Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography
This paper presents a method for the online determination of the spatial distribution of the moisture content in granular material. It might be essential for the monitoring and optimal control of, for example, drying processes. The proposed method utilizes Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). As a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/12/2807 |
| _version_ | 1811304374374236160 |
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| author | Jan Porzuczek |
| author_facet | Jan Porzuczek |
| author_sort | Jan Porzuczek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents a method for the online determination of the spatial distribution of the moisture content in granular material. It might be essential for the monitoring and optimal control of, for example, drying processes. The proposed method utilizes Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). As an exemplary material for experimental research, the black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) was used. The relationship between the electrical impedance of the chokeberry and its moisture content was determined for a wide range of frequencies (20 Hz−200 kHz). The EIT research consisted of both simulation and experimental investigation. Experimental studies of the spatial distribution of the moisture content were performed in a cylindrical vessel equipped with 8 electrodes circumferentially arranged. The voltage signal from the electrodes was acquired simultaneously using the data acquisition module. Due to the high impedance of the chokeberries, exceeding 10<sup>9</sup> Ω for the dried matter, extraordinary instrumentation was necessary to be applied. On the other hand, raw chokeberry was characterized by a several orders of magnitude lower impedance (10<sup>3</sup>−10<sup>4</sup> Ω), especially for high frequencies. The wide range of the observed impedance was able to be measured owing to its use of the voltage stimulation instead of the current stimulation (which is most common for EIT). The image reconstruction problem was solved using an iterative Gauss−Newton algorithm and the EIDORS (Electrical Impedance Tomography and Diffuse Optical Tomography Reconstruction Software) package. The obtained results showed a satisfactory ability to localize an insufficiently dried part of the material. Prospective ways to improve the imaging quality are also discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:04:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85951c4d22ed466eb6b08068e726c8b5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:04:48Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-85951c4d22ed466eb6b08068e726c8b52022-12-22T02:55:11ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202019-06-011912280710.3390/s19122807s19122807Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance TomographyJan Porzuczek0Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, Warszawska 24, 31-155 Krakow, PolandThis paper presents a method for the online determination of the spatial distribution of the moisture content in granular material. It might be essential for the monitoring and optimal control of, for example, drying processes. The proposed method utilizes Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). As an exemplary material for experimental research, the black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) was used. The relationship between the electrical impedance of the chokeberry and its moisture content was determined for a wide range of frequencies (20 Hz−200 kHz). The EIT research consisted of both simulation and experimental investigation. Experimental studies of the spatial distribution of the moisture content were performed in a cylindrical vessel equipped with 8 electrodes circumferentially arranged. The voltage signal from the electrodes was acquired simultaneously using the data acquisition module. Due to the high impedance of the chokeberries, exceeding 10<sup>9</sup> Ω for the dried matter, extraordinary instrumentation was necessary to be applied. On the other hand, raw chokeberry was characterized by a several orders of magnitude lower impedance (10<sup>3</sup>−10<sup>4</sup> Ω), especially for high frequencies. The wide range of the observed impedance was able to be measured owing to its use of the voltage stimulation instead of the current stimulation (which is most common for EIT). The image reconstruction problem was solved using an iterative Gauss−Newton algorithm and the EIDORS (Electrical Impedance Tomography and Diffuse Optical Tomography Reconstruction Software) package. The obtained results showed a satisfactory ability to localize an insufficiently dried part of the material. Prospective ways to improve the imaging quality are also discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/12/2807drying processElectrical Impedance Tomographyimpedance spectroscopychokeberryEIDORS |
| spellingShingle | Jan Porzuczek Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography Sensors drying process Electrical Impedance Tomography impedance spectroscopy chokeberry EIDORS |
| title | Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography |
| title_full | Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography |
| title_short | Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Moisture Content in Granular Material Using Electrical Impedance Tomography |
| title_sort | assessment of the spatial distribution of moisture content in granular material using electrical impedance tomography |
| topic | drying process Electrical Impedance Tomography impedance spectroscopy chokeberry EIDORS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/12/2807 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janporzuczek assessmentofthespatialdistributionofmoisturecontentingranularmaterialusingelectricalimpedancetomography |