Model studies on the influence of nonstationary flow on the mean flow estimate with the indicator-dilution technique

The applicability of the indicator-dilution technique for the estimate of the mean flow under circumstances of nonstationary flow is investigated by model studies. The studies comprise experiments using a hydrodynamical model as well as calculations with a compartmental approach. The main conclusions are: (1) The influence of nonstationary flow on the mean flow estimate with the indicator-dilution technique can be described accurately by a mathematical model based on a mixing-chamber approach. (2) The relative error in the mean flow estimate by a single measurement is dependent on the system parameters (number and time constant of mixing chambers) and the flow parameters (relative amplitude and relative frequency of flow variation and the phase with respect to the variation at the moment of injection). (3) Errors due to cyclic nonstationarities of the flow can be reduced strongly by averaging over two measurements with injection at two points of time with phases pi radians apart.