Laser-cantilever anemometer: A new high-resolution sensor for air and liquid flows

Abstract

In this article, we present a technical description of a new type of anemometer for gas and especially liquid flows with high temporal and spatial resolution. The principle of the measurement is based on the atomic force microscope technique where microstructured cantilevers are used to detect extreme small forces. We demonstrate the working principle and the design of the sensor, as well as calibration measurements and initial measurements of turbulent flows, which were performed in air and water flows.

Microcantilever mechanics in flowing viscous fluids

“…On the other hand, flow induced bending of microcantilevers may be exploited to develop ultrasensitive micromechanical flow sensors for high resolution, high bandwidth measurement of complex flow velocity fields. 11,12 In this letter, we develop a semianalytical theoretical model for estimating viscous flow-induced deformations of microcantilevers. Our model may also be useful in understanding the hydrodynamic drag on a microcantilever moving through a fluid at a constant speed, an important consideration in single molecule force spectroscopy.…”

“…10͒ measurements, and flow sensing. 11 In many of these applications, the sensing occurs via the nanomechanical bending of the microcantilever due to thermal or surface stresses.…”

Using laser‐cantilever anemometry under various flow conditions

“…Previously, the basic principles and characteristics of the LCA were investigated. Measurements led to results comparable to common measurement techniques for turbulent flows, such as hot-wire anemometry for air and hot-film anemometry for water [1]. Here we present further experiments where the LCA was used in a snow wind tunnel to investigate the behavior of the cantilever under particle impact.…”

“…[2]. The LCA detects the deflection of a tiny cantilever brought into the flow where the magnitude of this deflection depends only on the flow velocity [1]. These anemometers were placed in the measuring section of the snow wind tunnel in Davos.…”

Micro-Machined Flow Sensors Mimicking Lateral Line Canal Neuromasts

“…Most flow metering devices are based on vanes, hot wire anemometers, ultra sound devices, particle imaging velocimetry, Coriolis force, inductive coupling and vortex shedding [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Most of these systems are not only rather complex and have macroscopic dimensions, but in addition are expensive and/or have a high power consumption.…”