Single camera 3D planar Doppler velocity measurements, using two frequency planar Doppler velocimetry (2v-PDV) and imaging fibre bundles

A modified Planar Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) technique, two frequency PDV (2v-PDV), is described that allows measurements of the velocity field over a plane defined by a laser light sheet using sequential illumination of the flow with two closely separated (&IGHz) frequencies of laser light. This allows a common-path imaging head to be used containing a single CCD camera instead of the usual camera pair. The problem of image misalignment is now avoided and the polarisation sensitivity of the beam splitter used in two camera imaging heads is also removed. Cost efficiency is improved by the simplification of the system. This paper describes the development of a 2v-PDV system using a continuous wave argon ion laser capable of making time-averaged velocity measurements. Initially a single velocity component system was constructed using acousto-optic modulators to produce the two illumination frequencies required. The system was then expanded to make 3D velocity measurements using a single CCD camera and multiple coherent imaging fibre bundles. Measurements were made on the rotating disc, in order to assess error level in the measurements, and on a seeded axisymmetric air jet. A method of improving the sensitivity of the 2v-PDV system is demonstrated by using both the rising and falling slopes of the iodine absorption line. Reductions in the error levels of velocity measurements of approximately 40% can be achieved using this increased sensitivity method.