Flow visualization through metal enclosures with neutron radiography.

Many practical fluid flow problems involve flow inside metal shrouds (valves, combustors, boilers, turbomachinery, etc.) where visual access is not available. For flows under extreme pressure or heat, glass or transparent plastic can not be used; a flow visualization technique which permits visualization through metal containers is needed in these cases. Since neutrons can penetrate metal casings, neutron radiography has been developed for application to fluid flow visualization. This technique involves imaging of neutron opaque tracer materials, such as solid or fluid particles or streaklines, as they convect in neutron transparent ambient fluids. Surface flow visualization is also possible by using neutron opaque tufts. An extension of the surface tuft technique has also been developed, enabling the visualization of flow patterns away from solid surfaces. Presented here is a summary of the various flow visualization techniques developed in the laboratory, along with examples which illustrate how these techniques may be applied to practical fluid flow problems. These include flow over a circular cylinder, the recirculation pattern formed by a jet exhausting into a tank, and the flow pattern inside a rotating automotive torque converter. (A)