Platform Grant for the University of Birmingham Positron Imaging Centre
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Positron Imaging Centre uses radioactive tracers to study flows of interest to engineers, in a variant of the medical imaging technique of positron emission tomography (PET). Most of our studies use the alternative technique of positron emission particle tracking (PEPT), developed at Birmingham, in which a single radioactive particle is tracked at high speed inside a flow system. The short-lived radioisotopes used for this work are produced using the Birmingham cyclotron, and various novel techniques have been developed for labelling individual particles (as small as 100 micrometres diameter) with suitable radioactivity. Standard medical PET scanners have been adapted to perform these studies, and in addition to various in-house measurement systems a transportable detector system has recently been developed allowing PEPT measurements to be carried out on large scale industrial plant. The Positron Imaging Centre operates as a national resource where academic and industrial groups can study the systems of specific interest to them, and welcomes collaborators from many institutions around the world and from a diverse range of academic disciplines. Applications range from fundamental studies of simple flow situations involving granular materials or liquids to measurements on the actual equipment used in industry for processing foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, etc. An important role for these studies is testing the accuracy of computer codes used for predicting complex flows. In future PET and PEPT will be increasingly used in conjunction with other complementary measurement techniques to reveal more complex properties of the behaviour of systems. While individual research projects are funded from appropriate sources, our Platform Grant is used to foster collaborations, to retain key staff and to develop the infrastructure (in particular the tracer labelling techniques) in order that we can apply our unique techniques to the widest possible range of problems.
Organisations
Publications
Windows-Yule CR
(2014)
Influence of thermal convection on density segregation in a vibrated binary granular system.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Denissenko P
(2014)
Positron emission tracking of individual particles in particle-laden rimming flow
in Physics of Fluids
Windows-Yule C
(2014)
Self-diffusion, local clustering and global segregation in binary granular systems: The role of system geometry
in Powder Technology
Cole K
(2014)
A surface coating method to modify tracers for positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) measurements of froth flotation
in Powder Technology
Fan X
(2011)
Impact of solid sizes on flow structure and particle motions in bubbling fluidization
in Powder Technology
Yu S
(2015)
The use of positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) to study milling of roll-compacted microcystalline cellulose ribbons
in Powder Technology
W. Chan C
(2010)
Particle velocities and their residence time distribution in the riser of a CFB
in Powder Technology
Mahmoudi S
(2011)
The solids flow in the CFB-riser quantified by single radioactive particle tracking
in Powder Technology
Chakravarty S
(2017)
Study of the particle motion induced by a vortex shaker
in Powder Technology
Tebianian S
(2016)
Comparison of particle velocity measurement techniques in a fluidized bed operating in the square-nosed slugging flow regime
in Powder Technology
Wu C
(2010)
Quantitative investigation of powder flow during die filling using positron emission particle tracking
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering
Windows-Yule CR
(2014)
Energy non-equipartition in strongly convective granular systems.
in The European physical journal. E, Soft matter
Parker DJ
(2017)
Positron emission particle tracking and its application to granular media.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Description | This grant enabled the Positron Imaging Centre to further develop capabilities for PEPT and diversify the portfolio of applications, including into new fields such as liquid metal casting. |
Exploitation Route | The value of PEPT has been appreciated by several groups worldwide, who are developing their own capabilities. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |