Heritage Institute of Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Machines Lab. (MECH 3111/MECH 2252)

Expt. No.: MECH 3111/MECH 2252__ Date:________

Experiment: Determination of airflow velocity by using a Pitot static tube.

Objective:
(i) Measurement of air flow velocity through a closed duct by using a Pitot static tube.

Apparatus:
Pitot static tube, differential U-tube manometer, blower with pipe line assembly.

Theory:
The principle of flow measurement by Pitot tube was adopted by Henri Pitot in 1732. To
measure the flow by a Pitot tube the necessity of separate piezometer and thus two readings make this
arrangement a little awkward. Connecting the piezometer to a manometer would simplify things but
there are still two tubes. For a fluid flowing through a closed duct, the Pitot tube measures only the
stagnation pressure and so the static pressure must be measured separately. Measurement of static
pressure in this case is made at the boundary of the wall by piezometer tube. The Pitot static tube
combines the tubes recording the static and the stagnation pressure into one instrument which can
then be easily connected to a differential manometer. The tube for sensing static pressure is known as
static tube which surrounds the pitot tube that measures the stagnation pressure. A Pitot static tube is
shown below in Fig. 1. The holes on the side of the tube connect to one side of a manometer and
record the static pressure, while the central hole is connected to the other side of the manometer to
record, the stagnation pressure.

Free stream velocity U∞

2

1 21 Air
x
P∞ = Free stream 2 h
Static pressure A
P∞ = Static pressure B

Pstag = Stagnation pressure Manometric fluid Water

Figure1: Pitot static tube with differential manometer

1 Signature of the student with date.

Bernoulli’s equation applied between point 1 and 2,
1
Pstag  P   airU 2
2
2( Pstag  P )
So, U   …………………..(1)
air
Now, Consider the pressure at the level A-B of the differential manometer.
PA  P   H 2O g h

PB  Pstag

Since for the same horizontal level, Pressure at point A and B are the same, so PA=PB
We can write Pstag  P   H 2O g h

So, Pstag  P   H 2O g h …………………..(2)

From eqn. (1) and (2)

2  H 2O g h
The flow velocity can be expressed as U  
 air
where, h = difference in manometric fluid level

The Pitot/Pitot-static tubes give velocities at points in the flow. It does not give the overall discharge
of the stream, which is often what is wanted. It also has the drawback that it is liable to block easily,
particularly if there is significant debris in the flow

Experimental procedure:
1. Start the flow of air through a closed duct by starting the blower.
2. Keep the flow control valve fully open and check the connection of the open end of Pitot static
tube to the manometer.
3. Note down the reading of deflection of manometric fluid as the liquid in the manometer will be
displaced due to differences between stagnation and static pressures.
4. Enter the reading in observation table.
5. Repeat the steps for 3 different flow control valve opening.

2 Signature of the student with date.

Observations:
Temperature ____________________________________oC
Density of working fluid ( air ) _______________________

Density of manometric fluid (  H 2O ) ___________________

Sr. Valve Manometer Reading Difference Flow velocity

No. opening
Left Right
∆h (mm) (m/s)
(mm) (mm)
1 full
2 medium
3 zero `

Answer the following questions:

1. Draw the schematic diagram of the setup.
2. Provide sample calculation.
3. List out the sources of error.
4. Describe the principle of operation of the Pitot static tube with derivation.
5. Describe- Static pressure, Dynamic pressure and Stagnation pressure.

Name________________________________________________________________________
Department _____________________Roll No _________________Section________________
Signature of the class teacher______________________________________________________
Date of the experiment__________________________________________________________

3 Signature of the student with date.