Reconstruction of particle positions and orientations from 3D MRI images of non-spherical particle packings (Open Access)--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Romijn, N., Bergmans, Y. E. I., de Haas, V., Hoogendoorn, M. W., Miloshevska, M., Baltussen, M. W., . . . Kuipers, J. A. M. (2025). Reconstruction of particle positions and orientations from 3D MRI images of non-spherical particle packings. Particuology, 101, 57-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2023.10.003

Reconstruction of particle positions and orientations from 3D MRI images of non-spherical particle packings (Open Access)

N. Romijn, Y.E.I. Bergmans, V. de Haas, M.W. Hoogendoorn, M. Miloshevska, M.W. Baltussen, K.A. Buist^*, E.A.J.F. Peters, J.A.M. Kuipers

Multiphase Reactors Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Postbus, 5600, MB, Eindhoven, the Netherlands

10.1016/j.partic.2023.10.003

Volume 101, June 2025, Pages 57-66

Received 14 August 2023, Revised 13 October 2023, Accepted 14 October 2023, Available online 28 October 2023, Version of Record 29 May 2025.

E-mail: k.a.buist@tue.nl

Highlights

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows 3D visualisation of the packing.

• Different particle detection methods to retrieve the particle packing from MRI images.

• Both position and orientation detected with reasonable accuracy and limited overlap.

• Results show successful reconstruction of random packings of non-spherical particle shapes.

Abstract

Packed bed reactors of non-spherical particles are widely used in chemical industry with the aim to obtain a high active surface area and achieve a homogeneous flow. Despite this, little is known about the arrangement of particles within the bed and the influence of this arrangement on the fluid flow distribution. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive tomographic imaging technique that allows 3D visualisation of the packing and flow structure. However, the individual particle information is not obtained using MRI. In this work we investigate different particle detection methods to retrieve the particle position and orientation from MRI images. Results show the successful reconstruction of random packing structures of various non-spherical particle shapes: ellipsoid, spherocylinder, cylinder and cube. The applicability of each method in relation to the particle shape, as well as strengths and drawbacks of each particle detection method are discussed. This paper shows the ability to reconstruct real packed beds of non-spherical particle shapes from MRI images, which opens several research opportunities in the field of chemical engineering.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Magnetic resonance imaging; Particle detection; Non-spherical particle packings; Bed reconstruction; Position and orientation

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