DEPARMENTOF TECHNICALEDUCATION

ANDHRAPRADESH
Name : N. Sanjeeva Rao
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Applied Electronics & instrumentation
Engg.
Institute : Govt. polytechnic for women,srikakulam
Year/Semester : IV Semester
Subject : Process instrumentation –II
Sub. Code : AEI-405,
Topic : Flow
Sub- Topic : Laser Doppler Anemometer
Duration : 50minutes
Teaching Aids : PPT, Animations, photograph
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 Objectives
On the completion of this topic you would able to
learn about :
 Laser Doppler Anemometer.

 Introduction

 Principle

 Operation

 Advantages and Disadvantages

 Applications
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 What is LASER ?
LASER - Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of

Radiation

Fig.1 Laser Beam

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Laser Beams

Fig.2 Laser Beam

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 Laser Doppler Anemometer

 It is most recent advancement of flow meter

 It is also known as optical type velocity meter

 It measures the instantaneous velocities of gasses or

liquids flowing in a transparent (glass) channel

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 Principle

 It is based on the Doppler shift in frequency of the light

scattered by an object moving relative to the radiating

source

 The technique basically consists of focusing laser beams

at the point in the fluid where velocity is to be measured.

 At this focal point the laser light scattered from the fluid

or fluid particles contained in the fluid

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 Principle

 Signal processing of the photo-detector output gives the

magnitude of Doppler frequency shift.

 Which is directly proportional to instantaneously velocity

of the flow

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 Features of LASER

 It provides much higher quality of monochromatic (single

wavelength) light source
 It is coherent i.e. it stays in phase with it self over long
distances
 Its frequency is very stable .this enables to accurately
detect the Doppler shift frequency
 Its wave length is less effected by changes in ambient
pressure ,temperature or humidity.
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 Materials suitable for production of laser beams

 Ruby (aluminium oxide crystal doped with a small

amount of chromium)

 Nd-YAG ( type of garnet stone doped with a small

amount of neodymium)

 Carbon dioxide gas

 Neon gas

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 Ionised argon gas.

 Nd-glass (glass doped with neodymium)

 Helium-neon

 Semiconductor crystal gallium arsenide.

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 Working
 The laser source (helium-neon laser) produce laser
beam .
 This laser beam is split in to two equal parts by means of
a beam splitter .
 The beam splitter is either a rotating optical grating or an
optical prism as shown in the figure 3 .
 The focussing lens is put in the front of the beam splitter
 It focuses the two beams at a point where the velocity of
the fluid is to be measured
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Fig.3 Laser Doppler Anemometer in dual beam

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Fig.4 Laser Doppler Anemometer in dual beam

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Fig.5 Laser Anemometer

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 At the focal point the two split beams cross each other.

 Thus forms an interference fringe pattern.

 It consists of alternate regions of low and high intensity,

as shown in the figure.

 If the small traces particles (dust or dirt particles present

in tap water or air flows) pass through the region of high

intensity ,they would scatter light and cause a Doppler

shift in the frequency of the scattered light.

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 This scattered light received by the photo detector will

show a varying electrical signal.

 The frequency of this electric signal is proportional to the

rate at which the particles cross the interference fringes.

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  
 The spacing between the fringes x is given by the

expression

λ θ 
x = sin   − − − − − − − − − (1)
2 2
 Where θ = The angle between two converging beams

λ = The wave length of the laser beam

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 The tracer particles( assumed to have a velocity equal to

that of the fluid flow) pass across the fringes with a

velocity ‘v’ in the direction perpendicular to the fringes.

 The signal experiences a Doppler shift in frequency given

by 2v  θ 
∆ f = sin   − − − − − − − − − − (2)
λ  2
 λ = The wave length of the laser beam in the fluid.

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 The equation (2) can also be written as

2nv  θ 
∆f = sin   − − − − − − − − − −(3)
λ0 2

 Where n = The index of refraction of the fluid

λ0 = The wave length of the laser beam

in the vacuum.

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 If n, λ0 are constant Doppler shift in frequency is

proportional to the velocity of the fluid at particular point

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Advantages of Laser Doppler Anemometer

 There is no transfer function involvement i.e. the output

voltage of the instrument is proportional to the

instantaneous velocity of the fluid.

 Non –contact type of measurements i.e. no physical

object is inserted in the flow field.

 Flow rate is undisturbed by measurement.

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Advantages of Laser Doppler Anemometer

 It has very high frequency response, in MHz range

 It has very high accuracy

 Suitable for measurement in both gas and liquid flows

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 Disadvantages of Laser Doppler Anemometer

 It involves the need for a Transparent channel

 The measurement technique is not suitable for clean

flows

 It is highly expensive and requires a high degree of

experience and skill in operation .

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 Applications of Laser Doppler Anemometer

 Remote sensing of wind velocities

 Blood flow measurements.

 Measurement of flow between blades of turbines and jet

propulsion system

 Used for both laminar and turbulent flow measurement

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 Summary

We have discussed about :

 Working principle of Laser Doppler Anemometer

 Introduction

 Principle

 Operation

 Advantages and disadvantages

 Applications

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 Quiz

1. Which of following flow meter is also called optical type

velocity meter

a) Pitot tube

b) Venturi meter

c) Laser Doppler anemometer

d) Hotwire anemometer

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 Frequently asked questions

1. Explain the principle of operation of laser Doppler

anemometer.

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