Dynamic Response of the Pitot Tube with Pressure Sensor

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Measurement systems engineering
• Control systems theory

Background:

• Accurate dynamic property determination is crucial for fluid flow measurements.
• Pitot tubes and semiconductor pressure transducers are common in aerodynamic testing.
• Understanding system dynamics prevents measurement errors and ensures reliable data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the dynamic properties of a Pitot tube and semiconductor pressure transducer measurement system.
• To develop a dynamical model for the combined Pitot tube-transducer system.
• To enable prediction of dynamic deviations and optimize instrument selection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized computed fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for dynamic analysis.
• Employed real-world pressure measurement data from the system.
• Applied an identification algorithm to derive a transfer function model.
• Performed frequency analysis to detect oscillatory behavior and resonant frequencies.

Main Results:

• A dynamical model of the Pitot tube with transducer was successfully identified.
• Oscillatory behavior was detected in the system's response.
• Frequency analysis confirmed resonant frequencies, with one matching between simulation and real data.
• A slight difference in the second resonant frequency was observed between simulation and real data.

Conclusions:

• The identified dynamical models allow for prediction of measurement deviations.
• The models facilitate the selection of suitable Pitot tubes for specific experimental conditions.
• This research enhances the accuracy and reliability of aerodynamic measurements.