Detection of conductivity fluctuations in a turbulent flow field

Abstract

A technique has been developed to detect very small amplitude fluctuations of concentration or temperature in aqueous electrolytic solutions. A platinized single-electrode conductivity probe is made one arm of an A.C. Wheatstone bridge, whose unbalance is then proportional to the incremental change of conductivity at the probe tip. A discussion of the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the probe and circuitry is given. This technique should have useful applications in oceanographic measurements of salinity or temperature, measurements of statistical parameters useful in the description of diffusion-controlled reactions in liquid-phase chemical reactors, and also the pure mixing of ionic materials and temperature.