Using a Multiport Pitot Tube in Circulating Water Flow Measurements

This paper details the design of a Pitot tube used for water flow rate measurements in large pipes. The paper describes first the nowadays commonly used device (simplex pitot), based on standard CTI Code ATC-105 from Cooling Tower Institute [1]. The disadvantages of the simplex pitot are pointed out, and the detailed description of the proposed device (multiport pitot) is explained. The Multiport Pitot, which design is also based on norm ATC-105, is able to perform real-time measurements. The paper also includes the results obtained from the water flow rate measurements made in the cooling system of a thermal power plant in Mexico. These measurement results were compared to simulation results obtained with a computational commercial simulation tool.