ABSTRACT
This research was carried out with the purpose of developing a hot-wire anemometer operating at constant temperature, using as a sensitive element a tungsten filament fan incandescent lamp as a Wheatstone bridge arm. An eletronic circuit was constructed and tested to control the voltage in the sensor and to restore the equilibrium of the Wheatstone bridge in the transfer of heat by the sensor. The results showed that the sensor's eletrical current and temperature of operation, considering useful life and sensibility, was 160mA and 140ºC, respectively. The calibration with the sensor in the Wheatstone bridge circuit showed sensibility to measure the air velocity in the interval between 0.00 and 5.00m.s-1. It also showed that this eletronic circuit presented saturation in measuring the air velocity lower than 0.50m.s-1.
Key words:
constant temperature anemometer; tungsten sensor; Wheatstone bridge