Experimental investigation of aerodynamic effects of probe on heat transfer from hot-wire sensors at vertical and horizontal orientations

Aerodynamic effects due to hot-wire anemometer (HWA) probe directly influence heat transfer from the probe sensor and result in reduced accuracy in two-dimensional measurements. This experimental research investigates the aerodynamic effects for hot-wire sensors through the study of some important factors such as probe geometry, flow scheme (velocity and direction) and orientation of the probe relative to the flow direction. In addition, flow velocity field between the prongs of a 10:1 model of a single normal probe is explored at different velocities and yaw angles, both at vertical and horizontal orientations of the probe. Results indicate that in vertical orientation, heat transfer from the sensors is always higher than horizontal orientation. Moreover, the aerodynamic effects cause a velocity increase of up to 6% in the vicinity of the sensor. In addition, the presence of the sensor in the flow, generates low-velocity field in the flow wake and a minor rotation of the flow in the vicinity of the sensor, which result in reduced heat transfer from the sensor in horizontal orientation compared to the vertical orientation.     

Experimental assessment on the performance of hot wire anemometry in and around a permeable medium by comparison with Particle Image Velocimetry

The air flow through a test section partially obstructed by a permeable array of wires was measured simultaneously by Hot Wire Anemometry (HWA) and Particle Image Velocimetry. The objective of the study was the assessment of the suitability of HWA for the measurement of flow velocities amid and adjacent to groups of small obstacles. In the present case the obstacles are set in a regular array configuring a highly permeable structure. The probe was placed at three characteristic positions: in the free flow close to the wire array, inside the permeable medium, and at the interface between the permeable structure and the free flow. The measurements were performed with the hot wire operating under natural convection and mixed convection heat transfer, and operating the hot wire at different overheat ratios. Natural convection plumes extending over several permeable volume elements were detected when the hot wire was under natural convection, in some cases reaching velocities up to 60 mm/s downstream from the hot wire position. For low velocity flows, natural convection can be regarded as a flow velocity offset, which becomes negligible at local velocities higher than 0.03 m/s. For higher velocities, in the mixed convection regime, the intrusivity of the HWA probe becomes relevant. Furthermore, the flow in the test section used in the study presents a linear instability that produces velocity fluctuations. Availing ourselves of this phenomenon we verified the dynamic response of the HWA at the lowest velocity where the flow shows periodic fluctuations; for a local mean velocity of (0.131 ± 0.012) m/s the HWA showed a satisfactory dynamic response up to 20 Hz.     

Detection and measurement of the inverse axial flow by means of the flying hot wire technique

In the reviewed literature about swirling flows through ducts of circular cross section, there are contradictions regarding the detection and measurement of the inverse axial flow generated in the center of a swirling flow. The main motivation for this investigation was to determine the existence of the inverse flow and the feasibility of measuring it by the flying hot wire technique using unidimensional and bidimensional hot wires driven with an intermittent linear servomotor with a maximum velocity of 2 m/s and with a distance trip of 0.595 m. The inverse flow was detected with both sensors but it was not constant during the maximum speed trip. The maximum speed and the duration of the inverse flow was obtained with the unidimensional sensor up to a radial position of 3 cm, although the axial position in which the inverse flow is detected, it is not the same in every radial position. Therefore, it is not possible to make a radial distribution of the axial velocity using only one sensor. Finally, in the center of the swirling flow there is an intermittent inverse flow similar to the recirculating flow that is generated in the wake of a body in relative motion to the fluid mass.     

Experimental study on response of hot wire and cylindrical hot film anemometers operating under varying fluid temperatures

The working principle of constant temperature anemometer (CTA), used for fluid velocity and/or turbulence measurements, is based on convective heat transfer from a sensor (a hot wire or a hot film) to the fluid being measured. Response of a CTA, working in temperatures other than its calibration temperature, involves errors which must be corrected for reliable measurement data. We have experimentally studied the effect of variations in fluid temperature on the response of hot wire and cylindrical hot film anemometers, and have discussed the application of different correction factors. Effects of overheat ratio (sensor temperature) and fluid velocity on the CTA output voltage correction factor have been discussed. The results show that the error in the CTA response depends on the sensor temperature, and it shows a decrease with increasing sensor temperature (increasing overheat ratio). The results also show that the error correction factor depends on the overheat ratio and fluid velocity. The required error correction factor also depends on whether the fluid temperature decreases or increases with respect to the calibration temperature of the CTA. In spite of differences in sensor characteristics, our work on cylindrical hot film sensors shows that the correction factors for hot wire and hot film sensors are similar and close in magnitude.     

Experimental study of drag coefficient of multistrand wires using single normal hot-wire anemometer probe

In a vertical wind tunnel, used for testing of aircraft and helicopters spin and simulation of skydiving, a protective net made of multistrand wires is installed below the flight chamber to prevent the fall of the test models or skydivers to the ground. The drag due to the protective net is significant, which results in pressure drop and subsequent increase in the required power to attain a desired speed in the tunnel. This paper presents the results of an experimental study of drag coefficient of multistrand wires, using (i) a single normal hot-wire anemometer probe (HWA), (ii) a pitot tube, which measures the total pressure downstream of the multistrand wires. Initially, the non-dimensional distance, X/D, at which HWA measurements can be used to determine the drag coefficient of the multistrand wires with acceptable accuracy, was obtained by considering flow velocity profile and turbulence intensity, downstream of a cylindrical rod of diameter D. The distance was determined to be X/D>30, where X is the distance along the test section downstream of the cylindrical rod. Results of pitot tube and HWA measurements are in good agreement. These results show that at Reynolds number, Re=2000, drag coefficient of the multistrand wires is greater than the cylindrical rod by approximately 16%. However, the difference in the drag coefficients decreases with increase in Re; the two values approaching each other and attaining an almost equal value at Re=10,000.     

轴流涡轮平面叶栅出口二维速度场的实验研究

将粒子图像测速仪(PIV)和热线风速仪(HWA)应用到低速轴流平面叶栅实验台上.在2个不同进口流量和3个不同叶片高度下,利用热线风速仪测量平面叶栅出口瞬态速度场,并采用激光粒子图像测速仪测量圆柱尾迹和出口速度场的整场信息.研究发现较大的进口速度或较低的叶片高度情况下,叶栅出口二次流流动强烈;同时发现尾迹的存在会破坏均匀流场,导致叶型流动损失的增加.     

A study of signal noise reduction of the mass air flow sensor using the flow conditioner on the air induction system of heavy-duty truck

The mass air flow meter is a critical sensor that works based on thermal hot wire technology, used to determine the fuel to be injected into the cylinder and calculate the fuel-air ratio. In order to measure the airflow rate accurately, the flow should be uniform and smooth upstream of the sensor. The flow disturbance with a short straight length upstream of the flow meter results in the noise of the sensor signal. This noise causes unstable mass flow measurement on the system. Flow conditioners can be used to smooth the velocity profile of the flow. In this study, experimental and numerical methods were used to characterize the performance and operating accuracy of the mass flow meter used in heavy-duty truck applications. The flow conditioners were implemented to smooth the velocity profile around the mass flow meter that was disrupted by bends. The flow structures with and without flow conditioner were examined using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to measure the time-averaged velocity. As well as the validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model provides data to understand the flow uniformity effect of the conditioner on the mass airflow (MAF) sensor. The optimization study was performed using a full factorial design of experiment (DOE) for flow conditioner design. A robust methodology was developed for the flow conditioner characteristics and mass airflow sensor implementation on the air induction system.     

Measurement of thermal conductivity of fluid using single and dual wire transient techniques

A modified measurement device to measure thermal conductivity of fluids using transient hot-wire technique has been designed, developed, tested and presented in this paper. The equipment is designed such that the thermal conductivity could be measured using both single wire sensor of different length and dual wire sensor. The sensor, which is also a heater, is a platinum micro-wire of 50 μm diameter. The influence of wire length on the measurement of thermal conductivity of fluids is tested using two single wires of length 50 mm and 100 mm. The thermal conductivity is also measured using a dual hot wire arrangement; which is achieved by placing the 100 mm and 50 mm wires in a Wheatstone bridge with the 100 mm wire as the sensor and 50 mm wire as a compensation wire. The apparatus requires a 100 ml of test fluid to perform the experiment. The testing temperature of the test fluid during the experimentation can be suitably varied by the choice of heat exchange fluid used in the apparatus. Water is chosen as testing fluids for primary standards. When compared to single wires, the thermal conductivity of the fluids measured is consistent with dual-wire method with an uncertainty of ±0.25%.     

Experimental determination of probe-length requirements for studies of the turbulent wake behind a cylinder

The attenuation of turbulence and mean velocity signals due to the line averaging imposed by hot wires when used in the wake of an isolated circular cylinder has been investigated in a wind tunnel by measurements using several choices of hot-wire length, cylinder diameter, and freestream mean velocity. The results are presented graphically in order to provide a practical method for determining attenuation of the turbulence and mean velocity signals obtained in a wake. The length scale of the wake can be defined as L=0.6[(x-x(o)) d](1/2), where x is the downstream distance from the cylinder, d is the cylinder diameter, and x(o)=25d. For all the wires tested, the attenuation of the measured turbulence signal is limited to within 5% only if the wire length is smaller than 0.1 L. For a wire normal to the cylinder and cross wind, the attenuation of the signal of the mean velocity-defect factor, expressed as (1-u/u(infinity)), where u and u(infinity) are local and free-stream velocities, respectively, is less than 5% only if the wire is less than 0.5 L in length.     

网状静电传感器弯管处颗粒速度与浓度的测量

为了对气力输送管道进行实时监控,并且提高炉膛内的燃烧效率,需要对气力输送管道中颗粒的速度与浓度分布进行测量。采用一种网状结构的静电传感器测量气力输送管道弯管处的颗粒速度与浓度分布。为了研究传感器的特性,首先建立了网状静电传感器的有限元模型。根据有限元仿真结果,优化网状静电传感器的设计,使其拥有更高更均匀的灵敏度分布,在实验室规模颗粒流实验平台上进行了实验研究。通过对上下游平面对应位置网状电极所得静电信号进行互相关运算,可以估测颗粒的轴向速度分布;通过对同一平面网状电极静电信号的均方根值进行重建,可以得到固体颗粒的相对浓度分布。实验研究表明,该网状静电传感器可以用来测量气力输送管道弯管处颗粒速度与浓度分布。     

Development of cylindrical hot-film sensors for measuring instant velocity of fluid flow

The cylindrical hot-film sensor has found wide industrial application because it combines the high frequency response with improved strength and stability. In this work, such sensors were fabricated for application in different fluids. The sensing part of the sensor consisted of a nanostructured sandwich with a 40-60 nm thick nickel film deposited by PVD process onto a 125 micrometer diameter cylindrical quartz wire. An outer 0.5 or 2 micrometer thick protective silica layer was applied onto the nickel film. The sensors obtained were subjected to various functional and quality assessment tests. Using a constant temperature anemometry (CTA) circuit, the sensors were calibrated conforming to well-known procedures. Furthermore, an evaluation of the sensor response was undertaken by measuring an already known turbulent flow and comparing the results with those of the literature. Finally, technical conclusions were drawn from the results.     

Study and industrial evaluation of mass flow measurement of pulverized coal for iron-making production

This paper described a measurement system for mass flow measurement of pulverized coal in a blast furnace coal injection system. The system mainly consists of a volumetric concentration sensor and a velocity sensor. The concentration sensor is a capacitance sensor which has two pairs of concave electrodes placed axially on a piece of pipe of oxide of aluminum with different orientation to get being less affected by flow regime; the velocity sensor is also based on capacitance sensing principle, but uses “passing time difference method” which records the time at which each flowing cloud of coal powder passes through upstream and downstream sensor and then calculates the time difference to get the transit time for the cloud to travel between the two sensors. Both of the experiments in the laboratory and on the spot showed the measurement system has industrially acceptable performance.     

Experimental study on wake interaction and power production in an onshore wind farm under single- and double-wake conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the interference due to wind turbine wake in an operating wind farm and quantitatively analyze wake influence on wind turbine power production under single- and double-wake conditions. Variations in wind conditions due to wake effects were assessed by comparing the wind data from two met masts located inside and outside the wind farm. From the data collected by supervisory control and data acquisition systems of 1.5-MW wind turbines, the velocity and power production deficits were analyzed under the single- and double-wake conditions. Then, the power curves of the downstream and upstream wind turbines were compared. The results confirmed that the wind speed reduced by a single wake began to recover at a downstream distance of approximately 5 times the rotor diameter. Whereas the strength of single wake effects varied with distance, the double wake effects were similar regardless of distance.

     

Two-component laser Doppler anemometer for measurement of velocity and turbulent shear stress near prosthetic heart valves

The velocity and turbulent shear stress measured in the immediate vicinity of prosthetic heart valves play a vital role in the design and evaluation of these devices. In the past hot wire/film and one-component laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) systems were used extensively to obtain these measurements. Hot wire/film anemometers, however, have some serious disadvantages, including the inability to measure the direction of the flow, the disturbance of the flow field caused by the probe, and the need for frequent calibration. One-component LDA systems do not have these problems, but they cannot measure turbulent shear stresses directly. Since these measurements are essential and are not available in the open literature, a two-component LDA system for measuring velocity and turbulent shear stress fields under pulsatile flow conditions was assembled under an FDA contract. The experimental methods used to create an in vitro data base of velocity and turbulent shear stress fields in the immediate vicinity of prosthetic heart valves of various designs in current clinical use are also discussed.     

组合热膜式流速矢量传感器

针对在微型飞行器上测量空气流速矢量的需要,提出了一种比空速管轻巧、比热线式流速传感器抗干扰能力强的微型热膜式流速传感器及其组合系统.与热线式流速传感器相似,热膜流速传感器仅输出电阻值信息,对流速和流向均敏感.将多个传感器按照一定规律组合,可实现对一定角度范围内的流速矢量的测量,从而拓展其应用.结合试验推导了组合传感器测...     

Lensed optical fiber sensors for on-line measurement of flow

This paper describes a system using lensed optical fiber sensors that are arranged in the form of two orthogonal projections. The sensors are placed around a process vessel for upstream and downstream measurements. The purpose of the system is for on-line monitoring of particles and droplets being conveyed by a fluid. The lenses were constructed using a custom heating fixture. The fixture enables the lenses to be constructed with similar radii resulting in identical characteristics with minimum differences in transmitted intensity and emission angle. By collimating radiation from two halogen bulbs, radiation can be obtained by the sensors with radiation intensity related to the nature of the media. Each sensor interrogates a finite section of the measurement section. Each sensor provides a view. Parallel sensors provide a projection. Signal processing is carried out on the measured data in the time and frequency domains to investigate the latent information present in the flow signals.     

Effect of engine variables on the turbulent flow of a spark ignition engine

The turbulent flow in a spark ignition engine plays an important role in determining its combustion characteristics and thermal efficiency. In order to analyse the combustion process, the turbulent flow and its turbulence intensity must be studied. To study the turbulent flow as varying various factors in a combustion chamber of a spark ignition engine, the L-head with or without squish area are selected. The turbulent as varying flow on the piston speed, inlet flow velocity, and squish velocity are measured by using hot wire anemometer. To examine the characteristics of turbulent flow, the ensemble averaged mean velocity, turbulence intensity, turbulence intensity decrease ratio, production rate of turbulence intensity, production coefficient of turbulence intensity are analysied.     

On the impact of anemometer size on the velocity field in a closed wind tunnel

In the present paper, experimental and numerical investigations of the flow around different types and sizes of anemometers are presented and discussed.The measurements of the flow field at different distances upstream of the anemometer are performed with a laser Doppler Anemometer. The computational results are in good agreement with the experimental ones since the observed deviations are of the same order of magnitude. These results show that anemometers may induce a strong distortion of the velocity field, even far upstream of the anemometer. This distortion has to be taken into account in the anemometer calibration field to yield reliable and consistent measurements.     

Experimental and CFD investigation of 100 mm size cone flow elements

This paper presents performance characteristics of 100 mm line size cone flow elements having beta ratios of 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8. A magnetic flow meter is used as a reference standard for flow measurement in vertical test section. A series of experiments have been conducted using water at in-house Flow Calibration Facility (FCF) to cover the Reynolds number ranging from 20,000 to 200,000. The performance characteristics of 100 mm line size cone flow elements with different beta values have been evaluated experimentally. It is found that the discharge coefficient of the cone flow element is nearly independent of the specified range of Reynolds number. Testing of the cone flow element in accordance with new API 5.7 is carried out at flow calibration facility. The testing requirements in the standard explain the conditioning effect of the cone flow element having gate valve disturbance upstream of the cone at various locations. The effect of the upstream velocity profile has been investigated by placing a gate valve upstream of the cone flow element at a distance of 0D and 28D and performing experiments at 25%, 50% and 100% opening of gate valve. The value of the discharge coefficient is not affected when the cone is placed at a distance of 0D and for 100% opening of gate valve. The uncertainty results of the cone testing are discussed. For studying pressure and velocity distributions, cone elements are modeled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code PHOENICS. Pressure and velocity profiles for different sizes of cone elements are plotted. From the pressure profile, it can be seen that the pressure recovery downstream of the cone is within a distance of 3D. The velocity profile downstream of the cone signifies the use of flow element as a signal conditioner. For measurement of flow through a 100 mm line, differential pressure across the cone is measured using a Differential Pressure Transmitter (DPT). Experiments were repeated by replacing the cone element for obtaining different β values.     

Accurate wall positioning of the hot-wire sensor using a high aspect-ratio rectangular nozzle

Accurate measurement of wire distance from the wall is vital especially during hot-wire (HW) anemometry of the boundary layer flows. In such flows the length scales are comparable to the diameter of the sensor and there are large gradients of flow properties near the wall. Thus, the accuracy of calculating the wall dependence parameters from the hot-wire experimental data is strongly dependent on the accuracy of the wire positioning technique. Advanced graduated microscopes, digital camera systems, utilization of electro/mechanical probe stops, using of the wall-effects of the HW sensors and finally laser based devices are known methods for initial positioning of HW sensors. In this paper, the flow characteristics of a high-aspect-ratio (HAR) rectangular nozzle are used as a main base for proposing a new method for initial wire positioning. For validating of the method, the characteristics of jet flow from HAR rectangular nozzles and behaviors of some flat plate transitional boundary layers are studied experimentally. Comparisons show that high accuracy, easy performing and low-cost equipments are main characteristics of the proposed method. It is immediately applicable for researchers using hot-wire anemometry in boundary layer flows over both of electrically conductive and non-conductive test surfaces.