International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol.

4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149

INVESTIGATION ON THE FEASIBILITY OF PITOT

AND 3-HOLE PROBE FOR HIGH RESPONSE FLOW
MEASUREMENT FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES
Rasmi K#1, Devasena D#2
#1 PG student, Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna Engineering
College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. +91-7708946918
#2 Assistant Professor, Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Sri Ramakrishna
Engineering College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT
One of the vital factors required in the automotive engines is the flow
measurement analysis. For these various types of probes are used. Pneumatic probes
are still a useful tool when investigating flow fields. Three-hole pressure probes can be
used for two-dimensional flow studies. An important advantage of this air flow meter
is that it detects with equal sensitivity both forward and reverse flows. The pressure
sensed at the probe holes are used for the estimation of the velocity and direction of
the flow in indirect manner. The probe has to be calibrated according to the velocity
and direction expected values. Pressure probe is positioned at a number of predefined
angular settings with constant velocity. After the calibration task, some calibration
coefficients are obtained from the measured pressures at the probe sensing holes.This
paper deals with investigating the feasibility of pitot and 3 hole probes in the
application of automotive engines at higher velocity rates. The simulation analysis
using ANSYS CFD is performed and this result is made used to analyse the result
using the calculated values.
Key words: ANSYS, Calibration, Pitot, Pressure probes, Velocity profile

INTRODUCTION

Technicians and manufactures have long struggled with issues of airflow and airflow
measurement. Due to the time-intensive nature of many measurement procedures and the
limited tool selection of the technician, it has been common to use gross airflow
estimation methods that are uncorrected. The temperature rise method, total external
static method, pressure drop across filters or coils all examples of gross airflow
estimation methods and many times are adequate for the equipment commissioning
procedure, however if the desire is to evaluate equipment performance, a more accurate
method is required.
The most common and easiest way to measure or with some methods estimate and set
airflow is to use any one of the methods via Rotating Vane Anemometer (Measurement,

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International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol. 4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149
mid airflow range), Pressure drop across the dry evaporator coil (estimate), Total external
static pressure method (estimate), Pitot tube and digital manometer (Measurement, full
range airflow measurement, however low range requires special instrumentation.),
Velocity Stick (Hot Wire Anemometer) (Measurement, very low to mid airflow), The
temperature rise method (Sensible heat formula) (estimate), RPM and manufacturers fan
curve (Belt or VF Drive) (close estimate based from fan curve, however limited by
accuracy of static pressure measurement) or Wilson Grid (estimated pressure drop
measurement method).

The airflow must first be set according to the equipment design not to the air
delivered at the registers. While the design of the duct system is imperative for proper air
distribution to the conditioned space, air measurements are only to be measured at the
appliance for the equipment commissioning procedure. Due to leakage inherent with all
ducting systems, airflow cannot be measured at the registers to verify correct airflow
across an evaporator coil or heat exchanger. The problem is not with the operation of the
equipment if the system will not heat or cool the home after the airflow is properly set at
the appliance and the equipment operation is verified to be correct. The ducting system
should then be evaluated for excessive leakage, proper sizing and proper design. A
review of the heat load calculation may be required to verify the equipment selection was
correct if the system still will not perform properly.

RELATED WORKS

In the existing system of air flow measurement during engine tests, there is a difficulty in
achieving the wide flow range. For example, flowmeter should accurately measure 2% to
100%. But the Conventional flowmeter turn-down ratio is 1:8 to 1:10. In the proposed
system the same is going to be explored by the use of various pitot tubes for high turn-
down ratio. i.e. 1:40.
Measurement Of Airflow With A Pitot Tube
Pitot tubes are well suited for mid to high velocity airflow measurement, and are
considered the standard by which all other airflow devices are compared. Accurate
measurement requires density correction and a careful traverse. Because the accuracy is
dictated by the pressure measurement device attached to the Pitot tube, there are often
more economical ways (hot wire and vane) to measure airflow in low flow applications.
For high flow or high temperature applications the Pitot tube is ideal.
A Pitot tube measures total pressure and static pressure to determine the velocity
pressure from which air velocity can be derived. The Pitot tube is inserted into the duct
with the tip pointed toward the airflow. The positive port of the manometer is connected
to the total pressure port (Pt) and the negative to the static pressure port (Ps). The
manometer will then display velocity pressure which can be converted to velocity. The
enlarged version of pitot tube is depicted in the Figure 1 for the quick analysis of
different pressures.

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International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol. 4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149

In modern Pitot tubes, proper nose or tip design - along with sufficient distance
between nose, static pressure taps and stem - will minimize turbulence and interference.
This allows use without correction or calibration factors. All Dwyer Pitot tubes are built
to AMCA and ASHRAE standards and have unity calibration factors to assure accuracy.
To insure accurate velocity pressure readings, the Pitot tube tip must be pointed directly
into (parallel with) the air stream. If the Pitot tube is correctly aligned, the velocity
pressure indication will be at its maximum.

Fig 1: Pitot tube senses total and static pressure

Accurate readings cannot be taken in a turbulent air stream. A Pitot tube should be
inserted at least 8-1/2 duct diameters downstream from elbows, bends or other
obstructions which create turbulence. To insure precise measurements, straightening
vanes should be located 5 duct diameters upstream from the Pitot tube if used. Air
velocity is not laminar or equal in across sectional area of a duct so a traverse of the duct
needs to be performed to determine an average velocity. Friction closer to the walls of the
duct will slow down the airflow as there are scrubs the duct walls. To assure accurate
measurement, a defined pattern needs to be followed.
3-Hole Probes
In many complex flow fields such as those encountered in turbomachines, the
experimental determination of the steady state three-dimensional characteristics of the
flow are frequently required. But in contrast to the free jet, the flow field in a
turbomachinery component exhibits strong velocity gradients, induced by the blade
wakes as well as by the hub and casing boundary layers. Continued development of
turbomachine technology is dependent on the experimental determination of the
performance of advanced components. The primary measurements in turbines and
compressors consist of flow direction and total and static pressures as well as total and
static temperatures.
Flow velocity field and pressure distribution are two valuable variables on its own.
They can be used for verification of theory. A great deal of experimental data is
necessary for calibrating mathematical models of various types. But the measurement of
velocity and pressure in a flowing system can also be useful as a diagnostic for
determining various quantities. For example, velocity measurements are often used in
problems related to noise and vibration and as a diagnostic in heat and mass transfer
research.

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International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol. 4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149
The harsh turbomachine environment makes three-hole pressure probes
particularly attractive for the measurement of flow pressure, velocity and direction. On
the other hand, these types of probes are becoming more useful with the development of
small inexpensive fast response pressure transducers, computer controlled traversing
systems, and computer based data acquisition and analysis.The three-hole pressure probes
available in various head geometries. Each type of probe has its specific advantages and
disadvantages concerning the application in components of turbomachines.
Differential pressure measurements provide a useful alternative to hot-wire and
hot-film anemometry for determining complex flow directions and even turbulence
intensity. Separate measurements of the total and static pressures can yield both the mean
and fluctuating components of velocity and pressure. For trapezoidal or cobra shaped
head probes, analytical procedures of any type are difficult. These complex geometries,
characterized by abrupt changes in contour, are subject to flow separation and viscous
effects that are not modelled by current computational techniques. Nevertheless, the
streamline projection method is used in addition to the experimental research as well as
the computational investigations. It will be shown that this simple method can easily
predict the three-hole probe calibration coefficients, at least qualitatively.
For probes of easy contour geometry, (e.g., cylindrical probe head), the streamline
projection method is valid, but a potential flow solution can also predict the pressure
distribution and the corresponding calibration characteristics to a reasonable accuracy.
While the analytic relationships are valuable for characterisation of probe
behaviour and as a guide to the functional form of calibration equations, it is unlikely that
they are capable of replacing individual probe calibrations. This is due to both the
limitations of the derivation as well as the manufacturing irregularities of the probes.
Regardless of the accuracy of the theoretical derivations, the latter effects may always
necessitate individual probe calibrations, particularly for small sized probes.
Measurement of data and development of an interpolation procedure for the data analysis
become responsibility of the probe user.

Calibration Of 3-Hole Probes

The objective of an aerodynamic probe - in the present context - is to determine
the scalar and vector properties of complicated flow fields such as those encountered
around complex bodies or in turbomachines, in terms of static and total pressure and two-
dimensional (2D) velocity components respectively. This translates into a measurement
of pressures, which by means of calibration functions and gas dynamic relationships, are
subsequently converted into flow angles and Mach numbers.
Three-hole pressure probes, of many different configurations, are frequently used
for two-dimensional flow measurements in turbomachinery components. They yield the
total as well as the static pressure and the direction of the flow field. But as it was said
before, due to manufacturing inaccuracies a calibration procedure prior to the
measurements is necessary.
Pressure differentials are then measured for selected angles of yaw placed on the
probe relative to the flow direction. When compressibility is not a consideration, the

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International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol. 4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149
theory yields a format for interpreting the differential pressures between pairs of holes as
functions of angles of yaw. Once the flow direction has been established, the remaining
pressure and hence velocity data may be determined from further coefficients.
Calibration Techniques
For both, calibration and application, the probe’s reference line is defined by some
consistent characteristic of the probe’s geometry. In application, a reference direction
obtained by placing p2 with p3 is not always meaningful, since initially a known flow
direction would be required to relate the balanced condition to an absolute spatial
reference.
The probe can be operated in two ways:
 Nulling technique
 Stationary method (non-nulling technique)
Both methods offer advantages and disadvantages. Due to space restrictions in
turbomachinery applications and wind tunnel blockage, the probe is often required to be
small, and the difficulty associated with traversing and data acquisition encountered when
the probe is used in a nulling fashion, make a non-nulling method a better alternative.
Though there are these two methods in general, nulling technique is used in the
industry for the calibration.
Nulling technique
The nulling technique is the most accurate but mechanically complex. It is the
most simple in terms of data analysis, as well.
The probe is mounted on a three degree of freedom traversing system and is
oriented such that the X-axis is parallel to the flow (yaw and pitch angles are both zero).
The center pressure tap measures the stagnation pressure p1 and the pressures in the two
outer tubes are equal (p2= p3) and proportional to the static pressure. Finally, the probe
position is noted and the flow direction is determined from a calibrated scale.
This nulling technique requires a very sophisticated traversing system and long
data acquisition time, since the probe must be yawed at each measurement location until
the two pressures are equal. This can take a long time, especially if the probe is small and
has a slow time response.
If space limitations or other considerations make nulling techniques impractical,
three-hole probes in a non-nulling mode can be employed for measurements in low
speed, incompressible flows.
Stationary method
The stationary method or non-nulling technique tends to be less accurate but offers
simplicity in installation. The latter characteristic is the most important in turbomachine
applications.
It is performed by setting the probe at constant pitch and yaw values with respect
to the test section. The three pressures are measured at each measurement location by
traversing the probe over the flow field. From these three measured pressures, the
direction and magnitude of the flow with respect to the X-axis of the pressure probe are
determined.

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International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol. 4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149
Although elegant in its simplicity, this technique encounters singularity when calibration
for large angle of yaw is sought . So it is restricted to lower flow angle ranges, preventing
its use in highly 3D flows.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The results obtained using experimental analysis is tabulated as in Tables 1 and 2. From
tables 1 and 2, it is studied that for a varying velocity values of air, there is change in the
pitot static tube values of wall pressure and that of the left and right symmetric holes of
the 3-hole pitot probe. In case of 3 hole probes the relation of cylinder left and right
orifice values remains almost equal throughout the process making it more reliable over
the standard probes.
Table 1: Data for standard pitot tube
Sl. Pitot Tube Air
No Differential Total Wall Static Pressure Temperature
Pressure dPr Pressure Static Pressure Pb Ta
Prt Pressure Prs
Prs(w)
- Pa g Pa g Pa g Mbar a Mbar a °C
1 14.48 14.64 0.54 995.86 995.73 30.08
2 56.95 57.59 1.98 995.58 995.57 29.66
3 127.94 129.87 5.19 995.53 995.58 29.73
4 228.74 229.95 8.88 995.52 995.53 29.94
5 355.66 360.47 13.52 995.53 995.45 30.08
6 695.23 706.93 26.02 994.35 994.36 30.54
7 696.20 707.09 26.18 994.31 994.24 30.64
8 698.12 708.53 25.70 994.32 994.25 30.65
9 696.03 708.89 25.54 994.32 994.19 30.66
10 696.64 707.09 26.21 994.33 994.20 30.64
11 1151.31 1168.62 41.73 994.21 994.22 31.25
12 2031.56 2062.66 73.30 994.17 994.11 32.26
13 2766.54 2799.50 98.94 994.23 994.16 33.21
14 2027.09 2085.82 72.50 994.14 994.02 32.52
15 1407.23 1425.66 50.86 993.93 993.89 31.88
16 904.20 915.28 33.55 993.85 993.83 31.33
17 507.42 514.95. 18.97 993.75 993.74 30.94
18 225.86 229.70 8.88 993.67 993.69 30.65
19 56.63 57.59 2.14 993.65 993.61 30.46
20 14.48 14.6 0.86 993.61 993.48 30.32

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International Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Development Issue 6, Vol. 4 (July 2016)
Available online on http://www.rspublication.com/ijeted/ijeted_index.htm ISSN 2249-6149
Table 2: Data for 3-hole pitot tube

Sl. Pitot Tube Air

No Total Cylinder Cylinder left Pressure Temperature
Pressure right orifice orifice pressure Pb Ta
Ptt pressure
- Pa g Pa Pa Mbar a °C
1 14.32 2.42 2.47 995.73 30.08
2 57.59 13.36 12.24 995.57 29.66
3 129.90 34.84 31.79 995.58 29.73
4 22.78 57.91 54.55 995.53 29.94
5 352.94 87.56 83.23 995.45 30.08
6 692.03 168.49 163.84 994.36 30.54
7 692.28 168.81 163.36 994.24 30.64
8 693.57 168.33 162.72 994.25 30.65
9 693.99 169.45 163.02 994.19 30.66
10 693.67 169.13 163.84 994.20 30.64
11 1140.41 279.70 272.97 994.22 31.25
12 2015.71 500.69 478.25 994.11 32.26
13 2735.72 679.05 650.20 994.16 33.21
14 2009.14 501.49 478.41 994.02 32.52
15 1396.69 345.72 334.83 993.89 31.88
16 895.87 221.85 212.88 993.83 31.33
17 504.05 124.90 118.49 993.74 30.94
18 223.45 57.75 53.75 993.69 30.65
19 55.67 13.36 11.76 993.61 30.46
20 13.52 2.14 2.14 993.48 30.32

CONCLUSION

From the simulation result and experimental analysis, it is known that the 3-hole
performance at higher air flow rate is better compared to the existing systems thus
making it better for application in automotive engines.
In future, this can be modified using other multi-hole probes via 5-hole, 7-hole or
9-hole probes for more accuracy and for measurement of flow in both directions
including 3D analysis.

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