Liquid crystal thermography supported by PIV and DII as modern and unique tools for technical and biomedical research and diagnosis – mini review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24425/ather.2025.154188Abstract
Liquid Crystals Thermography, Particle Image Velocimetry, Infrared Imaging Thermography and Digital Infrared Imaging have been successfully used in non-intrusive technical, industrial and biomedical studies and applications. These four tools (based on the desktop computers) have come together during the past two decades to produce a powerful advanced experimental technique as a judgment of quality of information that cannot be obtained from any other imaging procedure. A brief summary of the history of this technique is reviewed, principal methods and tools are described and some examples are presented mostly from our own research. Automated data evaluation allows us to determine the heat and flow visualization and locate the area of suspicious tissue in the human body. Anyway with this objective, a relatively new experimental technique has been developed and applied to the study of heat and mass transfer and for biomedical diagnosis.References
[1] Baughn, J.W., Ireland, P.T., Jones, T.V., & Saniel, N. (1989). A comparison of the transient and heated‑coating methods for the measurement of local heat transfer coefficients on a pin fin. ASME Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 111(4), 871–881. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3250800
[2] Bergles, A.E. (1997). Augmentation of heat transfer, single phase. In: Hewitt, G.F., Shires, G.L., Polezhaev, Y.V. (Eds.), International Encyclopaedia of Heat and Mass Transfer, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, pp. 68–73.
[3] Ciofalo, M., Di Piazza, I., & Stasiek, J.A. (2000). Investigation of flow and heat transfer in corrugated‑undulated plate heat exchangers. Heat and Mass Transfer, 36, 449–462. https://doi.org/10.1007/S002310000106
[4] Fiebig, M. (1996). Vortices: tools to influence heat transfer – recent developments. Proceedings of the 2nd European Thermal‑Sciences and 14th UIT National Heat Transfer Conference, Vol. 1, Rome, Italy, pp. 41–56.
[5] Fiebig, M., & Mitra, N.K. (1998). Experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer enhancement with wing‑type vortex generators. In: Sunden, B., Faghri, M. (Eds.), Computer Simulations in Compact Heat Exchangers, Computational Mechanics Publications, Southampton, UK and Boston, USA, pp. 227–254.
[6] Hippensteele, S.A., Russel, L.M., & Stepka, F.S. (1983). Evaluation of a method for heat transfer measurements and thermal visualization using a composite of a heater element and liquid crystals. ASME Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 105(1), 184–189. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3245539
[7] Jacobi, A.M., & Shah, R.K. (1995). Heat transfer surface enhancement through the use of longitudinal vortices: A review of recent progress. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 11(3), 295–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/0894-1777(95)00066-U
[8] Jones, T.V., & Hippensteele, S.A. (1998). High‑resolution heat transfer coefficient maps applicable to compound‑curve surfaces using liquid crystals in a transient wind tunnel. NASA Technical Memorandum 89855.
[9] Jones, T.V., Wang, Z., & Ireland, P.T. (1992). The use of liquid crystals in aerodynamic and heat transfer experiments. Proceedings of the IMechE Seminar on Optical Methods and Data Processing in Heat and Fluid Flow, City University, London, UK, pp. 51–54.
[10] Leiner, W., Schulz, K., Behle, M., & Lorenz, S. (1996). Imaging techniques to measure local heat and mass transfer. Proceedings of the 3rd IMechE Seminar on Optical Methods and Data Processing in Heat and Fluid Flow, City University, London, UK, pp. 1–13.
[11] Mikielewicz, D., Stasiek, A., Jewartowski, M., & Stasiek, J. (2012). Measurements of heat transfer enhanced by the use of transverse vortex generators. Applied Thermal Engineering, 49, 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2011.11.013
[12] Simonich, J.C., & Moffatt, R.J. (1982). New technique for mapping heat transfer coefficient contours. Review of Scientific Instruments, 53(5), 678–683. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1137041
[13] Stasiek, J. (1998). Experimental study of heat transfer and fluid flow across corrugated‑undulated heat exchanger surfaces. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 41, 899–914. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(97)00168-3
[14] Stasiek, J. (1997). Thermochromic liquid crystals and true‑colour image processing in heat transfer and fluid flow research. Heat and Mass Transfer, 33, 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/S002310050158
[15] Stasiek, J., Ciofalo, M., & Wierzbowski, M. (2004). Experimental and numerical simulations of flow and heat transfer in heat exchanger elements using liquid crystal thermography. Journal of Thermal Science, 12(2), 133–137.
[16] Stasiek, J.A., & Kowalewski, T.A. (2002). Thermochromic liquid crystals applied for heat transfer research. Opto‑Electronics Review, 10(1), 1–10.
[17] Stasiek, J., Stasiek, A., Jewartowski, M., & Collins, M.W. (2006). Liquid crystal thermography and true‑colour digital image processing. Optics & Laser Technology, 38(4–6), 234–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2005.06.028
[18] Tanda, G. (2001). Heat transfer and pressure drop in a rectangular channel with diamond‑shaped elements. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 44, 3529–3541. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(01)00018-7
[19] Tanda, G. (2004). Heat transfer in rectangular channels with transverse and V‑shaped broken ribs. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 47, 229–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(03)00414-9
[20] Tanda, G., & Abram, R. (2009). Forced convection heat transfer in channels with rib turbulators inclined at 45°. ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 131. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2987241
[21] Tanda, G., Stasiek, J., & Collins, M.W. (1995). Application of holographic interferometry and liquid crystal thermography to forced convection heat transfer from a rib‑roughened channel. 8th International Conference on Energy and Environment, Shanghai, China, pp. 434–441. https://doi.org/10.1615/1-56700-052-5.610
[22] Utriainen, E., & Sunden, B. (2002). Evaluation of the cross‑corrugated and some other candidate heat transfer surfaces for microturbine recuperators. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 124(3). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1456093
[23] Valencia, A., Fiebig, M., Mitra, N.K., & Leiner, W. (1992). Heat transfer and flow loss in a fin‑tube heat exchanger element with wing‑type vortex generators. Heat Transfer, 3rd UK National Conference Incorporating 1st European Conference on Thermal Sciences, Birmingham, UK.
[24] Vogel, G., Graf, A.B.A., von Walfersdorf, J., & Weigand, B. (2003). A novel transient heater‑foil technique for liquid crystal experiments on film‑cooled surfaces. ASME Journal of Turbomachinery, 125, 529–537. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1578501
[25] Wierzbowski, M., & Stasiek, J. (2002). Liquid crystals technique application for heat transfer investigation in a fin‑tube heat exchanger element. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 26, 319–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0894-1777(02)00143-7
[26] Hiller, W.J., & Kowalewski, T.A. (1986). Simultaneous measurements of temperature and velocity fields in thermal convective flows. In: Veret, C. (Ed.), Flow Visualization IV, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Washington, pp. 617–622.
[27] Kowalewski, T.A., & Cybulski, A. (1996). Experimental and numerical investigations of natural convection in freezing water. International Conference on Heat Transfer with Change of Phase in Mechanics, Kielce, Poland, pp. 7–16.
[28] Kowalewski, T.A., Cybulski, A., & Rebow, M. (1998). Particle image velocimetry and thermometry in freezing water. 8th International Symposium on Flow Visualization, Sorrento, Italy.
[29] Kowalewski, T.A., & Rebow, M. (1999). Freezing of water in the differentially heated cubic cavity. International Journal of Computational Fluid Dynamics, 11(3), 193–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/10618569908940874
[30] Raffel, M., Willert, C.E., & Kompenhans, J. (1998). Particle Image Velocimetry (1st ed.). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-03637-2
[31] Tanaka, T. (1998). Visualisation of the temperature field in thermal storage tanks by using the thermosensitive liquid crystals suspension method. International Symposium on Fluid Control, Measurement, Mechanics and Flow Visualisation, pp. 212–215.
[32] Tropea, C., Yarin, A.L., & Foss, J.F. (Eds.). (2007). Springer Handbook of Experimental Fluid Mechanics. Springer‑Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg.
[33] Satta, F., & Tanda, G. (2014). Measurement of local heat transfer coefficient on the end wall of a turbine blade cascade by liquid crystal thermography. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, 58, 209–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2014.07.005
[34] Borda, T., Flaszyński, P., Doerffer, P., Jewartowski, M., & Stasiek, J. (2015). Flow visualization and heat transfer investigations on the flat plate with stream‑wise pressure gradient. 12th International Symposium on Experimental and Computational Aerothermodynamics of Internal Flows, Lerici, Italy.
[35] Ekkad, S.V., & Singh, P. (2021). Liquid crystal thermography in gas turbine heat transfer: A review on measurement techniques and recent investigations. Crystals, 11(11), 1332. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11111332
[36] Reinitzer, R. (1888). Beiträge zur Kenntniss des Cholestrins. Monatshefte für Chemie, Wien, 9, 421–441. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01516710
[37] Polidori, G., Renard, Y., Lorimier, S., Pron, H., Derrau, S., & Taiar, R. (2017). Medical infrared thermography assistance in the surgical treatment of axillary hidradenitis suppurativa: A case report. International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, 34, 56–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.03.015
[38] Seymour, T. (2019). Breast thermography: what you need to know. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com
[39] Żmija, J., Kłosowicz, S., & Borys, S. (1989). Cholesteric liquid crystals in a detection of radiation. WNT, Warsaw, Poland.
[40] Shlens, M., Stoltz, M.R., & Benjamin, A. (1975). Orthopaedic applications of liquid crystal thermography. The Western Journal of Medicine, 122, 367–370.
[41] Podbielska, H., & Skrzek, A. (Eds.). (2014). Biomedical applications of thermovision. Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland.
[42] Stasiek, J., & Jewartowski, M. (2017). Liquid crystals, PIV and IR‑photography in selected technical and biomedical applications. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 249, 012010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/249/1/012010
[43] Kesztyüs, D., Brucher, S., Wilson, C., & Kesztyüs, T. (2023). Use of infrared thermography in medical diagnosis, screening, and disease monitoring: A scoping review. Medicina, 59(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59122139
[44] Moffat, R.J. (1990). Experimental heat transfer. Proceedings of the 9th International Heat Transfer Conference, Vol. 1, Jerusalem, Israel, pp. 187–205. https://doi.org/10.1615/IHTC9.1900
[45] Dierking, I. (2014). Chiral liquid crystals: Structures, phases, effects. Symmetry, 6(2), 444–472. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym6020444
[46] Klein, E.J. (1968). Application of liquid crystals to a boundary layer flow visualisation. AIAA Aerodynamic Testing Conference, San Francisco, USA.
[47] Klein, E.J., & Margozzi, A.P. (1969). Exploratory investigation on the measurement of skin friction by means of liquid crystals. NASA TM‑X‑1774.
[48] Stasiek, J., & Collins, M.W. (1996). The use of liquid crystals and true‑colour image processing in heat and fluid flow experiments. Atlas of Visualization, Vol. 2, CRC Press, New York, USA.
[49] Bagavathiappan, S., Lahiri, B.B., Saravanan, T., Philip, J., & Jayakumar, T. (2013). Infrared thermography for condition monitoring – A review. Infrared Physics & Technology, 60, 35–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infrared.2013.03.006
[50] Stąsiek, J., Jewartowski, M., & Stąsiek, A. (2016). Liquid crystal thermography and image anemometry in selected technical applications. AGNI Publisher, Pruszcz Gdański, Poland.
[51] Strugała, G., Klugmann, M., Landowski, M., Szkodo, M., & Mikielewicz, D. (2018). A universal NDT method for examination of low energy impact damage in CFRP with the use of TLC film. Non‑Destructive Testing and Evaluation, 33(3), 315–328. https://doi.org/10.1080/10589759.2018.1428323
[52] Bizzarri, M., Conti, P., Glicksman, L.R., Schito, E., & Testi, D. (2024). Evaluation by liquid crystal thermography of transient surface temperature distribution in radiant floor cooling applications and assessment of analytical and numerical models. ASME Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 146(5). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4064707
[53] Kumar, D., Choudhury, R., & Layek, A. (2022). Application of liquid crystal thermography for temperature measurement of the absorber plate of solar air heater. Materials Today: Proceedings, 59, 605–611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.12.009
[54] Hallcrest Ltd. (2014). Handbook of thermochromic liquid crystal technology. LCR Hallcrest.
[55] C.I.E. (1976). UCS chromaticity diagram. https://www.ledtronics.com
[56] Data Translation Ltd. (1991). Image processing handbook. USA.
[57] MERC Ltd. (1994). Thermochromic liquid crystals – manufacturer’s catalogue. Poole, Dorset, UK.
[58] B.D.H. Limited, Advanced Materials Division. (n.d.). UK.
[59] B & H Liquid Crystal Devices Ltd. (1992). London, UK.
[60] Beginnings of quantum mechanics. http://260h.pbworks.com
