PIV System
Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is an advanced laser-based
instrumentation to measure fluid or particulate velocity vectors at many
points in a flow field simultaneously. PIV is particularly useful for
measurement in unsteady flows. Latent turbulent structures can be unmasked
with PIV whereas averaging techniques tend to wash out the structure. In
periodic flows, such as IC engines, and turbines, entire flow field
information can be obtained for each phase angle. Even in steady flows
with complex geometry where access may be difficult, PIV can be useful
tool. Time averaged velocity and turbulence values at each point in the
flow field can also be obtained with PIV when a sequence of frames are
analyzed. PIV has been used from low velocity natural convection flows all
the way to supersonic flows. Applications include measurement in two phase
flows, combustion flows, rotating machinery flows, biological flows,
wind/water tunnel flows, flow in between rotating disks etc..