Real-Time 3-D Volume Imaging and Mass-Gauging of High Temperature Flows and Power System Components in a Fossil Fuel Reactor Using Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography

Controlling emissions and increasing efficiencies are essential requirements in future advanced power plants. Herein, next generation power systems require greater flexibility in their operations for meeting the higher efficiency and lower emissions conditions that are geared toward meeting consumer demand and adhering to increased regulatory standards, simultaneously. Those requirements can be met by developing non-invasive imaging systems that can reveal details of combustion and power generation flow systems toward their optimization. This Phase I effort is to establish feasibility of developing such system based on capacitance sensors. Capacitance sensors were successfully used to image flow variables in cold flow systems. An Electrical Capacitance Volume Tomography (ECVT) system was successfully developed for that objective. Capacitance sensors exhibit favorable features of safety, flexibility, and suitability for scale-up applications that make them a favorable solution for industrial applications. In this Phase I, a feasibility of using capacitance sensors for imaging flow variables in harsh conditions; typical in power generations systems; will be established. Capacitance sensors will be tested at high temperatures and materials for designing ECVT sensors for harsh environments will be devised. Chambers for imaging flames and combustions particles will constructed and utilized for testing ECVT sensors. A mass- Gauging method will also be devised to measure mass-flows of process variables, in real-time. Results from tasks conducted in this Phase I will be used to develop a full ECVT system for power generation systems at high temperatures and pressures. Tasks in this Phase I are based on Logical progressions from past experience of developing imaging systems. Tasks here are focused on testing sensors in harsh conditions for better understanding of their performance, they are also structured to match requested budget. Successful completion of this project will result in significant public benefit due to the potential of this technology in helping the energy industry increase efficiencies and lower emissions. The proposed system would also advance multi-phase flow research of hot systems by providing access to obscure locations of a flow system. It also has a very high potential of attracting commercial interests as the need for advanced instrumentation is imminent to address the increased sophistication of advanced power plants. This would also benefit the public by spurring economic growth.