Pitot tube volumetric flow rate, calculation

Although Pitot tubes are inexpensive and have negligible permanent head losses they are not widely used. They are highly sensitive to fouling, their required alignment is critical and they cannot measure volumetric flow rate Q or mean velocity u. The latter can be calculated from a single measurement only if the velocity distribution is known this can be found if the Pitot tube can be traversed across the flow. 

The Prosser was calibrated by measuring the air flows using a laminar flow meter (1% accuracy) for the odorous sample and a pitot tube with a micromanometer for the fan-blown air (3). The pitot pressures were converted to air velocities (4) and hence, from the cross sectional area of the tube, to volumetric flow rates. Since flow near the tube wall was slower than the centre, the tube was traversed by the pitot head and the average value calculated. A rotameter was also tried but it induced a back-pressure of 250 N/m2 and, as the manufacturer states that the maximum permissible back-pressure is 60 N/m for calibration to be accurate, its use was not pursued. 

---