Measurement technologies, FHNW School of Engineering and Environment

The FHNW Institute of Thermo- and Fluid Engineering has many years of experience and expertise in experimental methods, measurement techniques, and flow diagnostics (liquid and gas; laminar/turbulent). Flow, temperature, and pressure are measured, analyzed, and optimized. In addition, measurements are conducted on sprays and droplets (droplet sizes, distributions, and velocities). In combustion research, the institute specializes in diagnostics of combustion processes. Experimental questions can be investigated through the development of test rigs, the use of suitable measurement technology, and data analysis.

The institute’s optical measurement capabilities enable the visualization and analysis of flows, sprays, and temperature distributions. Quantitative measurements that do not interfere with boundary conditions or the application itself can often only be obtained optically. Experimental data are frequently used as the basis for process analysis and validation of simulations.

Various high-speed infrared cameras are employed with multiple optical measurement methods. Expertise in optical analysis with high-speed cameras includes shadow imaging, Schlieren, BOS, IR measurements, PDA/LDA, PIV, and other methods.

Thermal cameras and heat flux sensors are used to dynamically investigate heat transfer and thermal effects.

A key part of combustion process development is the analysis of combustion using pressure and heat release measurements. Alongside imaging techniques, sensors for pressure indexing and heat release are studied and further developed. Often, the experimental questions are so complex that conventional measurement techniques are insufficient. Therefore, new measurement approaches are developed to obtain the required results.