3D Particle Tracking Velocimetry of Radial Outflow Between Two Parallel Plates*

A neutrally buoyant and contactless grooming device utilizes confined radial outflow of water at a constant flow rate to detach biofouling organisms using peak wall shear in addition to securely levitating parallel to the hull at some equilibrium gap height, where the overall force generated by the fluid field is zero. Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) measurements were taken on the flow field at a stable equilibrium gap configuration. This Lagrangian measurement approach uses an iterative particle reconstruction technique in combination with high seeding density to reconstruct a 4D (x, y, z, t) flow field. This 4D reconstruction allows the pressure field to be reconstructed using the Navier-Stokes equations. Various experiments have been conducted on confined radial outflow but PTV measurements are presented here for the first time and was used to validate a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model.