Description
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Software
PIV Measurement Systems by OPTOLUTION: The Simplest To Use Instrument Suite for 2D/2C Velocity Measurements in Water or Air
OPTOLUTION PIV systems are designed to be simple, easy to use, robust, and affordable. One of the key features of the OPTOLUTION systems is the use of laser diode pulsing technology that significantly reduces cost without sacrificing performance. The OPTOLUTION PIV systems can be used for 2D/2C measurements in water or air up to 30m/s and interrogation areas of up to 400 x 400 mm at up to 2000 fps.
PIV System Key Components
- Illumination: A unique light source based on a Laser Diode Pulsing System (LD-PS) designed by OPTOLUTION that generates bright and very thin light sheets with user-selectable pulse spacing and pulse length. We offer peak power outputs of 500mW, 5W, 20W, 40W, and 400W.
- Synchronizer: A simple synchronizer that controls the timing of laser pulses and our cameras. It can be directly controlled from PIVlab, offering very comfortable and uncomplicated PIV recordings. Operates with internal timing, or externally triggered.
- Camera: Directly integrated into PIVlab and compatible with our synchronizers, we offer a variety of cameras with some options exceeding 2000 fps (double image rate) with 20 minimum interpulse time.
- PIV data acquisition and analysis: The widely known PIVlab software developed by William Thielicke, an easy-to-use application for Particle Image Velocimetry, with the unique advantage of ALSO controlling directly our pulsed laser diodes, synchronizers, and cameras. All from the same place, resulting in the most simple to use PIV measurement suite.
- Seeding: A seeding generator with the ability of adjusting the particle concentration and quantity. Switched on and off via a switch, or remotely from PIVlab.
- Laser warning sign: Safety first! An Illuminated LED laser warning sign, remotely controlled, automatically, from PIVlab.
Light Source Options
The laser diode pulsing systems (LD-PS) designed in-house by OPTOLUTION are a lower cost and powerful illumination alternative to perform velocity measurements using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques. These pulsed light sources generate bright and very thin light sheets with easily adjustable pulse spacing and pulse length. The light systems are very compact and extremely easy to use. The high brightness is achieved by toggling (arrays of) high-power laser diodes using a special laser driver circuit. We offer optical peak power outputs of 500 mW, 5 W, 20 W, 40 W and 400W to accommodate different measurement conditions. The systems can be used for measurements in air or water.
Synchronizer
The OPTOLUTION Synchronizer controls the timing of laser pulses and our cameras. This synchronizer can be controlled directly from PIVlab (here, presets are available for the supported cameras) and thus enables very comfortable and uncomplicated PIV recordings. The synchronizer has five outputs and one input (TTL), minimal pulse lengths and pulse separations of 1 µs are possible.
The synchronizer can react to external events. Currently, four modes are implemented:
- Mode 0: Internal. Uses the configured camera and pulse timings, and starts recording when ‘Start’ button is clicked, stops when ”image amount” is reached.
- Mode 1: External – Double shot on rising edge. Uses the configured camera and pulse timings, arms when ‘Start’ button is clicked, records one double image each time trigger goes high, stops when ‘image amount’ is reached.
- Mode 2: External – Shoot while high. Uses the configured camera and pulse timings, arms when ‘Start’ button is clicked, records while the trigger input is high (and pauses when it is low), stops when ‘image amount’ is reached.
- Mode 3: External – Start on rising edge. Uses the configured camera and pulse timings, arms when ‘Start’ button is clicked, starts record when the trigger input goes high, stops when ‘image amount’ is reached.
Cameras
There are a variety of cameras that are directly integrated into PIVlab and compatible with our synchronizers. The control of a PIV experiment is thus maximally simplified and extremely convenient. You can see all options under the Specifications Tab. The choice depends on factors such as the required interframe time, frame rate, light sensitivity, and resolution.
The synchronizer is used to synchronize the camera exposure with the laser pulses. This allows to use frame straddling, which makes it possible reduce the interframe time and therefore the particle displacement. Using frame straddling, the interframe time is reduced substantially. This is achieved by emitting the first laser pulse at the very end of the first image exposure, and the second pulse at the very beginning of the second image exposure.
Software: PIVLab
PIVlab is a free and open-source PIV software and is currently the most frequently cited PIV tool on the market. PIVlab is developed and maintained by William Thielicke, and is available as stand-alone app or Matlab toolbox. It can be used to calculate the velocity distribution within imported (or captured) images. It also controls OPTOLUTION’s lasers, cameras and synchronizers, and derives, displays and exports multiple parameters of the flow pattern. The simple graphical user interface makes PIV data acquisition and data post-processing fast and efficient.
Data sheets:
Software: PIVlab
PIVlab is an easy-to-use application that calculates velocities in image data (movies, pictures). It uses a method called ‘Particle Image Velocimetry’. This method is typically used to calculate velocities in fluids, but there are also many other possibilities.
PIVlab is available as stand-alone app, or as toolbox for Matlab: https://www.PIVlab.de
PIVlab is developed by OPTOLUTION employee William Thielicke, and OPTOLUTION supports the software development of PIVlab. OPTOLUTION’s PIV systems maximize the potential of PIVlab by enabling full control of compatible PIV hardware, which has resulted in the development of the most simple to use PIV measurement suite. Our pulsed laser diodes, synchronizers, several cameras and the seeding generator can all be remote controlled directly from PIVlab.
PIVlab Tutorials:
Software: PIVlab
PIVlab is an easy-to-use application that calculates velocities in image data (movies, pictures). It uses a method called ‘Particle Image Velocimetry’. This method is typically used to calculate velocities in fluids, but there are also many other possibilities.
PIVlab is available as stand-alone app, or as toolbox for Matlab: https://www.PIVlab.de
PIVlab is developed by OPTOLUTION employee William Thielicke, and OPTOLUTION supports the software development of PIVlab. OPTOLUTION’s PIV systems maximize the potential of PIVlab by enabling full control of compatible PIV hardware, which has resulted in the development of the most simple to use PIV measurement suite. Our pulsed laser diodes, synchronizers, several cameras and the seeding generator can all be remote controlled directly from PIVlab.
PIVlab Tutorials: