3 cupped anemometer
I have chosen to design a 3 cupped anemometer which is the most commonly used.
A 3 cupped anemometer has 3 cups attached to horizontal arms. The arms are attached to a vertical rod.
How does it work ?
When the wind blows the cups on the anemometer rotate making the arms spin. The stronger the wind the faster the arms spin. The anemometer counts the number or rotations which is used to calculate wind speed.
Because wind speed is not consistent there may be gusts or very little wind; the wind speed is usually averaged out over a short period of time.
Calculating the wind speed in mph
To calculate the wind speed in mph using an anemometer:
Firstly you measure the circumference of the circle made by the rotating cups.
Secondly convert this measurement into miles ( 1 mile = 160 934.4 cm).
Thirdly multiply this distance by the revolutions per minute of the anemometer.
Finally multiply this number by 60 to give an approximation of the velocity of the wind speed in mph.
However this method does not take friction into account.
A 3 cupped anemometer has 3 cups attached to horizontal arms. The arms are attached to a vertical rod.
How does it work ?
When the wind blows the cups on the anemometer rotate making the arms spin. The stronger the wind the faster the arms spin. The anemometer counts the number or rotations which is used to calculate wind speed.
Because wind speed is not consistent there may be gusts or very little wind; the wind speed is usually averaged out over a short period of time.
Calculating the wind speed in mph
To calculate the wind speed in mph using an anemometer:
Firstly you measure the circumference of the circle made by the rotating cups.
Secondly convert this measurement into miles ( 1 mile = 160 934.4 cm).
Thirdly multiply this distance by the revolutions per minute of the anemometer.
Finally multiply this number by 60 to give an approximation of the velocity of the wind speed in mph.
However this method does not take friction into account.