Calibration of Water Velocity Profile in Circular Water Channel Using Particle Image Velocimetry

This experimental study was performed to find rpms of the impeller and the surface flow accelerator to make a uniform velocity vertical distribution in the circular water channel. PIV technique was employed to measure the water velocity profiles into the water depth from the free surface. The number of instantaneous velocity profiles was decomposed into mean and turbulence velocity components, and the distribution of velocity fluctuation and turbulence intensity were computed for each experimental condition. From these results, the velocity uniformity was quantitatively determined to present the flow quality in the measuring section of the circular water channel. It has been shown that the proper operation of the surface flow accelerator would make the uniform velocity profiles and reduce the velocity fluctuation near the free surface.