Measurement of fluid flow velocity with high spatial and temporal resolution

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11674834-B2
Application number	US-201916558410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2018
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for flight velocimetry employing at least one bleaching laser, at least one detection laser, at least one dichroic mirror, an objective, a detection system, and a nano stage to bleach a dye to form a bleached blot in a flow pathway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for time of flight velocimetry comprising:
at least one bleaching laser, wherein the bleaching laser generates at least one bleaching laser beam to bleach a dye to form a bleached blot at an initial position in a flow pathway;
at least one detection laser, wherein the detection laser generates at least one detection laser beam;
at least one dichroic mirror that reflects both the bleaching laser beam and the detection laser beam;
an objective that focuses the bleaching laser beam and the detection laser beam into two distinct focal points;
a detection system; and
a nano or micro position stage.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one mirror to reflect and direct the bleaching laser beam and detection laser beam.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a function generator to form either the bleaching laser beam or the detection laser beam as a pulsed beam.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a beam expander through which the detection laser beam passes.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises at least one collection lens, at least one optical filter, at least one detection system pinhole, and at least one photodetector.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera.

7. A molecular tracer-based method to measure flow velocity, velocity fluctuation and velocity profiles comprising:
using a pulse bleaching laser to bleach a dye solution to generate a bleached blot at a first position in a flow pathway;
analyzing the fluid flow pathway with a detection beam;

using a lens to focus a pulse laser beam and the detection beam to two small foci to increase spatial resolution
detecting when the bleached blot arrives at a detection position in the fluid flow pathway; and
detecting time difference between the peak and a trough time that develops in a time series based on the flow pathway and starting of bleaching to generate the bleached blot and arrival of the bleached blot.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein extent of photobleaching in the dye solution is directly proportional to an amount of time of exposure to the pulse bleaching laser.

Assignees

• Univ South Carolina

Inventors

• Wang Guiren

Classifications

• G01F1/7086 Primary

  using optical detecting arrangements · CPC title

• H01S3/0007

  Applications not otherwise provided for (working metals or other materials by laser beam B23K26/00; using photons to produce a reactive propulsive thrust F03H3/00; optical recording of measured values in general G01D15/14; optics in general G02B; holographic processes or apparatus G03H; optical marking or sensing of data record carriers G06K7/10 - G06K7/14, G06K15/12; injection heating of plasma by laser H05H1/22; acceleration of neutral particles by electromagnetic wave pressure H05H3/04) · CPC title

• A61B5/0261 Primary

  using optical means, e.g. infrared light · CPC title

• G01F1/206

  Measuring pressure, force or momentum of a fluid flow which is forced to change its direction · CPC title

• A61B5/0285

  Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves · CPC title