MEFC 121

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 2

MEASUREMENT OF AIR VELOCITY

I. Objective:
To study the air current measuring devices, their calibration and principles of operation
II. Theory and Analysis:
There are many different types of anemometers, but they all work on the same basic
principle: to measure the speed of the wind by measuring the force or torque that the wind exerts
on a rotating object.
The most common type of anemometer is the cup anemometer. It has three or four cups mounted
on horizontal arms that are attached to a vertical spindle. When the wind blows, the cups rotate,
and the spindle turns. The faster the wind blows, the faster the spindle turns. The number of
rotations of the spindle per unit time is proportional to the wind speed. This measurement can be
used to calculate the wind speed in miles per hour, knots, or meters per second.
Another common type of anemometer is the propeller anemometer. It has a small propeller
attached to a spindle. The propeller rotates when the wind blows, and the spindle turns. The
principle of operation is the same as for the cup anemometer: the faster the wind blows, the faster
the spindle turns.
The principle of operation of an anemometer is to measure the wind speed by converting the
kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy, which is then used to measure the number of
rotations of a shaft or other rotating element. The faster the wind blows, the faster the shaft
rotates. The number of rotations is then converted into a wind speed measurement using a
calibration factor.
Anemometers are used in a variety of applications, including meteorology, aviation, and wind
power generation. In meteorology, anemometers are used to measure wind speed and direction.
This information is used to forecast weather patterns and to issue severe weather warnings.

Applications
Propeller anemometers are used in a variety of applications, including:
• Meteorology: To measure wind speed and direction.
• Aviation: To measure wind speed and direction at airports and other aviation
facilities.
• Construction: To measure wind speed during construction projects.
 • Agriculture: To measure wind speed and direction to help with crop irrigation and
pest control.
• Renewable energy: To measure wind speed and direction for wind turbine
installations.

III. Equipment, Instruments and Apparatuses:

Air Flow Apparatus
Anemometer
Orifices with varying sizes
Stop Watch

IV. Drawing/Set up:

V. Procedure:
1. Calibrations are to be checked in a suitable wind tunnel, and a rotating arm apparatus
may be used for the calibration of the rotating vane anemometer and the heated
thermocouple anemometer. For good accuracy, the arm should be 5 ft to 10 ft long,
but consistent results are obtainable with a 30 inches’ arm.
2. To measure the velocity or air quantity flowing through a rectangular area, divide the
area into small squares, making a grid of string or fine wire. Take readings in the center
of each square then take the average reading.
3. With a totalizing instrument, a continuous time reading is actually made, holding the
 instrument in the center of each square for say 30 seconds. Traverses should be made
in triplicate for accurate check.
4. In using the rotating arm apparatus, be sure that the instrument is securely bolted in
place before starting. Rotate the arm at various constant speeds, at least one minute
for each point. Plot results while calibration is in progress, making a straight line graph
of actual velocity (ordinate) against instrument reading.
5. The wind tunnel calibration of each instrument should be extensive enough to check
existing calibration and to provide a good comparison among the various instruments.
The range of wind tunnel velocities must not exceed the limits recommended for the
various instruments, nor should the wind tunnel be used in the low pressure range
where the reference standard velocity can not be determined within one percent.
6. Each student should make measurements at least at an air intake, at discharge
opening, and in a free stream, as well as to check the calibration of the instrument
used. Record all results.

VI. Data and Results:

A. Discharge Side

% TO FULL Velocity
ORIFICE Volumetric
TRIALS Averag
SIZE OUTLET 30sec 1 min. Discharge
e
9.9
1 120mm
km/h
49
2 89mm
km/h
59
3 72mm
km/h
65
4 51mm
km/h
5
VII. Sample Computations:

VIII. Discussion and Conclusion:

A propeller anemometer is a device used for measuring air velocity. It consists of a small
propeller that is rotated by the flow of air. The rotational speed of the propeller is directly
proportional to the velocity of the air. Propeller anemometers are commonly used in laboratories
for a variety of experiments, such as measuring airflow in wind tunnels, testing the performance
of fans and blowers, and studying the effects of wind on different objects.
Propeller anemometers work by measuring the rotational speed of a propeller as it is
turned by the wind. The rotational speed of the propeller is proportional to the wind speed, so by
measuring the rotational speed, the wind speed can be calculated. To use a propeller
anemometer, the propeller must be facing directly into the wind. The propeller will spin at a rate
proportional to the wind speed. The anemometer will typically have a display that shows the
current wind speed, as well as an average wind speed and a maximum wind speed.
The calibration of a propeller anemometer is the process of verifying its accuracy and
making adjustments if necessary. This is done by comparing the anemometer's readings to those
of a reference anemometer, which is known to be accurate. Use a calibrated air flow source, such
as a wind tunnel, to generate known air velocities. Then Connect the propeller anemometer to the
reference air flow source and measure the output of the anemometer at various known air
velocities. If there are discrepancies between the measured output and the known air velocity,
adjustments can be made to the anemometer's calibration settings to ensure that the output
accurately represents the true air velocity. After adjustments, the anemometer should be tested
again to verify that it accurately measures the air velocity at various points throughout its range.
Proper calibration ensures that the propeller anemometer provides accurate and reliable
measurements of air velocity, making it a valuable tool in various applications, including
weather monitoring, HVAC systems, and industrial processes.

IX. Research Questions:

1. With the aid of an illustration, describe the operation of velometer.
A velometer is a device used to measure the speed of a moving vehicle. It is typically
installed on bicycles and motorcycles, but it can also be used on other vehicles such as cars and
trucks.
 A velometer works by measuring the speed of a rotating wheel. It does this by attaching a
magnet to the wheel and a sensor to the frame of the vehicle. As the wheel rotates, the magnet
passes by the sensor and triggers a pulse. The velometer counts the number of pulses per second
to calculate the speed of the wheel.

The speed of the wheel is then converted to the speed of the vehicle using a calibration
factor. The calibration factor is determined by the size of the wheel and the distance between the
magnet and the sensor. Operation

1. As the wheel rotates, the magnet passes the sensor.

2. The sensor detects the magnetic field and sends a signal to the computer.
3. The computer calculates the speed based on the time it takes for the magnet
to pass the sensor.
4. The computer displays the speed on the display screen.
 2. With the aid of a diagram, discuss the operation of thermal anemometer.
A thermal anemometer (also known as hot-wire anemometer) is a device used to measure the
velocity of a fluid, such as air, by measuring the heat transfer between a heated sensor and the fluid. At
the heart of a thermal anemometer are two sensors: an air velocity sensor and a temperature
compensation sensor 1. The velocity sensor is heated to an elevated temperature (relative to the
surrounding air) by means of control electronics. The temperature compensation sensor senses the
ambient, or surrounding, air temperature and forces the velocity sensor to stay at a constant “overheat”
above the ambient 1. The sensors form two opposite legs of a Wheatstone bridge 1. Air flowing past the
velocity sensor tends to cool the sensor, thus driving down its resistance. The operational amplifier
responds by immediately delivering more power to the top of the bridge to maintain voltage equilibrium
at points A and B. As more air flows past the sensor, more power is required to maintain a balanced
bridge. Thus, the power going into the top of the bridge is related to the velocity of the air flowing past
the sensor 1

Operation of a thermal anemometer:

When the anemometer is placed in a flowing fluid, the sensing element is cooled by the fluid. The
amount of cooling depends on the fluid velocity. The faster the fluid flows, the more it cools the sensing
element.

The change in temperature of the sensing element causes a change in its resistance. The bridge circuit is
used to measure this change in resistance. The signal from the bridge circuit is amplified and converted
by the signal conditioner into a voltage or current signal.

The voltage or current signal is proportional to the fluid velocity. This signal can be read by a display
device or data logger to determine the fluid velocity.
O.A.

Operation:

A thermal anemometer, also known as a hot wire anemometer, is a device used to

measure fluid velocity. It works by measuring the heat transfer from an electrically
heated element to the fluid.

The central component of a thermal anemometer is a thin wire, typically made of

platinum or tungsten. The wire is heated to a temperature above that of the surrounding
fluid. As the fluid flows past the wire, heat is transferred from the wire to the fluid. The
amount of heat transfer depends on the velocity of the fluid.

The thermal anemometer is typically connected to a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The

Wheatstone bridge is a four-resistor circuit that can be used to measure small changes
in resistance. The heated wire is one of the resistors in the Wheatstone bridge. As the
fluid velocity changes, the heat transfer from the wire changes, and the resistance of the
wire changes. This change in resistance causes the Wheatstone bridge circuit to
become unbalanced, and a voltage is produced at the output of the circuit.

The output voltage of the Wheatstone bridge circuit is proportional to the fluid velocity.
The output voltage is typically amplified and converted to a digital signal by a
microcontroller. The microcontroller then displays the fluid velocity on a screen or
transmits it to a computer.

3. With the aid of a diagram, discuss the operation and transmission of power to be
delivered by a windmill driving a water pump.

Operation and transmission of power:

1. The wind blows the blades of the windmill, causing them to rotate.
2. The rotating blades turn the main shaft of the windmill.
3. The main shaft is connected to a gearbox, which increases the speed of the
rotation and reduces the torque.
4. The gearbox is connected to the input shaft of the water pump.
5. The rotating input shaft of the water pump causes the pump's impeller to rotate.
6. The rotating impeller creates suction, which draws water into the pump.
7. The water is then discharged from the pump at high pressure.
Transmission of power:
The power from the windmill is transmitted to the water pump through a mechanical
transmission system. This system typically consists of a gearbox and a belt drive.
The gearbox increases the rotational speed and torque of the windmill shaft. This is
necessary because water pumps typically require a higher rotational speed and torque
than windmills can provide on their own.
The belt drive connects the gearbox to the water pump. The belt is wrapped around
pulleys on the gearbox and water pump shafts. As the gearbox shaft rotates, the belt
drives the water pump shaft.
The efficiency of the mechanical transmission system is an important factor to consider
when designing a windmill-powered water pump system. A more efficient transmission
system will result in more power being delivered to the water pump, and therefore more
water being pumped.

X. References: