A Comparative Study of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) for Airflow Measurement

Among modern airflow measurement methods,
Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Particle Tracking Velocimetry
(PTV), as visualized and non-instructive measurement techniques, are
playing more important role. This paper conducts a comparative
experimental study for airflow measurement employing both
techniques with the same condition. Velocity vector fields, velocity
contour fields, voticity profiles and turbulence profiles are selected as
the comparison indexes. The results show that the performance of both
PIV and PTV techniques for airflow measurement is satisfied, but
some differences between the both techniques are existed, it suggests
that selecting the measurement technique should be based on a
comprehensive consideration.

• Sijie Fu
• Pascal-Henry Biwolé
• Christian Mathis

• PIV
• PTV
• airflow measurement.

[1] Sun. Y, Zhang. Y. “An overview of room air motion measurement:
technology and application”, HVAC&R Research, Vol.13, no. 6, pp.
929-950, Sep. 2007.
[2] Sandberg. M. “Whole-fields measuring methods in ventilated rooms”,
HVAC&R Research, Vol.13, no. 6, pp. 951-970, Sep. 2007.
[3] Cao. X, Liu. J, Jiang. N, Chen. Q. “Particle image velocimetry
measurement of indoor airflow field: A review of the technologies and
applications”, Energy and Buildings, Vol.69, pp. 367-380, Feb. 2014.
[4] Yan. W. “Development of hybrid particle tracking algorithms and their
applications in airflow measurement within aircraft cabin mock-up”,
Ph.D. Thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sep. 2010.
[5] Yan. W, Zhang. Y, Sun. Y, Li. D. “Experimental and CFD study of
unsteady airborne pollutant transport within an aircraft cabin mock-up”,
Building and Environment, Vol.44, no. 1, pp. 34-43, Jan. 2009.
[6] Wang. A, Zhang. Y, Sun. Y, Wang. X. “Experimental study of ventilation
effectiveness and air velocity distribution in an aircraft cabin mockup”,
Building and Environment, Vol.43, no.3, pp. 337-343, Mar. 2008.
[7] ]Lobutova. E, Resagk. C, Putze. T. “Investigation of large-scale
circulations in room air flows using three-dimensional particle tracking
velocimetry”, Building and Environment, Vol.45, no. 7, pp. 1653-1662,
Jul. 2010.
[8] Resagk. C, Lobutova. E, Rank. R, Müller. D, Putze. T, Maas. H-G.
“Measurement of large-sale flow structures in air using a novel 3D
particle tracking velocimetry technique”, in 13th International
Symposium on Applications of Laser Techniques to Fluid Mechanics,
Lisbon, Portugal, 26-29, June 2006.
[9] Steinhoff. P, Schmidt. M, Resagk. C, Müller. D. “Measurements with a
redesigned 3D-PTV system in natural and mixed convection, in 10Th
International Symposium on Particle Image Velocimetry Delft, The
Netherlands, July 1-3, 2013.
[10] Biwolé. P.H. Large scale particle tracking velocimetry for 3-dimensional
indoor airflow study. PhD dissertation, Ph.D. Thesis, 2009.