Development of a Cost-Effective Constant Voltage Hot-Wire Anemometer

Accurate measurement of fluid velocity is essential across various engineering disciplines, such as aerodynamics, environmental flow studies, and industrial applications. Conventional hot wires provide the ability to accurately capture turbulent flows, but they typically operate on analog feedback circuits that are often complex, cost-prohibitive, and prone to noise. Here, we present a scalable constant voltage anemometer (CVA) built on the Red Pitaya platform, open-source signal processing solution. By leveraging accessible hardware and a simplified design, our proposed system aims to replace the analog feedback with digitally controlled feedback, thereby bypassing many electronic parts that could introduce points of failure or noise. Digital tuning also simplifies adjustments and calibration for varying velocities and conditions, offering flexibility that traditional hardware lacks. We demonstrate the system's performance and frequency response, highlighting its potential as a robust and scalable tool for flow measurements.