Three-dimensional particle-streak tracking (PST) velocity measurements of a heat exchanger inlet flow A new method to measure all three air-flow velocity components in a plane is applied to a steady-state three-dimensional flow

Abstract

The particle-streak tracking system (PST) is a fast method for the measurement of three-dimensional velocity fields. The in-plane velocity components are measured with a single pulsed laser light sheet and one digital camera. The third velocity component is extracted from two continuous light sheets with a different wavelength than the pulsed light sheet, and an additional digital camera. Helium-filled bubbles are used to visualise the flow. A description of the set-up is given and the data evaluation process is explained. Measurements of a heat exchanger inlet flow and an analysis of the system limitations are presented.