This　paper　puts　forward　a　novel　design　for　a　high-speed　residual　potential　discharge　circuit　that　improves　real　time　performance　of　an　electrical　resistance　tomography　(ERT)　system.　The　authors＇　analysis　of　transient　time　effects　at　the　electrode-electrolyte　surface　of　a　model　ERT　sensor　used　with　bi-directional　current　pulse　excitation　found　that　a　large　amount　of　accumulated　charge　is　produced　between　the　excitation　electrodes　due　to　electrode　polarization.　This　part　of　the　residual　potential　is　bound　to　produce　a　huge　measuring　noise　and　its　attenuation　speed　greatly　affects　real　time　performance　of　the　ERT　system.　Therefore,　a　novel　high-speed　discharge　circuit　is　designed　to　eliminate　measuring　noise　generated　by　the　residual　potential.　Two　simulation　tests　are　conducted　on　the　denoising　effect　of　the　new　circuit　and　the　results　show　that　the　circuit　can　effectively　eliminate　residual　potential　between　excitation　electrodes.　The　high　speed　discharging　circuit　is　also　used　in　an　ERT　system　developed　by　the　authors　(using　bi-directional　current　pulse　excitation)　for　an　off-line　experiment　case,　where　the　system　achieved　a　speed　of　3877　frames　per　second.　The　result　shows　that　this　technology　can　be　applied　to　significantly　improve　real-time　ERT　system　performance.　©　2012　ICIC　International.