Determination of the detection process in an experimental tomograph for industrial flow visualization using radioactive tracers

A tomographic technique applied to fluid flow visualization is described. For industrial purposes, a relatively high energy tracer has to be used (200 keV to 2 MeV). The procedure implies the comprehension of the detection process relative to geometric response, attenuation, and scatter. This has been achieved by Monte Carlo investigations for four typical media. The formulation of a physical model allowed a set of weighting factors that were incorporated in the reconstruction algorithm. Experimental projections were compared to simulated projections for Monte Carlo validation. Results show that reconstruction of these data from a very limited number of projections is hopeful.