Gas velocimetry based on infrared laser-induced fluorescence

A novel method for gas velocity field measurements by means of infrared molecular tagging velocimetry is reported with proof-of-principle demonstration in a carbon dioxide (CO2) axisymmetric turbulent jet. Infrared laser-induced fluorescence utilizes the resonant vibrational energy level transitions of small gas molecules, such as CO2, to “tag” and trace the flow of the molecules by taking subsequent images of the infrared emission. Spectroscopic model of the molecular vibrational energy transfer processes is taken into account to design and optimize the measurement scheme. The infrared images are then analyzed, with detailed consideration of molecular diffusion, lateral velocity, and fluorescence lifetime, to yield quantitative velocity field distribution. The radial velocity distributions in the jet main region, with velocities ranging from 7 to 50 m/s, are obtained and shown to be in excellent agreement with theoretical predication and previous experimental works. Velocity uncertainties are discussed and estimated to be 7.7%, 6.7%, 6.1% for Re = 104, 2 × 10 4 , 3 × 10 4 (maximum velocity u c = 18.3 , 34.6 , 50.5 m/s), respectively. Spatial resolution along the laser beam is estimated to be 107 μm. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first work of infrared molecular tagging velocimetry. With powerful excitation lasers targeting strong infrared molecular absorption transitions, this technique presents great potential for simultaneous flow-scalar field measurements at much-improved accuracy, spatial and temporal resolution, that can be used for the study of low-speed micro-flows, or instantaneous snapshots of turbulent flows.