Development and Testing of a Multiphase Cryogenic Optical Flowmeter

by

Valentin Korman
MSFC

Friday, 25 January 2008
Socialization : 10:15 a.m.
Presentation : 10:30 a.m.
Location: NSSTC, Room 2096
320 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805

Abstract: Development and Testing of a Multiphase Cryogenic Optical Flowmeter

The measurement of the density (mass/volume) of a flowing cryogenic fluid is a difficult task under the best of circumstances and currently available flowmeters are not designed for this task. They are much too invasive and actually become sources of turbulence and lead to large errors in mass flow and density measurements. The solution is a minimally invasive optical technique that uses the dispersive properties of the fluid to give a measure of the density. This work represents the first attempts at a direct measure of the density of flowing cryogenic fluids and demonstrates the basic principles which may lead to a new class of optical flowmeters for future use in a wide variety of applications.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
Val began his academic career in the field of astrophysics supporting projects at the VLA as an undergraduate and later with stellar atmosphere modeling as a graduate student. He quickly realized his lack of aptitude for it and transitioned to experimental and physical optics research. As an Alabama Space Grant Fellow, Val began working with the NASA propulsion and cryogenic component testing community. His work transitioned to a role supporting the development and testing of a variety of novel instrumentation and sensor technologies. Val is the chair for SPIE's Sensors for Propulsion Measurement Applications conference.

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