Balometer

A Balometer, is a type of airflow meter that resembles an air collection hood, also referred to as an air flow hood. It is used to measure the flow rate of air leaving or entering the ventilation outlet of an airflow system. Some, balometers also measure the atmospheric pressure of a space as well as the temperature and relative humidity of the flowing air.

Balometers contain a grid with many holes called a flow grid and a micro-manometer, this measures the flow and pressure individually and throughout the grid and compares this to the atmospheric pressure in the space. The function in a similar way to air capture hoods that contain an anemometer but tend to be more accurate and are pre-configured to convert a recorded velocity of air into an volumetric measure.

A barometer (not balometer) is also used to measure atmospheric pressure, traditionally though with closed tubes containing mercury. They are often found outside windows measuring outside air pressure to weather predictions, rising air pressure would indicate a good weather forecast whilst falling pressure might forecast rain or bad weather.

See also: Air capture hood.

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