Vaporizing particle velocimeter
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorLeonard M. Weinstein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A velocimeter measures flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction. Tracer particles are entrained in the flow and a source of radiant energy produces an output stream directed transverse the chamber and having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream. Each of the vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core, and a flow visualization system tracks the motion of the hot cores and shock waves to thereby measure velocity of each tracer particle, and temperature of the flow around the tracer.
Claims12
A velocimeter for measuring flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction, the flow having tracer particles entrained therein, comprising:
- a source of radiant energy producing an output stream directed transverse the chamber and having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream, each of said vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core;
- and
- a flow visualization system for tracking the motion of the hot cores and shock waves to thereby measure velocity of at least one tracer particle.
A method of measuring flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction, comprising the steps of:
- dispersing a plurality of tracer particles in the flow;
- irradiating the particles with a source of radiant energy having an output stream directed transverse the chamber, the source of energy having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream, each of said vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core;
- and
- tracking the motion of the hot cores and shock waves with a flow visualization system to thereby measure velocity of each tracer particle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.