DEPARMENTOF TECHNICALEDUCATION

ANDHRAPRADESH
Name : N.Sanjeeva Rao
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Applied Electronics & instrumentation
Engg
Institute : Govt. polytechnic for women, srikakulam
Year/Semester : 1V Semester
Subject : Process Instrumentation –II
Sub. Code : AEI-405,
Topic : Flow Measurements
Duration : 100mts
Sub- Topic : Pitot tube
Teaching Aids : PPT, Animations, photographs
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 Objectives

Up on the completion of this topic the student will be

able to know pitot tube

• Working principle
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Applications

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 Introduction

• It was invented by henry pitot in 1732 to measure the

fluid velocity
• It is used in wide range of flow measurement and
applications such as
• Air speed in racing car
• Air force in fighter jets

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Industrial applications of pitot tube

PITOT TUBE

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Pitot tube

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 Principle

• It consists of a cylindrical probe is inserted in to the

fluid stream

• In this device the velocity head is converted in to an

impact pressure

• The difference between the impact pressure and

static the pressure is a measure of flow rate

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A blunt object is placed in a fluid stream sa
obstruction to the flow as shown in Fig B

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• As the fluid approaches the object, the
velocity will decrease until it reaches zero at
the point where it impinges on it.

• This results in increase in the pressure on

downstream side.

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 Mathematical expression

2 2
P1 V1 P2 V2
+ = +
ρ1 2 g ρ 2 2 g

At the point of impact v2 is zero .in other words

The kinetic energy has been converted in to potential
energy ,
the result is reflected in the value of p2 at the impact point.

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where

V1= velocity of the fluid on the upstream

V2= velocity of the fluid on the down stream

ρ1= density of the fluid on the upstream

ρ2= density of the fluid on the downstream

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• This new pressure , known as the total pressure
,comprises the normal static pressure and pressure
produced as a result of energy conversion when v2 = 0
• For incompressible fluids ρ1=ρ2=ρ
• the equation (1) becomes

p1v12 p2
+ =
ρ 2g ρ
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• v1= 2g(p2-p1)
ρ

• g and ρ are constant for particular fluid

• The pressure difference is proportional to the

velocity of fluid

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Pitot tube with manometer

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Pitot tube

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 Operation of Pitot Tube

• When the blunt object is replaced with a tube having a

small opening ,

• Facing the direction of the fluid flow, connected to a

differential pressure gauge as show in the fig B.

• As there is no flow through the tube and since the flow is

brought to rest ,

• The new pressure developed and sensed is impact

pressure p2

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 Operation of Pitot Tube

• A static pressure reading p1 is taken upstream a little

away from the tube .

• By measuring the differential pressure ,the velocity can

be computed by knowing the density of the fluid

• It is very convenient to measure the static pressure in

the close neighborhood of the tube

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 Advantages

• It is a simple and low cost device

• It does not produce appreciable pressure loss

• It can be easily inserted through a small hole in to the

pipe
• It is very useful for checking the mean velocities of the
flows in venturi, nozzle ,orifice plate

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 Disadvantages

• It is not suitable for measuring low velocities, bellow

5m/s

• Is sensitive to misalignment of probe with respect to free

stream velocity

• It is not suitable for the measurement of highly

fluctuating velocities i.e. highly turbulent flows

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 Industrial applications

• It is used to measure air flow in pipes ducts and stacks

• It is also used to measure velocity of liquid flow in pipes

and open channels

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Working principle of pitot tube

• Advantages and disadvantages of pitot tube
• Applications of pitot tube

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 quiz

• 1) pitot tubes are

b) Economical to install.
c) Poor accuracy
d) No process loss
e) Above all

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the principal of operation of Pitot tube

2. List the advantages and disadvantages of pitot tube

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