A bench-top model of a chemical plume in a turbulent flow, a Virtual Plume,
was built to simulate the behavior of a turbulent chemical plume. It is ba
sed on an eight-channel FIA/SIA system and an array of eight amperometric s
ensors. A plug of sample solution was delivered to me sensors after passing
through delay and dispersion elements. Adjusting these two elements enable
d us to simulate the rime-concentration profile at any arbitrary point in t
he plume. It has been shown that an eight-channel system can simulate an ar
bitrary sensor array positioned in a turbulent plume. Preliminary correlati
on of the shape of the peaks obtained in the VP with those recorded using p
lanar laser-induced fluorescence in a turbulent flow shows the value of thi
s approach.