Non-invasive imaging assisted CFD simulation of 4D multi-modal fluid flow using In-situ adaptor

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel non-invasive imaging method combining X-ray CT and EIT with a portable in-situ adaptor to enhance CFD simulations of multiphase fluid flows, offering improved practicality and comparable accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a compact, modular in-situ adaptor integrated with multimodal imaging for accurate, non-invasive CFD data collection, replacing traditional CT methods with more economical and practical alternatives.

Findings

Achieved 85-98% agreement between simulated and experimental data.

Demonstrated EIT as a practical alternative to CT for multiphase flow analysis.

Provided multimodal imaging data differentiating conductive and mass-attenuated profiles.

Abstract

X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) is used to recover the true surfaces of fluid channels and fed to simulation tool (ANSYS) to create accurate cyber environment. The simulation tool also receives CT-assisted multiphase fluid profiles (belonging to the instance just before the flow starts) as an initial condition. This unique methodology is made possible by using a novel in-situ compact adaptor design is used to create fluid channels that can be placed inside any industrial X-ray CT and fulfill the above objective. It is integrated with an android based App to control the flow once placed inside CT. It is portable and compact enough: (a) to be placed inside various experimental environments, and (b) modular enough to be mounted with multi-modal systems simultaneously. Two key parameters, (a) spatial distribution and (b) the air volume fraction, are measured using two different non-invasive imaging modalities: (a) Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) and (d) X-ray Computed Tomography (CT). Simulated outcomes are correlated with the experimental outcomes from both EIT and X-ray CT, showing an agreement of 85 to 98 percent, respectively. Time-averaged electrically conductive fluid flow profile obtained by EIT shows a match with mass mass-attenuated fluid profile obtained by X-ray CT, justifying the utility of an in-situ adaptor. CT assistance for CFD studies can be replaced by EIT assistance as former techniques: (a) scanning time may be relatively slower than the latter, (b) it does not require rotations, (c) economical, and (d) fluid channels need not be placed inside of shielded compartment thus improving practicality. The data of analysis is shared in this work. Multimodal non-invasive imaging provides multiphase flow information, it also differentiates conductive, and mass-attenuated multiphase profiles at common cross-sections.