Features / benefits

Low-voltageoperationviauniversalpowersupplyforimprovedsafety

LED illumination

Supplied with:

-SetofThreeWeirs

-SetofThreeElectrodes

-SetofClearAcrylicFlowVisualisationModels

Thearmfieldhydrogenbubbleflowvisualisationsystemiscompact, bench mounted and self-contained requiring only filling with water andconnectingtoamainselectricalsupply.

Itcomprisesaflowtank,aseparateelectroniccontrolconsoleand acomprehensivesetofclearacrylicflowvisualisationmodels.

The top of the flow tank is manufactured from glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) for durability and incorporates a wide, shallow working section with a flat black acrylic bed for flow visualisation studies. A smooth flow of water at variable velocity is passed through the working section.

This is achieved by using a unique fluid drive unit, in combination with flow straighteners. The depth in the working section can be changed by a set of weir strips at the discharge end.

A number of acrylic models are provided with the equipment, such as an aerofoil section and cylinders of different diameters. These can be positioned in the working section to show the flow effects around these shapes. User-defined models can also be used.

A lighting module, placed in the water at the side of the working section, produces a wide beam of light below the surface of the water and illuminates the hydrogen bubbles to aid visualisation of the flow patterns.

The hydrogen bubbles are produced by a fine platinum/iridium cathode wire located under the surface of the water and normal to thedirectionofflow.Thewireiskepttautbyaforkedholder(supplied in three widths) and is held in the required position by tripod with adjustable support. Hydrogen bubbles can be produced using plain tapwater,however Glauber’s salt (sodium sulphate) is also supplied withtheunitforresearchpurposes.

The electronic control console provides all of the necessary electrical services for the flow tank and incorporates the hydrogen bubble generator. All operating parameters are displayed on a liquid crystal display. Controls are included for the water pump, light source and hydrogen bubble generator.

The size of the hydrogen bubbles can be varied by adjusting the currenttothecathodewire.Thegeneratorautomaticallymaintains the current at the required value by varying the supply voltage to compensateforchangesintheloopresistance.

Thegeneratorcanproduceacontinuousstreamofbubblesifrequired. However,toaidvisualisationandenablequantitativemeasurementsto be made, the bubbles can be turned ‘on’ and ‘off’ in a series of pulses, the pulses and spaces being independently and continuously variable withbothtimesindicatedonthedisplay.