ABSTRACT
Most engineering applications involve complex, three-dimensional flow patterns which require the employment of non-intrusive measurement methods if the mean flow and turbulence characteristics are to be accurately determined, One such example, which has provided the motivation for the present work, is the characterisation of the flows in stirred vessels, Here the rapid acquisition of data is essential for the practical assessment of the mixing capabilities of different stirrer configurations, especially where the presence of flow macro-instabilities necessitates the rapid acquisition of time-resolved flow patterns, As an example, the work conducted by [ 1 ] has indicated the presence of macro-instabilities in the flow produced by a hydrofoil impeller which can only be properly characterised and quantified with a suitable real-time, three-dimensional, non-intrusive method.
