Buoyant fluorescent particles as a novel sensing technology for field observations of water flows

Flavia Tauro, Matteo Aureli, Maurizio Porfiri, Salvatore Grimaldi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of off-the-shelf buoyant fluorescent microspheres as particle tracers in turbid water flows. Microspheres' fluorescence intensity is experimentally measured and detected in static aqueous suspensions of increasing concentrations of clay to simulate typical conditions of natural drainage networks. We conduct experiments by using photoconductive cells and image-based sensing methods. Results obtained with both approaches exhibit comparable trends and show that the considered particles are detectable in critically turbid water flows. Further information on the performance and integration of such microspheres in low-cost measurement instrumentations for field observations is obtained through experiments on a custom built water channel. Findings from this study show that the proposed technology may serve as a minimally invasive sensing system for hazardous events, such as pollutant diffusion in natural streams and flash flooding due to extreme rainfall.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationASME 2011 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference and Bath/ASME Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, DSCC 2011
Pages137-144
Number of pages8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
EventASME 2011 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference and Bath/ASME Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, DSCC 2011 - Arlington, VA, United States
Duration: Oct 31 2011Nov 2 2011

Publication series

NameASME 2011 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference and Bath/ASME Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, DSCC 2011
Volume2

Other

OtherASME 2011 Dynamic Systems and Control Conference and Bath/ASME Symposium on Fluid Power and Motion Control, DSCC 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityArlington, VA
Period10/31/1111/2/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
  • Control and Systems Engineering

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