Development of particle image velocimetry for multiphase flow diagnostics

Abstract

This paper discusses the suitability of PIV for measuring simultaneously the velocity field of every phase and the size and concentration field of the disperse phases in multiphase flows. Velocity and disperse phase information are both inferred either directly from the Young's fringe pattern (far field diffraction function) or from its 2-D Fourier transform (autocorrelation function). In the first case, the velocity is inferred from the orientation and spacing of the fringes while the disperse phase size is inferred from the size of the diffraction halo that modulates the fringes. In the second case, the velocity and particle shape are related to the position and shape of the strongest autocorrelation peaks, respectively. Particle sizes are used to discriminate between phases on the velocity measurements. The technique has been demonstrated on a high speed air-particle flow, where the potential for determining air velocities and particle size and velocities are shown.