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A Novel, Portable, Projection, Focusing Schlieren System

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX10CE88P
Agency Tracking Number: 095144
Amount: $99,982.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A4.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-01-29
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-07-29
Small Business Information
8 Chrysler
Irvine, CA 92618-2008
United States
DUNS: 188465819
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Drew L'Esperance
 Principal Investigator
 (949) 553-0688
 dlesperance@metrolaserinc.com
Business Contact
 Christina Arnold
Title: Director of Administration
Phone: (949) 553-0688
Email: carnold@metrolaserinc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The schlieren technique has been used for flow diagnostics in wind tunnels since the beginning of aerospace research, due to its ability to make airflows – especially shock waves and turbulence – visible. This proposal describes a novel type of schlieren system that would increase efficiency, capability, and productivity for ground test facilities. The concept and the availability of state of the art components make the system more portable, easier to align, and more versatile than existing systems. A major drawback of current schlieren systems and one that has restricted their widespread commercial use is that they require exact alignment between a pair of widely separated mirrors or grids, which takes time and limits portability, and costs are prohibitive for most such applications. This problem is partially relaxed by focusing schlieren methods. The proposed concept incorporates features of existing schlieren systems while removing the primary limitations. All of the elements that require precise alignment are contained within a camera body and can be relatively inexpensive. Also, very large fields of view are made possible. This is advantageous in wind tunnel facilities, since experiments are frequently installed only to be torn down shortly afterwards.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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