Evaluating practical measurements of fire-induced vent flows with stereoscopic PIV

Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) was applied to a fire-induced doorway flow to provide the velocity field for computations of the mass flow rate of air into an enclosure. For a flow of uniform temperature and concentration, the technique met all of the requirements to provide the best estimate of the mass flow rate. Simultaneous measurements of vertical distributions of velocity and temperature were also conducted with conventional vent flow techniques, bi-directional probes and thermocouples. Correction factors for mass flow rate computations using the conventional techniques were determined based on comparisons to the SPIV results. An average correction factor of unity was determined for the bi-directional probe technique thus further confirming the utilization of velocity distributions acquired using the technique in mass flow rate computations. An average correction factor of 0.69 was determined for mass flow rates computed from vertical temperature distributions inside and outside the enclosure. This agrees with average correction factors determined in previous studies. The results from the present study suggest that the conventional techniques, which are practical and affordable for routine fire testing, may be applied with greater confidence for fires up to 500 kW.     

Spatial resolution analysis of planar PIV measurements to characterise vortices in turbulent flows

The effects of spatial resolution of planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) on vortex size, swirling strength, circulation and population density characterisation are analysed using a series of experimental and numerical databases. The databases comprise a PIV database of an adverse-pressure-gradient turbulent boundary layer (APG TBL), a PIV database of a zero-pressure-gradient (ZPG) TBL in streamwise-wall-normal planes and streamwise-wall-normal slices of a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a ZPG TBL. The effects of interrogation window and mesh sizes on the vortex parameters are analysed in the outer region of these flows using different qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative analysis mainly capitalises on the possibility of mimicking the PIV data-sets with the DNS one. These approaches allow us to not only isolate the effects of mesh size and the interrogation window size but also to deduce the combined effects of other measurement errors in PIV. Typical values of mesh size and interrogation window size (0.01–0.03 of the boundary layer thickness) and typical levels of measurement uncertainties have significant effects on the vortex parameters. Moreover, each PIV error source affects the vortex parameters in different and frequently opposite manners. Hence, an optimal selection of measurement parameters such as the interrogation window size is indispensable in order to minimise the effects of spatial resolution and other measurement errors on the vortex parameters. Guidelines are presented in the Conclusions section of this paper. Finally, it is found that all the vortex parameters, when averaged across the outer region, are reasonably comparable in the ZPG and APG TBLs despite the fact that these are very different flows.     

Stereoscopic PIV measurements of a screeching supersonic jet

The effect of acoustic feed back on global flow response is illustrated through an example of a rectangular screeching jet operating at a nominal Mach number of 1.69. Using a stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry, the detailed flow characteristics within a screeching cycle are obtained with fidelity. To resolve the “bias” errors inherent with standard PIV image processing technique, a novel mesh-free and high spatial resolution scheme is implemented to yield accurate velocity measurements in a complex three-dimensional supersonic flow. The axis-switching phenomenon that arises due to unusual mixing enhancement in the minor axis plane of a rectangular jet is vividly displayed. Strong streamwise vortex structure in the jet shear layers, enhanced by the inherent instability of the shear layer, is reported.     

Stereoscopic PIV measurements of flow around a marine propeller

A stereoscopic PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) technique has been employed to measure the 3 dimensional flow structure of turbulent wake behind a marine propeller with 5 blades. The out-of-plane velocity component was measured using particle images captured simultaneously by two CCD cameras installed in the angular displacement configuration. 400 instantaneous velocity fields were acquired for each of four different blade phases of 0°, 18°, 36° and 54°. They were ensemble averaged to investigate the spatial evolution of propeller wake in the near wake region up to one propeller diameter (D) downstream. The phase-averaged velocity fields show clearly the viscous wake formed by the boundary layers developed along both surfaces of the blade. Tip vortices were generated periodically and the slipstream contraction occurs in the near-wake region. The out-of-plane velocity component has large values at the locations of tip and trailing vortices. With going downstream, the axial turbulence intensity and the strength of tip vortices were decreased due to the viscous dissipation, turbulence diffusion and blade-to-blade interaction. The difference in the mean velocity fields measured by SPIV and 2-D PIV methods was about 5% ≈ 10%. However, the 2-D PIV results also give sufficient information on propeller wake beyond the region of X/D=0.2.     

PIV measurements of turbulent jets issuing from triangular and circular orifice plates

The present study experimentally investigated the near-field flow mixing characteristics of two turbulent jets issuing from equilateral triangular and circular orifice plates into effectively unbounded surroundings,respectively.Planar particle image velocimetry(PIV) was applied to measure the velocity field at the same Reynolds number of Re=50,000,where Re = UeDe /with Ue being the exit bulk velocity and the kinematic viscosity of fluid,D e the equivalent diameters.The instantaneous velocity,mean velocity,Reynolds stresses were obtained.From the mean velocity field,the centreline velocity decay rate and half-velocity width were derived.Comparing the mixing characteristics of the two jets,it is found that the triangular jet has a faster mixing rate than the circular counterpart.The triangular jet entrainments with the ambient fluid at a higher rate in the near field.This is evidenced by a shorter unmixed core,faster Reynolds stress and centreline turbulence intensity growth.The primary coherent structures in the near field are found to break down more rapidly in the triangular jet as compared to the circular jet.Over the entire measurement region,the triangular jet maintained a higher rate of decay and spread.Moreover,all components of Reynolds stress of the triangular jet appear to reach their peaks earlier,and then decay more rapidly than those of the circular jet.In addition,the axis-switching phenomenon is observed in the triangular jet.     

Simultaneous OH-PLIF and PIV measurements in a gas turbine model combustor

In highly turbulent environments, combustion is strongly influenced by the effects of turbulence chemistry interactions. Simultaneous measurement of the flow field and flame is, therefore, obligatory for a clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms. In the current studies simultaneous PIV and OH-PLIF measurements were conducted in an enclosed gas turbine model combustor for investigating the influence of turbulence on local flame characteristics. The swirling CH₄/air flame that was investigated had a thermal power of 10.3 kW with an overall equivalence ratio of ϕ=0.75 and exhibited strong thermoacoustic oscillations at a frequency of approximately 295 Hz. The measurements reveal the formation of reaction zones at regions where hot burned gas from the recirculation zones mixes with the fresh fuel/air mixture at the nozzle exit. However, this does not seem to be a steady phenomenon as there always exist regions where the mixture has failed to ignite, possibly due to the high local strain rates present, resulting in small residence time available for a successful kinetic runaway to take place. The time averaged PIV images showed flow fields typical of enclosed swirl burners, namely a big inner recirculation zone and a small outer recirculation zone. However, the instantaneous images show the existence of small vortical structures close to the shear layers. These small vortical structures are seen playing a vital role in the formation and destruction of reaction zone structures. One does not see a smooth laminar flame front in the instantaneous OH-PLIF images, instead isolated regions of ignition and extinction highlighting the strong interplay between turbulence and chemical reactions. PACS 33.20.-t; 33.50.-j; 47.27.-i; 47.32.Ef; 47.70.Pq; 82.33.Vx; 82.40.-g     

Application of PIV to over-expanded supersonic flows: Possibilities and limits

Two-dimensional velocity distributions outside a Mach 2.0 supersonic nozzle have been investigated using a digital particle im age velocimetry (PIV). Mean velocities , vor ticity field and volume dilatation field were obtained from PIV images using 0 .33 μm titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particle. The seeding particle of larger size , 1.4 μrn Ti0₂, was also used for the experimental comparison of velocity lag downstream of shock waves. The results have been compared and analyzed with schlieren photographs for the locations of shock waves and over-expanded shock structure to inspect possibilities and limits of a PIV technique to over-expanded supersonic flows. It is found that although the quantitative velocity measurement using PIV on over-expanded supersonic flows with large velocity and pressure gradients is limited, the locations of normal shock and oblique shock waves can be resolved by the axial/radial velocity fields, and over-expanded shock structure can be predicted by vorticity field and volume dilatation field which are acquired from the spatial differential of the velocity field.     

PIV measurements of the flow and turbulent characteristics of a round jet in crossflow

The instantaneous and ensemble averaged flow characteristics of a round jet issuing normally into a crossflow was studied using a flow visualization technique and Particle Image Velocimetry measurements. Experiments were performed at a jet-to-crossflow velocity ratio, 3.3 and two Reynolds numbers, 1,050 and 2,100, based on crossflow velocity and jet diameter. Instantaneous laser tomographic images of the vertical center plane of the crossflow jet show that there exists very different natures in the flow structures of the near field jet due to Reynolds number effect even though the velocity ratio is same. It is found that the shear layer becomes much thicker when the Reynolds number is 2,100 because of the strong entrainment of the inviscid fluid by turbulent interaction between the jet and crossflow. The mean and second order statistics are calculated by ensemble averaging over 1,000 realizations of instantaneous velocity fields. The detail characteristics of mean flow field, streamwise and vertical rms velocity fluctuations, and Reynolds shear stress distributions are presented. The new PIV results are compared with those from previous experimental and LES studies.     

A comparative study of the PIV and LDV measurements on a self-induced sloshing flow

Particle Imaging Velocimetry (PIV) and Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) measurements on a self-induced sloshing flow in a rectangular tank had been conducted in the present study. The PIV measurement result was compared with LDV measurement result quantitatively in order to evaluate the accuracy level of the PIV measurement. The comparison results show that the PIV and LDV measurement results agree with each other well in general for both mean velocity and fluctuations of the velocity components. The average disagreement level of the mean velocity between PIV and LDV measurement results was found to be within 3% of the target velocity for the PIV system parameter selection. Bigger disagreements between the PIV and LDV measurement results were found to concentrate at high shear regions. The spatial resolution and temporal resolution differences of the PIV and LDV measurements and the limited frames of the PIV instantaneous results were suggested to be the main reasons for the disagreement.     

PIV and LDA measurements of secondary flow in a meandering channel for overbank flow

Secondary flow in a compound meandering channel with straight floodplain banks for overbank was investigated by a visualization method and velocity measurement using three-component laser Doppler anemometor (LDA). The secondary flow in a cross section was visualized by the neutral buoyant tracer method with a submergible video camera. Secondary flow vectors in a cross section were obtained by using PIV software with captured frames from video source through PC and also by LDA measurements. From the comparison of the PIV and LDA results, it is found that PIV data show good agreement in quality with LDA measurements when the secondary flow is strong and stable as shown in this paper.     

PIV and LDA velocity measurements near walls and in the wake of a delta wing

Velocity measurements in flow regions with high turbulent intensities can be performed with high accuracy by means of optical methods. Despite the validity ranges of these methods, great care must be used in taking measurements near solid walls, where high noise levels are present due to the scattering of the light on the wall, and in flows with high vorticity regions like the ones in the wake of a finite wing. In this paper, Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) velocity measurement techniques are used in these two experimental situations and their results compared. This comparison shows that good measurements can be obtained from both techniques and that the resulting data sets do not provide alternative but rather complementary information.     

Stereoscopic PIV measurements of flow in and around axial flow fan

To analyze the complex three-dimensional flow structure of an axial flow fan and determine the validity of its application, PIV is used to provide detailed space and time resolved experimental data for understanding and control of flow field. The high resolution stereoscopic PIV system was successfully employed in this study for the investigation of flow structure around the axial flow fan. Using the once-per-revolution signal from the rotor, image fields were captured at a fixed position of the blades and hence provides the ability to do phase-averaging. The three-dimensional instantaneous velocity fields, phase-averaged velocity fields, instantaneous and mean vorticity distributions of the stereoscopic PIV measurement results were represented at typical planes of the flow field. Phaseaveraged velocity fields were calculated based on 200 frames of the instantaneous stereoscopic PIV measurement results. From the velocity distribution, the vorticity and turbulent intensity distribution, which are known to be major factors of fan noise, were calculated and its diffusion was discussed as they travel downstream. From the reconstructed three-dimensional velocity iso-surface at 8 cross planes of the outlet flow fields, the three-dimensional features can be seen clearly.     

Large-scale PIV measurements of ventilation flow inside the passenger compartment of a real car

Abstract  

Most vehicles have a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning device that makes the environment in the passenger compartment comfortable. The improvement of climatic comfort is crucial not only to passenger comfort but also to driving safety. Therefore, a better understanding of the flow characteristics of ventilation inside the passenger compartment is essential. Most of the previous studies investigated the ventilation flow using computational fluid dynamics calculations or scale-down water-model experiments. In this study, the ventilation flow inside the passenger compartment of a real commercial automobile was investigated using a particle image velocimetry velocity measurement technique. Under real operating conditions, the velocity fields were measured at several vertical planes for various ventilation modes. The experimental data obtained from this study can be used to understand the detailed flow characteristics in the passenger compartment of a real car and to validate numerical predictions.     

Improvement of ventilation flow inside a large factory building using PIV velocity field measurements

Air movement in workplaces, whether resulting from a forced ventilation system or natural airflow, has a significant impact on occupational health. In a huge building of shipbuilding factory, typical harmful factors such as fume or vaporized gas from welding and cutting of steel plates give an unpleasant feeling. From field data survey, the yearly dominant wind directions around the factory building tested were north-west, north-east and south-east. Among the three wind directions, the ventilation improvement was the worst for the north-eastern wind. This study was focused on modification of opening vents in order to utilize the natural ventilation flow effectively. Instantaneous velocity fields inside the 1/1000 scale-down factory building model were measured using a 2-frame cross-correlation PIV method. The factory model was embedded in an atmospheric boundary layer simulated in a wind tunnel. The modified vents improved the internal ventilation flow with increasing the flow speed more than two times, compared with that of present vents.     

PIV Measurements of side-cavity open-channel flows —Wando model in rivers—

PIV measurements in side-cavity open-channel flows that simulate “Wando” in rivers, were conducted in a laboratory flume. Five types of side cavities were built by using a transparent plate at the wando flow. The pattern of the instantaneous flow fields was quite different from that of time-averaged ones. It was found that a vortex, which is located in the side cavity, is stable when the junction mouth between the side-cavity and main channel is narrow. In contrast, large-scale unstable vortices are generated semi-periodically when the junction mouth is wide. The free-surface fluctuations in and outside the wando were also measured by three sets of supersonic wave gauges. The amplitude of the watersurface fluctuations is large when the junction mouth is wide as compared with when its mouth is narrow. When the elevation of the free surface in the side-cavity is rising, its elevation in the main channel is falling, and vice versa when the junction mouth is wide.     

Effects of an air spoiler on the wake of a road vehicle by PIV measurements

A particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique has been used to analyze the flow characteristics behind a road vehicle with/without an air spoiler attached on its trunk and also to estimate its effect on the wake. A vehicle model scaled in the ratio of 1/43 is set up in the mid-section of a closed-loop water tunnel. The Reynolds number based on the vehicle length is 10⁵. To investigate the three-dimensional structure of the recirculation zone and vortices, measurements are carried out on the planes both parallel and perpendicular to the free stream, respectively. The results show significantly different vorticity distributions in the recirculation region according to the existence of the air spoiler. The focus and the saddle point, appearing in the wake, are disposed differently along the spanwise direction. Regarding the streamwise vortices, the air spoiler produces large wing tip vortices. They have opposite rotational directions to C-pillar vortices which are commonly observed in the case that an air spoiler is absent. The wing tip vortices generate the down force and as a result, they might make the vehicle more stable in driving.