Low cost hot-element anemometry verses the TFI Cobra

A group of low-cost hot-element anemometers were evaluated for their ability to measure wind speeds in smooth and turbulent flow for the purpose of measuring replicated atmospheric boundary layer conditions in wind tunnels. The sensors' directional dependency was investigated and found to be predictable though non-linear; therefore the sensors are useful when the direction of the wind flow is reasonably well known. However, highly turbulent flows where large angle fluctuations are present, dependency on direction will be problematic. The frequency response of the sensor drops off at above 10Hz. All measurements were referenced against a Turbulent Flow Instrumentation (TFI) Cobra probe.