MEMORANDUM

To:

Dr. Glen E. Thorncroft, Mechanical Engineering Department

From:

William Blazejowski (initial by your name)

Charles Lumley (initial by your name)

Date:

January 1, 2005

Subject: Measurement of Velocity Profile and Volumetric Flow Rate in a Circular Air Duct
1. Objective
The objective of this experiment, performed in the Fluid Mechanics Laboratory on January 5,
2005, was to use a Pitot-static tube to measure the velocity profile of air moving through a 6-inchdiameter circular air duct, and to determine from this data the volumetric flow rate. Flow through the
duct was produced by an axial fan attached to one end of the duct. Flow profiles were measured by
traversing the duct with a Pitot-static tube. Volumetric flow rates were determined by integrating the
velocities measured across the duct. Velocity data are tabulated and plotted in the discussion that follows.
2. Apparatus and Procedure
A schematic diagram of the experimental apparatus is depicted in Figure 1. The apparatus is a
Tecquipment Model 1500 Axial Flow Bench, and consists of a 6 inch diameter duct attached to the inlet
of an axial fan. A Pitot-static probe is installed 18 inches behind the inlet and straightening vanes. The
detailed operating procedure for the experiment is listed in Reference [1].
18 in.

36 in.

6 in.
dia.

Flow

Pitot-static
tube

Straightening
vanes

Axial Fan
Pressure ports

Figure 1. Diagram of Tecquipment axial flow bench used in this experiment (not to scale).
3. Results and Discussion
Table 1 lists the manometer readings and calculated velocities at each probe location in the duct.
The raw and reduced data appear in an Excel spreadsheet, presented in Attachment 1, while sample
calculations appear in Attachment 2. The probe location was measured with an uncertainty of 0.005 in.,
which is the same as the resolution of the device; the manometer had a resolution of 0.01 in. H20, but

the uncertainty in the measurement was estimated at 0.05 in. because of fluctuations in the height.
Using these estimates of uncertainty, the velocity measurement was estimated at 2.7 ft/s, which was the
worst-case value among all the measurements of velocity.
The volumetric flow rate was calculated to be 504 ft3/min. This was determined by multiplying
each measurement of velocity by its local area, and adding the individual flow rates together. The details
of this calculation are presented in Attachment 2.
Table 1. Measured pressure drop and calculated velocities for Pitot-static tube.
Radius, r
(in.)
0.005 in.
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75
2.90

Manometer ht., h
(in.H2O)
0.05 in. H2O
0.53
0.56
0.63
0.59
0.61
0.49
0.45
0.54
0.56
0.39
0.33
0.33
0.14

Velocity, V
(ft/s)
2.7 ft/s
48.3
49.6
52.6
50.9
51.8
46.4
44.5
48.7
49.6
41.4
38.1
38.1
24.8

Figure 1 depicts the measured velocity as a function of position in the duct. Generally the data is
non-linear (somewhat parabolic), with the maximum velocity occurring near the centerline of the duct and
the minimum occurring near the wall. In fact, the maximum velocity was seen at 0.5 in. from the
centerline, although the variation of velocity in that region is close to the uncertainty in the measured
velocity itself. The fact that the velocity drops off near the wall makes sense, since the velocity is in fact
zero at the wall because of the no-slip condition.
The shape of the velocity profile suggests that the flow is turbulent. First, the velocity profile is
somewhat parabolic, but nearly flat from the centerline of the duct to about two inches away. Second, the
velocity decreases sharply near the wall. Both of these features are characteristic of turbulent flow.
Finally, the fluctuations in manometer readings could be due to turbulence, although fluctuations will
occur in any flow, laminar or turbulent.
Because the flow is driven by an axial fan, it is possible that the air inside the duct may be
rotating, or swirling, despite the presence of the straightening vanes in the duct. This would affect how
we interpret the velocity of the air, but not the volumetric flow rate. The Pitot-static probe measures
velocity only in one direction, in this case along the axis of the duct. Since only one component of
velocity is being measured, the actual velocity may be higher. On the other hand, the volumetric flow
rate depends only on the axial component of velocity, since that is the only component that contributes to
moving the fluid in or out of the duct. Therefore, the rotation of the fluid does not contribute error to the
measurement of volumetric flow rate.

60

Velocity, V (ft/s)

50
40
30
20
10
0
0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Distance from centerline, r (in.)

Figure 1. Measured velocity through circular duct, as a function of distance from duct centerline.
4. Summary
In this experiment, the velocity profile and volumetric flow rate was measured in a 6 in. diameter
circular air duct. The volumetric flow rate was measured to be 504 CFM, and the shape of the velocity
profile suggests that the flow is turbulent. The effect of flow rotation was considered qualitatively:
measurements using the Pitot-static tube, which in this experiment only measured axial velocity, would
underpredict the true velocity of the flow. However, this method would not adversely affect the
measurement of volumetric flow rate, since its value is based solely on the axial component of velocity.
5. References
[1] Pascual, C.C., Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Experiments, 1st Edition, El Corral Publications, 2004.
[2] Fox, R.W., McDonald, A.T., and Pritchard, P.J., Introduction to Fluid Mechanics, 6th Edition, John
Wiley, 2004.
6. Attachments
1. Spreadsheet Data
2. Sample Calculations

Attachment 1
Spreadsheet Data
Bill Blazejowski
Chuck Lumley

Properties
rho air

ME 347
1/5/05

7.60E-02lbm/ft3

Measured Data

Calculations

r, in.

V, ft/s
nodal area, A (ft^2) vol. Flow rate
by Eq.(1)
Q=V*A
48.3
3.41E-04
0.99
49.7
2.73E-03
8.12
52.7
5.45E-03
17.24
51.0
8.18E-03
25.02
51.8
1.09E-02
33.92
46.4
1.36E-02
38.00
44.5
1.64E-02
43.70
48.8
1.91E-02
55.85
49.7
2.18E-02
65.00
41.4
2.45E-02
61.02
38.1
2.73E-02
62.37
38.1
3.00E-02
68.61
24.8
1.60E-02
23.87

h, in.H2O
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75
2.90

0.53
0.56
0.63
0.59
0.61
0.49
0.45
0.54
0.56
0.39
0.33
0.33
0.14

Total Area

1.96E-01ft^2
Total Vol. Flow Rate
503.69ft^3/min

ATTACHMENT 2
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS