What is a Hot-Wire Anemometer?

A hot wire anemometer is often used to measure the flow velocity of air. A portable or hand-held hot wire anemometer is a useful instrument for HVAC technicians to be able to make spot checks in air cooling systems. Rather than guessing the output, the actual velocity of the air can be measured and compared with what airflow is expected. In a sense, a hot-wire anemometer is a flow velocity meter. Measurements are normally expressed

It is different from an airflow balometer or capture hood which can measure volumetric flow in volume units.

How does a hot wire anemometer work?

A metallic tube , wire or rod can be heated to a constant temperature. When wind or air currents blow onto the metallic wire, more energy will be required to heat the element to the constant temperature it was set at. The additional amount of energy required to heat the rod back to the desired temperature is proportional to the flow velocity.

An air velocity meter) can measure the airflow from both heating and cooling systems. In large malls, government buildings, hotels, schools, food production facilities and basically anywhere that cool air is needed in the Philippines, HVAC technicians will often rely on air speed /air velocity and temperature measurements at different areas of a facility to ensure that adequate cooling is occurring throughout the system. In other words, a hot wire anemometer is a device that helps HVAC technicians troubleshoot the efficiency of a cooling system so that proper maintenance can be carried out if necessary.