Notes on the design of current meters

A perfect current meter is defined and a general discussion of departures of real current meters from the ideal is presented. The Price current meter has been shown to overregister due to turbulence and angularity of the fluid stream. The propeller type of meter shows less sensitivity due to flow stream characteristics when it is properly designed. The effects on accuracy of turbulence, Reynolds Number, and meter inertia are included. Methods of rating current meters are discussed with some indication of the deficiencies of present standard procedures. The work results in a series of recommendations and design specifications for an improved propeller type of current meter.