Tungsten alloy pitot probes, with their high density (16-18 g/cm??), offer unique advantages in micro-scale flow measurement, where small size and rigidity are critical.Gas Pressure Scanwelcome to click on the website to learn more!
The high density of tungsten alloys (3-4 times that of stainless steel) allows for extremely compact designs without sacrificing mass, which helps stabilize micro probes (diameter <3mm) in turbulent flow. In a microfluidic device test, a 2mm tungsten alloy probe maintained alignment 50% better than a stainless steel probe of the same size, reducing measurement error by 2%.
This density also enhances vibration damping, a key benefit in high-frequency environments like small engine combustion chambers. A comparison test showed tungsten alloy micro probes had 40% less resonant vibration than titanium probes at 1000Hz, ensuring stable pressure readings.
However, tungsten’s brittleness requires careful machining—micro holes (0.5-1mm) must be drilled with diamond tools to avoid chipping. A manufacturing study found that slow, controlled drilling (0.05mm/s) reduced hole edge defects by 70%, critical for maintaining pressure measurement accuracy.
Tungsten alloy micro probes excel in applications like fuel injector flow testing or microturbine research, where their combination of small size, rigidity, and vibration resistance outperforms lighter materials.