Search Results (6)

Evapotranspiration is essential for precise irrigation and water resource management. Previous literature suggested that eddy covariance (EC) systems could directly measure evapotranspiration in agricultural fields. However, the eddy covariance method remains difficult for routine use, due to its high cost, operational complexity, and relatively multifaceted raw data processing. An alternative method is the flux variance (FV) method, which can estimate the sensible heat flux using high-frequency air temperature measurements by fine-wire thermocouples, at relatively low-cost and with less complexity. Additional measurements of the net radiation and soil heat flux permit the extraction of latent heat flux through the energy balance closure equation. This study examined the performance of the FV method and the results were compared against direct eddy covariance measurements. Data were collected from November 2018 to July 2019, covering seasonal variations. Due to the method’s limitation, only the data under unstable conditions were used for the analysis and days with rainfall were omitted. The results showed that the FV-estimated sensible heat flux was in good agreement with that of eddy covariance in the seasons of winter 2018 and summer 2019. The best agreement between the estimated and measured sensible heat fluxes was observed in the summer, with R² = 0.83, RMSE = 34.97 Wm⁻² and RE = 8.20%. The FV extracted latent heat flux was in good agreement with that measured by EC for both seasons. The best result was obtained in the summer, with R² = 0.92, RMSE = 23.12 Wm⁻², and RE = 6.37%. Overall estimations of sensible and latent heat fluxes by the FV method were in close relation with the eddy covariance data. Full article

In this paper, we propose a temperature measurement method that uses ultrafine fluorescent wires to reduce the wire diameter to a much lesser extent than a thermocouple. This is possible because its structure is simple and any material can be used for the wire. Hence, ultrafine wires with a Reynolds number of less than 1.0 can be selected. Ultra-fine wires less than 50 µm in diameter were set in the test volume. The wire surfaces were coated with fluorescent paint. The test volume was illuminated using an ultraviolet light-emitting diode. The paint emits very tiny, orange-colored fluorescent light with an intensity that changes with the temperature of the atmosphere. The experimental results showed that the heating/cooling layers were well visualized and the temperature field was well analyzed. Full article

An experiment of sensible and latent heat flux measurement was conducted in a tea plantation near the Yangtze River within Danyang of Jiangsu Province, China. High-frequency (~10 Hz) air temperature measurement with fine-wire thermocouples (⌀ = 50 μm) was used for the estimation of sensible heat flux (H), and latent heat flux (LE) was extracted as a residual of the energy balance equation using additional measurements of net radiation (R_n) and soil heat flux (G). Results were compared against the eddy covariance (EC) system under unstable conditions only, and days with high precipitation were excluded from further analysis. Half-hourly datasets of the sensible heat flux estimated using the surface renewal method (SR) (H_SR) and measured by the EC system (H_EC) were analyzed. Results showed good agreement with R² = 0.80, root mean square error (RMSE) = 27.87 W m⁻², relative error (RE) = 9.02%, and a regression slope of 0.68—this slope was used for the calibration of the uncalibrated H_SR estimated by SR. On the other hand, the half-hourly dataset of LE_SR was regressed against EC, and it showed good agreement with relatively high R² = 0.93, RMSE = 32.99 W·m⁻², and RE = 5.67%. Hence, the SR method may estimate the surface fluxes at a relatively low cost, ultimately improving calculations of evapotranspiration. Thus, the SR method could provide an economical tool for improving crop water management of tea plantations. Full article

A new test rig has been designed, built and commissioned, and is now jointly pursued to facilitate experimental investigations into advanced combustion processes (i.e., dual fuel, multi-mode) under turbulent conditions at high, engine-like temperature and pressure levels. Based on a standard diesel engine block, it offers much improved optical access to the in-cylinder processes due to its separated and rotated arrangement of the compression volume and combustion chamber, respectively. A fully variable pneumatic valve train and the appropriate preconditioning of the intake air allows it to represent a wide range of engine-like in-cylinder conditions regarding pressures, temperatures and turbulence levels. The modular design of the test rig facilitates easy optimizations of the combustion chamber/cylinder head design regarding different experimental requirements. The name of the new test rig, Flex-OeCoS, denotes its Flexibility regarding Optical engine Combustion diagnostics and/or the development of corresponding Sensing devices and applications. Measurements regarding in-cylinder gas pressures, temperatures and the flow field under typical operating conditions are presented to complete the description and assessment of the new test rig. Full article

Precise estimation of surface-atmosphere exchange is a major challenge in micrometeorology. Previous literature presented the eddy covariance (EC) as the most reliable method for the measurements of such fluxes. Nevertheless, the EC technique is quite expensive and complex, hence other simpler methods are sought. One of these methods is Flux-Variance (FV). The FV method estimates sensible heat flux (H) using high frequency (~10Hz) air temperature measurements by a fine wire thermocouple. Additional measurements of net radiation (R_n) and soil heat flux (G) allow the derivation of latent heat flux (LE) as the residual of the energy balance equation. In this study, the Flux Variance method was investigated, and the results were compared against eddy covariance measurements. The specific goal of the present study was to assess the performance of the FV method for the estimation of surface fluxes along a variable fetch. Experiment was carried out in a tea garden; an EC system measured latent and sensible heat fluxes and five fine-wire thermocouples were installed towards the wind dominant direction at different distances (fetch) of TC₁ = 170 m, TC₂ = 165 m, TC₃ = 160 m, TC₄ = 155 m and TC₅ = 150 m from the field edge. Footprint analysis was employed to examine the effect of temperature measurement position on the ratio between 90% footprint and measurement height. Results showed a good agreement between FV and EC measurements of sensible heat flux, with all regression coefficients (R²) larger than 0.6; the sensor at 170 m (TC₁), nearest to the EC system, had highest R² = 0.86 and lowest root mean square error (RMSE = 25 Wm⁻²). The estimation of LE at TC₁ was also in best agreement with eddy covariance, with the highest R² = 0.90. The FV similarity constant varied along the fetch within the range 2.2–2.4. Full article

The flow and flame characteristics of a 15° backward-inclined jet flame in crossflow were investigated in a wind tunnel. The flow structures, flame behaviors, and temperature fields were measured. The jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratio was less than 7.0. The flow patterns were investigated using photography and Mie-scattering techniques. Meanwhile, the velocity fields were observed using particle image velocimetry techniques, whereas the flame behaviors were studied using photographic techniques. The flame temperatures were probed using a fine-wire R-type thermocouple. Three flame modes were identified: crossflow dominated flames, which were characterized by a blue flame connected to a down-washed yellow recirculation flame; transitional flames identified by a yellow recirculation flame and an elongated yellow tail flame; and detached jet dominated flames denoted by a blue flame base connected to a yellow tail flame. The effect of the flow characteristics on the combustion performance in different flame regimes is presented and discussed. The upwind shear layer of the bent jet exhibited different coherent structures as the jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratio increased. The transitional flames and detached jet dominated flames presented a double peak temperature distribution in the symmetry plane at x/d = 60. The time-averaged velocity field of the crossflow dominated flames displayed a standing vortex in the wake region, whereas that of the detached jet dominated flames displayed a jet-wake vortex and a wake region source point. Full article