The Pressure Anemometer—an Instrument for Adverse Circumstances

Abstract

A new instrument is presented to measure the wind vector under fouling circumstances, such as spray conditions just above the sea. It is in principle a combination of six pressure tubes, arranged in three mutually orthogonal sets of two. The tubes in each set point in opposite directions and are connected to the ports of a differential pressure transducer. From the readings of the three pressure transducers both the wind speed and direction can be derived. In order to keep the tubes clean, a continuous airflow is forced through them. In its present configuration, the pressure anemometer has a lower speed limit of 4 m s?1 and a frequency range of 0?35 Hz. The instrument was compared with a sonic anemometer at a research platform off the Dutch coast. The results of this intercomparison show satisfactory agreement between the instruments. The new instrument, however, has a better high-frequency response.