THE SENSITIVITY OF ANEMOMETER CUPS

JOHN G. ALBRIGHT
AND
G. E. KLEIN,
Case School of Applied Science,
Cleveland, Ohio

INTRODUCTION
The question as to which type of anemometer cup should be
universally accepted as the standard type cup has long been
disputed by those interested in the question. At the present
time the organizations interested in questions involving the
use of anemometers employ varied types of anemometer cups
on their instruments and frequently change to a different type
in the hope of obtaining better results.

— •

Fig. 1. Sketch of Wind Tunnel.

Studies have been made by various investigators as to the

comparison of different type of cups best suited for their
individual needs, but little has been done to compare the
relative merits and disadvantages of various types of cups
from comparable points of view.
It has been, therefore, the object of this investigation to
study and determine the points of similarity and contrast of
various cup shapes and to arrive at some conclusion as to the
best cup shape or shapes which will give the maximum sensi-
tivity in an anemometer.
70
No. 2 ANEMOMETER CUPS 71

APPARATUS
The apparatus used consisted of two parts, namely, a wind tunnel
and the various cup shapes themselves. The wind tunnel used was of
sufficient size to accommodate the cup shapes and was of such con-
struction that accurate control of the wind velocity could be maintained.
A sketch of the wind tunnel and the cup shape when in position is
illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1.
The wind velocity created inside of the tunnel was measured by a
pitot tube pressure gauge which had previously been completely cal-
ibrated against a vane type anemometer. The force on the specimen
was measured by means of an aerodynamic balance similar in con-
struction to a laboratory platform balance.

Fig. 2. Anemometer Cup Shapes.

The apparatus which was tested consisted of seventeen different cups

comprising six general forms. The shapes tested were as follows:
(1) angular shaped cups bent at angles of 15°, 30°, 45°, etc., ranging
from 15° to the 180° straight angle; (2) truncated conical shape; (3) reg-
ular conical shape; (4) hemispherical shape; (5) ellipsoidal shape; and
(6) cylindrical shaped cups. Diagrams of the various shapes with
dimensions are shown in Figure 2. Each of the cup shapes was mounted
on an arm and placed in position inside of the wind tunnel as indicated
in Figure 1.
PROCEDURE
After the cup shapes had been mounted in position, the wind tunnel
was turned on and data recorded of both the wind velocity and the
corresponding force on the sample. Readings of the wind velocity were
taken on the pressure gauge at appropriate steps from zero wind velocity
to the capacity of the wind tunnel, which was 16.23 miles per hour
velocity. The corresponding forces were measured on the aerodynamic
balance.
72 JOHN G. ALBRIGHT AND G. E. KLEIN Vol. XLI

The cups were completely tested in one direction and then turned
around 180°, so that the other side of the cup faced the wind flow.
Complete readings were again taken. The force against the cup and
force with the cup mean the force produced when the wind blows against
the interior of the cup and the force produced against the exterior of the
cup respectively as illustrated in Figure 3.

Fig. 3. Wind Forces against the cup (left) and with the cup (right).

Plots were then made to show the relationship between the force
and the wind velocity in each case. Sample sets of curves are repre-
sented in Figures 4 to 8. In these graphs, the circular figures pertain to
the values of the force against the cup, while the solid dots represent
the values of the force with the cup.

RESULTS
On the basis of the results presented in the curves, it is possible to
arrive at a conclusion as to the most sensitive cup tested. Following
the line of reasoning that the force against the cup would be greater
than the force with the cup at the same wind velocity in order for the
cup system of an anemometer to rotate, it becomes evident that the
cup which exhibits the greatest difference in force on the front and on
the back of the cup (or force against and force with the cup respectively)
for the same wind velocity would be the most sensitive cup.
TABLE I
FORCE DIFFERENCES

Cup Shape 0-8 miles/hour 8-12 miles/hour 12-16 miles/hour

Ellipsoid 3.3 9.2 15.1

Cone 2.5 6.5 11.8
Hemisphere 2.4 7.7 14.9
105° Angle 3.2 6.5 8.4
90° Angle 2.9 6.0 11.3

For the purpose of comparison of the cups, the region for the wind
velocity was divided into three parts, namely, that region representing
0 to 8 miles per hour velocity, that representing ,8 to 12 miles per hour,
and that representing 12 to 16 miles per hour velocity. The correspond-
ing values for the differences in force were then recorded. Such data
are presented in Table I.
No. 2 ANEMOMETER CUPS 73

O f g /2
Fig. 4. Relation between force and wind velocity with ellipsoidal cup.
74 JOHN G. ALBRIGHT AND G. E. KLEIN Vol. X L I

20

16

IZ

O <9
o + 8 IZ 16
Fig. 5. Relation between force and wind velocity with conical cup.
No. 2 ANEMOMETER CUPS 75

Fig. 6. Relation between force and wind velocity with hemispherical cup.
76 JOHN C. ALBRIGHT AND G. E. KLEIN Vol. X L I

^^

ZO

w
o
o /6
Fig. 7. Relation between force and wind velocity with 105° angular cup.
No. 2 ANEMOMETER CUPS 77

28

24

20

16

\Z

o 4 8 12 16
Fig. 8. Relation between force and wind velocity with 90° angular cup.
78 JOHN G. ALBRIGHT AND G. E. KLEIN Vol. X L I

SUMMARY
From the results obtained, the conclusions of this investiga-
tion may, therefore, be summarized as follows:
(1) The ellipsoidal shaped cup is the most sensitive over
the entire range tested.
(2) The conical shaped cup is fairly sensitive in both the
lower and middle regions.
(3) The hemispherically shaped cup is fairly sensitive over
the entire range, being only slightly less sensitive than the
ellipsoidal shaped cup.
(4) The 105° angular shaped cup is very sensitive in the
lowest region and fairly sensitive in the middle region.
(5) The 90° angular shaped cup is fairly sensitive over the
entire region.
The entire procedure was then repeated with beaded cups.
These cups were identical with those previously described with
the addition of a slight beading along the outer edges. The
results obtained from the testing of these shapes shows that the
sensitivity of an anemometer cup is not improved by adding
a bead to the cup.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1) Marvin, C. F. Recent Advances in Anemometry. Monthly Weather Review
62, 115 (1934).
(2) Shaw, A. N. Notes on the Comparison of Anemometers Under Open-Air
Conditions. Monthly Weather Review 47, 21 (1919).
(3) Fergusson, S. P. The Sensitiveness of Anemometers. Bulletin of the American
Meteorological Society 15, 95 (1934).