Whole field measurement of temperature in water using two-color laser induced fluorescence

A technique is described that measures the instantaneous three-dimensional temperature distribution in water using two-color laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Two fluorescent dyes, Rhodamine B and Rhodamine 110, are used as temperature indicators. A laser light sheet scanned across the entire measurement volume excites the fluorescent dye, and an optical system involving a color beam splitter gives the intensity distribution of the individual fluorescent dyes on two separate monochrome CCD cameras. The ratio of these fluorescence intensities at each point of the image is calibrated against the temperature to eliminate the effect of the fluctuation of illuminating light intensity. A stable thermally stratified layer was measured by this system to evaluate the total accuracy of the measurement system. The random error of the measurement was +/-1.4 K with 95% confidence. Measurements of thermal convection over a heated horizontal surface show temperature iso-surfaces having typical structures such as plumes, ridges and thermals.