Schlieren flow visualization in commercial kitchen ventilation research.

This paper presents a new technology for capture and containment testing in commercial kitchen ventilation research. It is called large-scale focusing schlieren system and offers a nonintrusive approach to effluent flow observation. Schlieren systems can be added to conventional kitchen ventilation research laboratories or other hood testing facilities and allow continuous observation of a large area around a hood-appliance setup. This paper presents the conceptual design of an existing large-scale focusing schlieren system and some test results from this system with various kitchen appliances.