OpenFlume: An accessible and reproducible benchtop flume for research and education

IF 2 Q3 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

HardwareX Pub Date : 2024-09-19 DOI:10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00583

Maya Lewis , Eli Silver , Robert Hunt, Daniel M. Harris

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Open-channel flumes are an important tool in fluid mechanics research and education. However, the few commercially available small-scale flumes are generally expensive and lack complete characterization. In this work, we present an open-source, low-cost, modular benchtop laboratory flume that is designed to be accessible and reproducible. The flume is assembled from widely available materials and hardware, and fabricated exclusively using tools and machinery commonly found in workshop spaces. The recirculating water flow through the system is driven by a controllable electric coolant pump designed for automobiles. Our design has a flow cross-section of 5 × 5 cm, adjustable flow velocity, and a modest overall footprint. All design files and build instructions are shared in a digital repository ensuring openness and reproducibility. The flow in the test section is characterized using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and is shown to be of high uniformity with low turbulence intensity. Furthermore, direct measurements of the drag force on a submerged sphere are reported for a range of control parameters, and exhibit good agreement with established empirical values.

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OpenFlume：用于研究和教育的可访问、可重现的台式水槽

明渠水槽是流体力学研究和教育的重要工具。然而，市面上为数不多的小型水槽通常价格昂贵，且缺乏完整的表征。在这项工作中，我们提出了一种开源、低成本、模块化的台式实验室水槽，其设计旨在方便使用和可重复。水槽由可广泛获得的材料和硬件组装而成，完全使用车间里常见的工具和机械制造。通过该系统的循环水流由专为汽车设计的可控电动冷却剂泵驱动。我们的设计水流截面为 5 × 5 厘米，流速可调，整体占地面积不大。所有设计文件和构建说明都在一个数字资源库中共享，以确保开放性和可重复性。利用粒子图像测速仪（PIV）对测试截面中的流动进行了表征，结果表明流动均匀度高，湍流强度低。此外，还报告了针对一系列控制参数对浸没球体的阻力进行的直接测量，结果与既定的经验值非常吻合。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

HardwareX Engineering-Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

18.20%

发文量

124

审稿时长

24 weeks

期刊介绍： HardwareX is an open access journal established to promote free and open source designing, building and customizing of scientific infrastructure (hardware). HardwareX aims to recognize researchers for the time and effort in developing scientific infrastructure while providing end-users with sufficient information to replicate and validate the advances presented. HardwareX is open to input from all scientific, technological and medical disciplines. Scientific infrastructure will be interpreted in the broadest sense. Including hardware modifications to existing infrastructure, sensors and tools that perform measurements and other functions outside of the traditional lab setting (such as wearables, air/water quality sensors, and low cost alternatives to existing tools), and the creation of wholly new tools for either standard or novel laboratory tasks. Authors are encouraged to submit hardware developments that address all aspects of science, not only the final measurement, for example, enhancements in sample preparation and handling, user safety, and quality control. The use of distributed digital manufacturing strategies (e.g. 3-D printing) is encouraged. All designs must be submitted under an open hardware license.