A color-coded particle tracking velocimeter with application to natural convection

Abstract

This paper introduces a novel concept of the image-processing technique to visualize a two-dimensional flow field and to generate streaks with embedded time marks in real time. Grey levels of a pixel are used in this work to encode the temporal information rather than the intensity of particle trajectories used in conventional image-processing systems. To do this, the incoming video image is first binarized by a step function predefined in an input look-up table, with the height of the step varying with time to bear temporal marks. A real-time arithmetic-logic unit and an image-frame buffer are used to accumulate the images. These processes result in continuous streaks with embedded time marks which have many advantages over those recorded by conventional techniques. Pseudo-color output look-up tables and color monitor provide more direct and intuitive means for human visual perception. This color-coded particle tracking velocimetry was applied to investigate natural convection in an enclosure heated from below with an isothermal extrusion. By quantifying the color-coded streaks, velocity vectors were obtained at a discrete number of points with less labor. The present technique provides an elaborate tool for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative realizations of steady and slowly varying flow fields.