Airspeed measurement using Pitot-Static probe

Air:To measure airspeed using U-tube manometer and Pitot-Static probe.

Equiptments used: Wind tunnel facility, U-tube manometer and pitot-static probe
Theory:
Air speed data is needed for navigation and stability of aircraft.
Airspeed, v, iscomponent of V2 which is expression of dynamic pressure.
Hence V can be found out from dynamic pressure.
Bernoullis equation:
In a flow,
Static pressure + Dynamic Pressure= Total pressure
2
PStat + V = PT
----(1) ;
2
PT - PStat= V ----(2) ;
The airspeed measuring instruments which are using P T and PStat are called
pressure-based instruments and that are directly interacting with dynamic pressure
or velocity pressure of the flow are called velocity based instruments. The Velocity
based airspeed measuring instruments are also called as Anemometers.
Pressure-based instrument
1. Air speed Indicator
2. U-tube manometer

Velocity based instrument

1. Vane type anemometer
2. Hot-wire anemometer
3. Laser Doppler anemometer

Description:
Pitot-static probe is designed for tapping total pressure (as stagnation pressure)
and static pressure separately from the flow. When there is no air flow, there is no
dynamic pressure ( V2) as v is zero; and both the ports of the probe will pick
up atmosphere only.
Pitot-static probe

Pitot-static probe is constructed out of two concentric tubes. The inner tube
functions as total probe. The probe is kept in alignment with the direction flow.
At the tip of the total probe, v becomes zero and thus the total pressure is
picked up by the inner, total probe.
The static ports are on the external surface of the outer tube and thus are
able to pick up Static pressure in a direction normal to the flow direction.
The static ports form a circle in a plane perpendicular to axis of the probe and
are minimum 6D away from the tip of the probe. So, static pressure is picked up
reasonably away from tip where flow gets disturbed. D is the diameter of the
outer tube.
The dynamic pressure as differential of total pressure and static pressure is
sensed when connected to U-tube manometer. Velocity is derived from dynamic
pressure.
U-tube manometer

P1 > P2
U-tube manometer is made up of glass tube having uniform cross section
area, a throughout. It contains a suitable fluid, like methyl alcohol, which shall be
of non-sticky nature.
Differential pressure between P1& P2 enables fluid to assume different levels
resulting in differential head h, such that :
(P1 P2 ) = h . liquid . g
where liquid is density of methyl alcohol ( 800 kg / m3) ;
g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8m/s2) and
h is the differential head in meters.

The flow has both the static pressure and the dynamic pressure as given by
Bernoullis equation,
Static pressure + Dynamic Pressure = Total pressure
2
PStat + V =PT----(1) ;
V2 = PT - PStat----(2) ;
Eqn. (2) is rewritten as follows:

Bernoulli also states that the dynamic pressure exerts on solids which it comes
across. The arrow marks corresponding to duct static pressure shown in the above
figure explain the same.
Total and static pressures are tapped using pitot-static probe and are connected as
inputs to a u-tube manometer, as shown in the following figure.

From the corresponding differential pressure which in this specific case is nothing
but dynamic pressure,
Airspeed is calculated. The term v is related to h as follows:
PT - PStat = v = h .liquid . g , where h is the differential head measured from
manometer.
is 1.1 kg/m; liquidis 800 kg/m; g is 9.8 m/sec ; h is in meters and v is in m/s.
v= h.liquid . g ; X 1.1 X v= h.800. 9.8 ; V = k ( h ) m/s (where h is in
meters)

Units of
differential

mm

cm

headh

M
(meter)

Value ofk

3.78

11.95

119.5

Units of

m/s

m/s

m/s

velocity v
Wind tunnel facility could be set to provide uniform flow at required rpm of motor.
Procedure:
After confirming that wind tunnel is intact and free from any external objects or
materials, fan motor is switched on and set to run at 400 rpm. Manometer readings
corresponding to static pressure as well as total pressure are taken down to arrive
at corresponding h in mm. Airspeed is calculated from the formula, V = k h
m/s. This is repeated for 600, 800 and 1000 rpm in steps and corresponding v is
found.

RPM Vs. velocity may be plotted to get a view on tunnel performance.

Sl.
No

Readings in _________ (k=

_______ )

RPM

hT

hStat

h = hT hStat

400

600

800

1000

5 1200
Tabulation:

TUNNEL PERFORMANCE (RPM Vs VELOCITY)

V in m/s = k h

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Result / Conclusion:
The Airspeed is measured using the combination of pitot-static probe and utube manometer.

V is plotted against different rpm of motor to view the wind

tunnel performance.
The combination of pitot-static probe with U-tube manometer is a standard
reference by itself and is used for calibration of pressure sensors/probes or other air
speed measuring instruments.