Phase-change enabled flow field visualization

摘要

A system and method for visualization of fluid flow, includes a light emitting arrangement configured to emit a focused light, a fluid channel configured to hold a fluid including a carrier liquid and a stimuli responsive polymer, wherein the fluid flows though the fluid channel, and an image recording arrangement. The light emitting arrangement is positioned to emit the focused light into a selected area of the fluid channel to interact with the flowing stimuli responsive polymer within the selected area. This results in a phase change to a portion of the stimuli responsive polymer. The image recording arrangement is positioned to record an image the portion of the phase changed stimuli responsive polymer made visible by the phase change.

主权项

1. A method for visualization of fluid flow comprising:
providing a fluid including a mixture of a stimuli responsive polymer and carrier liquid within a fluid channel, wherein the stimuli responsive polymer and carrier liquid mixture is flowing within the fluid channel and wherein the fluid channel contains no seed particles; emitting a focused light from a light emitting arrangement into a selected area of the fluid channel to interact with the flowing fluid mixture containing the stimuli responsive polymer and the carrier liquid; generating a phase change in the stimuli responsive polymer by the interaction of the focused light on the stimuli responsive polymer within the fluid channel, wherein the phase change results in a portion less than the entire stimuli responsive polymer to become visible; and recording, by use of an image recording system, at least one image of the portion of the stimuli responsive polymer that is visible.