A Pulsed Power Supply for Hydrogen Bubble Flow Visualisation
Abstract
This paper describes a pulsed power supply, which incorporates a solid state D.C. relay, to facilitate the generation of the hydrogen bubbles for flow visualization in a water tunnel. In practice, it is usual to apply a D.C. voltage with the positive connected to an earthed plate (anode) and the negative connected a metal probe (cathode). For a given current this configuration produces a volume of gas bubbles (hydrogen) at the probe twice that generated at the anode (oxygen). Ideally, the bubbles of hydrogen gas are released in a fine stream at the strategically placed cathodic probe and move through the water under the influence of encountered flow patterns. However, instead of a continuous stream of bubbles it is often desirable to control the rate of release of bubbles for comparison of flow with path lengths or to obtain a clearer visualization of the flow pattern. Moreover, for a given rate of bubble generation, the risk of fusing a delicate probe is much less with pulse operation, than with continuous operation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA081961
Entities
People
- C. W. Sutton
- R. J. Anderson