What is Pitot tube: Definition and 16 Discussions

A pitot ( PEE-toh) tube, also known as pitot probe, is a flow measurement device used to measure fluid flow velocity. The pitot tube was invented by the French engineer Henri Pitot in the early 18th century and was modified to its modern form in the mid-19th century by French scientist Henry Darcy. It is widely used to determine the airspeed of an aircraft, water speed of a boat, and to measure liquid, air and gas flow velocities in certain industrial applications.

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  1. person123

    Bernoulli Principle For Pitot Tubes

    Here is the setup: Apply Bernoulli Principle to the top (free surface) of the two pitot tubes (1 for static and 2 for dynamic with the points colored in red): $$\frac{p_1}{\rho_w g}=h+\frac{p_2}{\rho_w g}$$ The difference in air pressure would give the following:$$p_1=p_2+h\rho_{air} g$$...
  2. Borek

    Minimum length of the Pitot tube?

    I have a thin tube (4 mm diameter) sticking out of a small box (a bit larger than a matchbox). I want to use this tube to measure the dynamic pressure. How long must the tube be for the results to be reasonably accurate? Intuition tells me the working end of the tube should be kept in the...
  3. TheRumpus

    Does air flowing through a tube cause a pressure change?

    I have been involved in a fairly furious debate about a fluid dynamics experiment regarding the pressure of air passing through a tube attached to a moving car. It is similar in concept to the issue of whether or not an opening in an aeroplane fuselage would suck people out, where the opening...
  4. yangshi

    Can I Measure Total Pressure with a Thin Pipe Instead of a Pitot Tube?

    Since pitot tubes measure total pressure from the flow ramming into the total pressure hole, could I use any thin piece of pipe facing the flow (given that it's smooth on the inside) to measure total pressure? Trying to think of ways not to use my pitot tube to measure the total pressure of a...
  5. A

    Pitot Tubes and Static Pressure

    Hey so I am learning physics on Khan academy and they had a video on Pitot tubes: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/fluids/fluid-dynamics/v/venturi-effect-and-pitot-tubes I had a question. I understand that the lower part of the pitot tube in the video is measuring the pressure...
  6. D

    Askew Pitot tube, airplane velocity measurement

    Homework Statement A horizontal Pitot tube (with one end open for airflow and another closed) is accidentally installed into an airplane askew, so that the tube is not horizontal. Instead the closed tube end is higher (in the y-direction of a xy-plane) than the inlet end. How does this affect...
  7. D

    Dynamic pressure and pitot tube

    Hello, Normally a pitot tube points in the direction of airflow so that it measures static and dynamic airflow. If it points in the opposite direction my assumption is that it will not measure the dynamic pressure but will only measure the static pressure. Is this correct?
  8. B

    Building a Flow Bench - Testing Cylinder Heads with a Pitot Tube

    Hello everyone, I'm in the process of building a flow bench to test cylinder heads. What I'm after is to make a pitot tube to measure port velocity. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
  9. S

    Difference between a subsonic Pitot tube and supersonic one

    Hi, Please could you explain the difference between a subsonic Pitot tube and supersonic one Thanks
  10. M

    Pitot Tube will not measure stagnation pressure

    I have made a pitot tube that I am using to measure the velocity of air in a pipe. First, I placed the probe into the pipe such that the hole in the probe was parallel to the flow to obtain static pressure. It did this successfully and I proved this using a piezometer. However, I then turned the...
  11. D

    Pitot Tube & DP Meter Selection for Small Scale Processes

    Hi there, I have been in contact with a manufacturer as I require both a pitot tube and a differential pressure transmitter for my process. Both will be used in a small scale process (around 10 l/min). I want to ask if it is possible that a flowrate can be too small to generate a large...
  12. P

    Mass flow rate using a pitot tube

    I am majorly stuck, we are doing a report in which we determine the flow rate using a venturi then compare values with the flow rate from a pitot tube. So basically we have recorded pressure values with a pitot tube, moving the tube 2mm from the centre of the venturi each time and re-recording...
  13. L

    Bernoulli's pitot tube jet question

    Homework Statement The tip of the Pitot tube is at the top of the jet. Calculate the flowrate and the angle θ . Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Please see attached images. 1 is the question and 1 is my attempted solution. I think I perhaps have done the first part...
  14. K

    Pitot Tube Experiment: Measuring Pressure & Velocity

    Hi there I am new to this forum and after reading like 100s of forums I can't find a solution so here I am So recently I conducted an experiment to measure the pressure using pitot tube and use that to find the velocity profile which would be used to find mass flow rate. The whole experiment...
  15. S

    Bringing wind energy to the ground through a giant pitot tube

    Ok not a great title, but let me try to explain the idea. Imagine that you have say a parachute attached to the top of a flag pole. In the center of the parachute a hole is cut and connected to a plastic tube that goes to the ground. When the wind comes up the parachute exerts a drag on the...
  16. Y

    Simple pitot tube experiment

    Dear all, I have a simple experiment to make a cheap pitot tube using 3" PVC pipe to measure vacuum pump air flow. But in the middle of my experiment I have difficulty to calculate air flow in the pipe, because I try to use bernouli equation for standard pitot tube and the result still not...
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