Air Velocity Measurements with a Hot Wire

Anemometer

[FALK]

Abstract:
The main objective of this laboratory exercise was to determine the velocity profile of an air jet using
a hot wire anemometer. Hot wire anemometers are extremely accurate, and they have a frequency
response of up to 400kHz. They also have great spatial resolution, which makes them a powerful
instrument for studying gas flows. In this experiment a TSI Model 1750 constant temperature
anemometer was calibrated using a pitot tube and Kings Law. Calibration of the anemometer
resulted in an equation that related output voltage from the anemometer to airspeed velocity with an
average uncertainty of .2 m/s when measuring velocities between 2 and 30 m/s. Equation 1 below
shows the relationship between air velocity (U) and anemometer output voltage (E). Since
uncertainty varies depending to voltage, the maximum uncertainty observed is listed in eq. 1.

U=

E2.3556
m
.4 ( 95 Cl )
.2186
s

(1)

Velocity Profiles
6
5
4
r(cm)

3
2
1
0
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

z(cm)

The calibration curve shown in eq. 1 was implemented alongside a LabVIEW data acquisition program
to develop velocity profiles of an air jet. Figure 1 below shows the measured velocity profiles. The
length of the error bar denotes the velocity at each point. The velocities are strongest along the
centerline of the jet (r=0), and they taper off as r and z variables increase. The points on the outside
edge of each profile were then used to determine the jet angle using linear regression. The
Figure 1: Velocity Profiles
calculated value for this angle is

6.7 .2 ( 95 %Cl ) .

The orifice diameter was also approximated

using the y-intercept fro m the regression equation. This value is

.2 .4 cm( 95%Cl) . The

uncertainty for this approximation is quite high when compared to the actual measurement. To
reduce uncertainty in future research, more data points at different z locations should be used since
the uncertainty is dependent on regression fit quality.
The final area of study in this experiment was turbulence intensity. The turbulence intensity at any
given point is given by dividing the standard deviation of the velocities measured at a point by the

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]
mean centerline velocity at the particular z location. As the z distance from the jet increased,
turbulence intensity increased. As the r distance from the centerline increased, turbulence intensity
seemed to increase and then drop off as the edge of the jet is approached. The amount of data
points limited the accuracy of the results in this section. Future studies in this area should use many
more data points.

Introduction:
The purpose of this experiment was to develop multiple velocity profiles along the span of an air jet
using a hot wire anemometer. Hot wire anemometers use an extremely thin, exposed wire element
through which an electric current flows. They are extremely accurate and responsive, and are often
utilized in research applications. They are often impractical to use in industrial applications mainly
because they are fragile, costly, and can only be used in clean gasses. They also require frequent
calibrations, and need to be calibrated even more frequently in unclean gasses. Nonetheless, they
are one of the most accurate ways of measuring gas velocity.
The particular anemometer that was used in this experiment varied voltage across the wire to keep it
at a constant temperature. This voltage was converted to an airspeed using Kings Law and a pitot
tube to provide the reference air velocities at different points. A pitot tube measures air velocity by
examining the difference between static and total pressures at a particular point in an air flow. A
manometer was used in conjunction with the pitot tube to read the pressure differential between
static and total air pressures. It uses a fluid of known density and a graduated tube to calculate the
pressure differential based on the change in fluid height in the tube. The particular manometer used
in this experiment was angled to provide higher resolution in measurement.

Experimental Methods:
Overview:
The hot wire anemometer was calibrated using calculated air velocity values from a pressure
differential measured by an inclined manometer. The Pitot tube was placed at a designated location
and the airspeed was increased until a certain pressure differential was achieved. The hot wire
anemometer was then moved into the same position as the Pitot tube was and a voltage
measurement was sampled using a LabVIEW data acquisition program. The pressure differential
from the manometer was also recorded with the sampled voltage to create a single data point. The
air velocity (U) can be calculated from the manometer using equation 2 below where
pressure differential, R is the specific gas constant for air, and

is the

p is the ambient air pressure.

( 2 ( P ) ( R )( T ) ) / p
U =

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

(eq. 2)

[FALK]
A plot of

vs

was then created and linear regression was performed on the data points

which resulted in the Kings Law relationship between voltage (E) and air velocity (U). The general
form of Kings law is shown below in eq. 3.

E2= A+B U

(eq. 3)

The Kings law calibration equation was then used in conjunction with a LabVIEW data acquisition
program to collect data at various locations along the jet profile. With the air flow set to a constant
rate, the hot wire anemometer was placed at different locations to develop velocity profiles similar to
the ones shown in figure 2 below.

z
Figure2: sample velocity profiles
The outer edges of each velocity profile are where the velocity is equal to 20% of the mean
centerline velocity at that z location. These points were used to create a profile of the jet boundary,
which allowed the calculation of the jet angle. A linear regression was performed on the jet boundary
points, and the inverse tangent of the regression slope is equal to the jet angle. Furthermore, the jet
orifice diameter could be approximated using the jet boundary line. This approximation can be
accomplished by multiplying the y-intercept of the regression line by 2.
The final portion of this experiment examined the turbulence intensity at each of the points in the
examined velocity profiles. Turbulence intensity can be calculated using equation 4 below.

TI =

u'
UCL

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

(eq.4)

[FALK]
Where TI is turbulence intensity, u is the standard deviation of the sampled velocities at a point, and

UCL is the mean centerline velocity at that z location.

Apparatus & Equipment:

Table 1 shows the measurement equipment used.

Equipment Table
Item
Pitot tube
Inclined Manometer
Adjustable Blower and
Nozzle
Hotwire Probe
TSI Model 1750 CT
Anemometer
Digital Oscilloscope
DAQ

Manufact
urer

Model
No.

Serial
No.

Dwyer

TSI

Accurac
y
0.25%

1750

711200
36

USBTI
6008
Table 1: Equipment used

Figure 3 below contains photographs of the measurement equipment and calibration blocks used in
this experiment.

Figure 3: Top Row Left to right: anemometer electronics, hot wire probe and pitot tube

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]
Bottom Row L to R: inclined manometer, adjustable blower.

Procedure:
Procedure for calibrating the hot wire anemometer:
1. Properly zero manometer, and record ambient pressure and temperature.
2. Place Pitot tube along centerline of jet and adjust flow to desired pressure differential on
manometer.
3. Record pressure differential in LabView.
4. Move hot wire probe to centerline of jet and acquire voltage sample using LabVIEW data
acquisition program.
5. Repeat 2-4 until desired amount of data points are collected over desired range of air
velocities.
6. Perform linear regression on data points to achieve calibration curve using data analysis
software eq. 2, and eq. 3.
Procedure for measuring spatial velocity and turbulence:
1. Set hotwire probe to desired z location along centerline of jet, record this location.
2. Acquire Voltage/Velocity measurement and calculate 20% of the velocity measurement.
3. Move the hotwire probe in the r direction until the desired 20% measurement is shown.
Record r and z locations in LabVIEW software and acquire data point.
4. Move hotwire probe in even increments back to centerline, acquiring data points at each
location.

5. Once all desired data points taken at that particular z location. Move to the
next desired z location and repeat steps 2-4. Make sure to use even spacing
and the same number of data points for each z location.

Results and Discussion

Part 1 Hotwire Anemometer Calibration:
This section discusses the methods used for calibrating the hotwire anemometer. It discusses how
air velocity was calculated using the Pitot tube pressure differential as well as the uncertainty
propagation for the calculation. A plot of

vs.

is also included which is shown in figure 4.

This section also shows the calculated calibration equation from regression, as well as the
uncertainty propagation for U.
To calculate the air velocity from the pitot tube pressure differential, eq. 2 (above) was used. The
uncertainty propagation equation below (eq. 5) shows how the bias uncertainty in the velocity
measurement was calculated.

U bias =

2
U
U
( P) +
p
P
p

)(

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

(5)

[FALK]

Hotwire Calibration Curve - E^2 vs. U^.5

1.8
1.6
1.4

f(x) = 0.22x + 0.36

R = 1

1.2
Data
1
E^2 (V^2)

Linear (Data)
Linear (Data)

0.8

UCL
LCL

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
1

1.5

2.5

U^1/2

3.5

4.5

(m/s)^1/2

U bias is the bias uncertainty of the velocity calculation,

Where

5.5

( P) is the uncertainty in the

pressure measurement, and

p is the uncertainty in the ambient pressure measurement.Shown

below in figure 4 is a plot of

vs.

. The black line is the Kings Law fit equation, the

dashed lines represent a 95% confidence interval, and the red + symbols denote data points with
black horizontal and vertical error bars.
Figure 4: Kings Law Regression Fit.

The uncertainty in the regression fit for

E2 =

E2 , E2 was calculated using eq. 6 below.

t .025,15 ( S E y )

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

(eq.6)

[FALK]
t .025,15

Where

is the calculated t-value for regression fit with degrees of freedom N-2,

S E y is the

E2 , and N is the sample size.

standard error of the regression fit for

The uncertainty calculated in eq. 6 was then propagated to determine the regression uncertainty in
the calculated air velocity

( U ) using eq. 7 below.

U reg =

U
E2
2
E

(eq. 7)

The regression uncertainty and bias uncertainty in the air velocity measurement can then be
combined using the RSS method, which is shown in eq. 8.

U tot = U bias2 + U reg 2

(eq.8)

The final calibration equation is shown below in eq. 9. The uncertainty varies for each point due to
varying bias uncertainty as well as varying values of

at the different data points. The

maximum uncertainty is shown in eq. 9.

U=

The

E .3556
m
.4 ( 95 Cl )
.2186
s

(eq. 9)

r 2 value of the regression equation is .9988, which means there is a high level of accuracy in

the fit equation. Most of the uncertainty comes from the propagation of error and a small
contribution from the bias error in the pressure measurements.

Part 2 Velocity Profile and Jet Angle:

This section illustrates the process that was used to determine the velocity profiles at each of four z
locations, as well as their respective uncertainties. Also discussed in this section are the methods
used to calculate the jet angle and uncertainty propagation for this calculation. Finally, the
approximation of orifice diameter and its respective uncertainty is discussed.
Shown below in figure 5 is a plot of the measured velocity profiles. The origin denotes the mouth and
center of the jet. The data points are the spatial locations where the measurements were made, and
the error bars show the velocity magnitudes. The velocity magnitudes can be located using the table
to the left of figure 5.

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

Z (cm)

Velocity(m/
s)

r (cm)

11.2

1.2

2.6

4.4

0.8

5.5

0.6

7.6

0.4

10.3

0.2

11.0

18

5.9

18

2.5

1.2

18

2.0

18

1.5

3.2

18

4.1

18

0.5

5.3

28

3.8

28

3.9

0.7

28

3.1

1.2

28

2.3

1.9

28

1.5

2.7

28

0.7

3.1

38

2.6

38

5.7

0.3

38

4.6

0.4

38

3.5

1.6

38

2.4

1.6

38

1.3

2.8

Velocity Profiles
6

r(cm) 3
2

0
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

z(cm)

Figure 5: Velocity Profiles

It can be clearly seen that the velocity is greatest along the centerline
of the jet, and that it decreases as the z distance from the jet increases. Air velocity also decreases
as r distance from centerline increases. There is also a clear angle at which the jet widens as z
increases.
To calculate the jet angle, the velocities at the highest r values of each z location can be plotted. A
linear regression can then be performed on the data. By using simple trigonometry, it can be seen
that the slope of the regression line is equal to the tangent of the jet angle. Eq. 10 shows this
equation solved for jet angle ().

=tan 1 m

(eq. 9)

The uncertainty in the jet angle can be propagated from the uncertainty in the regression fit. Eq. 10
shows the propagation equation for uncertainty in the jet angle.

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]
1
( t .025,2 ) S E m

1+m2
=
m=
m
N
Utilizing these equations, the calculated jet angle is

(eq. 10)

6.6 .2 (95 %Cl) . This is a feasible jet angle

calculation, and the uncertainty is quite low.

The regression line from the jet angle calculations can also be used to approximate the orifice
diameter(D). To do this, the y-intercept of the regression line simply needs to be multiplied by a
factor of 2. The uncertainty of this can be calculated using eq. 11.

D=

D
b=2 ( S Eb )
b

The calculated value for the orifice diameter is

(eq.11)

.2 .4 cm( 95%Cl) . One can easily see that the

uncertainty in the measurement is greater than the size of the measurement itself, which renders
this calculation to be only useful as an approximation.

Part 3 Turbulence Intensity:

The final section of the results and discussion portion of this report will discuss the data analysis of
the turbulence intensity for each data point in the velocity profiles from above. To calculate the
turbulence intensity eq. 4 can be used. In order to utilize this equation, the standard deviation of the
velocity sample must be propagated from the standard deviation of the voltage measurement. Eq.
12 below can shows the propagation relationship.

SU=

U
S
2 E
E

(eq. 12)

The above equation was used in conjunction with eq.4 to calculate the turbulence intensity for each
point on the velocity profiles. Figure 6 below shows a plot of turbulence intensity vs. r/r20%. Each
line represents a different z location. The r dimensions were normalized to enable overlapping of the
data at each z location.

10

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

Turbulence Intensity vs. r/r20%

0.4
0.35
0.3

z=8

0.25
Turbulence Intensity [DIM]

z=18

0.2

z=28

0.15

z=38

0.1
0.05
0
0

r/r20% [DIM]
Figure 6:
Turbulence Intensity profiles.
The turbulence intensity seems to increase as z distance increases. It also seems to increase up to
where r/r20% has a value of 2. It then decreases at the r distance increases up to the r20% value.

Conclusion:
The main objective of this experiment was to measure the velocity profiles for a jet of air using a hot
wire anemometer. The anemometer was calibrated using Kings Law and uncertainty was kept to a
minimum. The calibration equation obtained from linear regression was

U=

E2.3556
m
.4 ( 95 Cl ) . This equation was then used in conjunction with data acquisition
.2186
s

software to develop velocity profiles at four z distances from the mouth of the jet. The points on the
jet boundary were then subjected to linear regression. The slope obtained from this regression was
used to calculate a jet angle of

6.6 .2 (95 %Cl ) . The y-intercept from the regression was used to

approximate an orifice diameter of

.2 .4 cm ( 95%Cl ) . Lastly, the turbulence intensity of each

point was calculated using the propagated standard deviations of the velocity samples. The plot in
figure 6 illustrates the turbulence intensity profiles.
Uncertainties were calculated using the standard partial derivative method. Precision and bias
uncertainties were combined using the root sum of squares method. One of the main sources of
error in this experiment comes from the measurement of the r and z locations of the anemometer.

11

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]
Another source of error was the positioning of the Pitot tube and anemometer in the centerline of the
jet for calibration. In future studies, more data points should be taken for velocity profiles to lessen
the uncertainty from regression.

References:
[1] ME 4031W Lab Manual

12

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

13

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

Appendix- A Raw Data :

14

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

15

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

16

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]

r/r_20
%

r
8

1.2

0.8

0.6

17

E
SE
SU
U
u'/U
0.965
0.068
1.651
11.20
0.147
511
435
344
01
44
1.049
0.064
2.004
11.20
0.178
634
2
622
01
983
1.090
0.052
1.819
11.20
0.162
937
109
894
01
489
1.155
0.044
1.831
11.20
0.163
274
708
811
01
553

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer

[FALK]
8

0.4

0.2

18

2.5

18

18

1.5

18

18

0.5

18

28

3.9

28

3.1

28

2.3

28

1.5

5.571
429
4.428
571
3.285
714
2.142
857

28

0.7

28

38

5.7

38

4.6

38

3.5

38

2.4

4.384
615
3.538
462
2.692
308
1.846
154

38

1.3

38

18

1.223
369
1.238
244
1.243
311

0.033
974
0.029
218
0.028
14

1.622
309
1.439
977
1.401
657

11.20
01
11.20
01
11.20
01

0.144
848
0.128
568
0.125
147

0.865
5
0.927
618
0.994
098
1.036
688
1.085
393
1.104
291

0.065
108
0.062
053
0.048
975
0.052
555
0.040
094
0.034
975

1.072
092
1.311
05
1.296
592
1.581
605
1.380
027
1.264
402

5.899
854
5.899
854
5.899
854
5.899
854
5.899
854
5.899
854

0.181
715
0.222
217
0.219
767
0.268
075
0.233
909
0.214
311

0.809
288
0.863
846
0.920
855
0.969
162
0.992
729
1.023
337

0.067
887
0.059
233
0.045
831
0.057
243
0.042
288
0.031
828

0.850
381
0.968
262
0.944
335
1.398
202
1.114
743
0.921
205

3.781
643
3.781
643
3.781
643
3.781
643
3.781
643
3.781
643

0.224
871
0.256
043
0.249
715
0.369
734
0.294
777
0.243
599

0.743
811
0.765
594
0.896
799
0.899
61
0.975
559
0.961
83

0.033
369
0.027
924
0.031
573
0.048
42
0.030
073
0.037
428

0.275
979
0.269
37
0.592
776
0.919
307
0.750
212
0.892
029

2.564
195
2.564
195
2.564
195
2.564
195
2.564
195
2.564
195

0.107
628
0.105
051
0.231
174
0.358
517
0.292
572
0.347
879

Air Velocity Measurement Using Hot Wire Anemometer