Consulting Engineering

Velocity Profile Measurement Equipment

Velocity Profile Measurement Equipment

KEI™ flow loop facility is located in Sugar Land, TX.  The main test section consists of a rapidly reconfigurable test section piping, a 7,500-gallon reservoir, a 180 HP diesel engine-driven variable speed centrifugal pump, and all associated piping for the actual test sections. The flow loop can deliver 2,700 gpm and pressures up to 270 psig. This flow rate corresponds to a flow velocity of 30 feet per second in a 6-inch pipe.  Additional pump equipment can be connected to the system to achieve higher flow rates.

To facilitate specific project needs, KEI designed and assembled a two-axis, pitot-static tube rake (see Figure 1).  The design of the rake holder also allows on rake to be replaced with a 3D pitot tube probe (Figure 2).

The pitot static tube rake assembly comprises four rakes, each rake having five pitot static tubes for a total of twenty pitot static tubes. Each of the pitot tubes is connected to a DP meter. The DP meters have a range of 0 psi to 5 psi. The DP meters have a measurement uncertainty of ±0.25% full scale.

The pitot-static tube rake allows the velocity profile along two axes to be measured simultaneously. Example velocity profile data is provided as Figure 3.

Figure 1: Pitot static tube rake assembly and pitot tube and rake details
Figure 1: Pitot static tube rake assembly and pitot tube and rake details

 

Figure 2: Pitot static tube rake assembly with 3D probe installed at the 12 o’clock position of the assembly
Figure 2: Pitot static tube rake assembly with 3D probe installed at the 12 o’clock position of the assembly

 

Figure 3: Velocity profile measured along the horizontal and vertical axis using the Pitot-static tube rake at different flow rates. This velocity profile was taken 5D after a flow disturbance. The flow disturbance causes the flow to deviate from the desired fully developed profile (black line) and instead be slower in the center and faster by the walls.
Figure 3: Velocity profile measured along the horizontal and vertical axis using the Pitot-static tube rake at different flow rates. This velocity profile was taken 5D after a flow disturbance. The flow disturbance causes the flow to deviate from the desired fully developed profile (black line) and instead be slower in the center and faster by the walls.