科生和研究生、技术人员和博士后提供培训平台。

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is a non-intrusive technique, which has been successfully utilized to characterize the performances of the mixing operations, polymerization reactors, solid-liquid filtration processes, hydrocyclones, bubble columns, bioreactors, and multiphase processes such as solid-liquid, gas-liquid, and liquid-liquid operations. The present application requests funding to upgrade the existing tomography system, which has been one of the most heavily used pieces of equipment in our research lab in the past several years. Many graduate students have employed this instrument for their research projects. The extensive utilization of the tomography system has also resulted in publication of many research articles in prestigious chemical engineering journals. This instrument has enabled us to initiate many research projects with the Canadian companies. However, the existing tomography system is not functioning properly and the quality of the data is not sufficient for the new research projects. Thus, the upgrade of the existing instrument is vital for the applicant's and co-applicant's research programs. They are unable to undertake new research projects where this instrument is a major component. The need and urgency are tremendous. The acquisition of the upgraded tomography will significantly enhance the research capacity of Ryerson University by engendering new opportunities for fundamental as well as applied research. The requested equipment will be used for many other purposes including supplying technical and scientific services to industry. The projects conducted using the upgraded ERT will not only lead to the development of patentable and commercially attractive technologies, it paves the ground for close collaboration between the research community and industry. The upgraded tomography system will also provide a platform for the training of undergraduate and graduate students, technologists, and post-doctoral fellows in the field of mixing technology, flow visualization, and multiphase flow.