Lebanese American University

School of engineering

Department of civil engineering

CIE 312 Fluid Mechanics –Lab

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Lab report # 4

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Different flow Measuring Apparatus
Venture meter, Orifice plate and Rotameter

Instructor
Group members
L Talin Tekirian

Due date: Friday, November 12, 2010

 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3
Venturi meter: .................................................................................................... 3
Orifice plate: ....................................................................................................... 3
Variable area meter: ........................................................................................... 4
Objectives .............................................................................................................. 4
Apparatus .............................................................................................................. 5

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Procedure .............................................................................................................. 6

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Results ................................................................................................................... 7
Discussion ............................................................................................................ 15

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Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 16

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References ........................................................................................................... 16

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Introduction

The measurement of water flow rate is an important topic in the study of fluid
dynamics. In this report we are discussing three commonly used flow measuring
devices:

Venturi
Orifice plate
Variable area meter

Venturi meter:
The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows

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through a constricted section of pipe. The Venturi utilizes pressure drop across a

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fixed geometry.
The Venturi effect is named after Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746–1822), an Italian physicist.

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Orifice plate:

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An orifice plate is a device used for measuring
the rate of fluid flow. It uses the same principle
as a Venturi nozzle, which states that there is a

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relationship between the pressure of the fluid
and the velocity of the fluid.
When the velocity increases, the pressure decreases and vice versa.
An orifice plate is a thin plate with a hole in the middle. It is usually placed in a
pipe in which fluid flows. When the fluid reaches the orifice plate, with the hole in
the middle, the fluid is forced to converge to go through the small hole; the point
of maximum convergence actually occurs shortly downstream of the physical
orifice, at the so-called vena contracta point. As it does so, the velocity and the
pressure changes. Beyond the vena contracta, the fluid expands and the velocity
and pressure change once again. By measuring the difference in fluid pressure
between the normal pipe section and at the vena contracta, the volumetric and
mass flow rates can be obtained from Bernoulli's equation.

An orifice plate utilizes pressure drop across a fixed gemoetry.

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Variable area meter:

A variable area meter is a meter that measures

fluid flow by allowing the cross sectional area of
the device to vary in response to the flow, causing
some measurable effect that indicates the rate.

A rotameter is an example of a variable area meter.

The float inside the rotameter is made of steel. The

reason it floats up when the flow is turned on is due
to drag force exerted by the water as it flows in the annular gap between the float
and the rotameter tube. The rotameter tube has a diverging cross-sectional area.
As a consequence, the float has a unique position for each flow rate; the higher
the flow rate, the higher the position. The float position will be used to determine

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the flow rate.

Objectives

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devices:

1-
2-
3-
4-
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The experiment which can be carried out with the Water Flow Measuring
Apparatus provides a comparison of flow measurements using the following

Flow measurement using a sudden enlargement

Flow measurement using a venturi meter
Flow measurement using an orifice plate
Flow measurement using a rotameter

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Apparatus

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Venturi meter (write Bernoulli Equation between Point A and B)
Orifice meter (write Bernoulli Equation between Point E and F)
Rotameter (write Bernoulli Equation between Point H and I or in our case,

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since we do not have the measurements of the rotameter, we will simply

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assign to each reading a corresponding mass flow rate using a given graph)

The pressure drop across any length of pipe can be used as a means of measuring
the flow as can the pressure drop across any fitting or combination of fittings. In

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this apparatus a sudden enlargement and an elbow are also included, however,
the pressure drop across them is very small and the possibility of secondary
effects detracts from their use.

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Procedure

1- Connect the supply hose from the hydraulic bench to inlet of venture meter and secure
with a hose clip

2- Water enters the apparatus through the lower left-hand end

3- Water flows horizontally through a sudden enlargement into a transparent venture-meter,

and into an orifice plate.

4- A 90 degrees elbow changes the flow direction to vertical and connects to a variable area
flow meter(a rotameter)

break

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5- A second bend passes the flow into a discharge pipe which incorporates an atmospheric

6- Connect a hose to the control valve outlet and direct its free end into control hole in the

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bench

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7- With the air purge valve closed, close the apparatus valve fully then open it by about 1/3

8- Switch on the bench and slowly open its valve until water starts to flow

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9- Allow the apparatus to fill with water then continue to open the bench valve until it is fully
open. And the close the apparatus valve fully

10- Couple the bicycle pump to the purge valve and pump down until all manometers read
approximately 280 mm

11- Remove entrained air from the manometer by gentle tapping with fingers

12- Check water levels and maintain it constant

13- Check the tube ferrules and top manifold as free from water blockage, which will suppress
the manometer level ferrules blockage can be cleared by a sharp burst of pressure from
bicycle pump.

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Results

1. Water at 25℃ have a density of:

𝜌 = 997.1𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
and a dynamic viscosity of:
𝜇 = 0.894 ∗ 10−3 𝑁𝑠/𝑚2

2. Volume flow rate Q calculated using:

a. Venturi Meter:

Runs 𝒉𝑨 (mm) 𝒉𝑩 (mm) 𝒉𝑨 − 𝒉𝑩 𝑽𝑨 (m/s) 𝑸𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 * 10^-3

(mm)

F
(m³/s)
1 185 120 65 0.462 0.245

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2 212 125 87 0.535 0.284
3 233 128 105 0.587 0.312
4 255 129 126 0.643 0.342

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5 300 133 167 0.741 0.393

Continuity equation:

Bernoulli equation:
𝑃𝐴 𝑣𝐴 2
𝑧𝐴 + +
𝛾 2𝑔
= 𝑧𝐵 +
𝑃𝐵 𝑣𝐵 2
𝛾
+
2𝑔
.
𝑄𝐴 = 𝑄𝐵 ⇔ (𝑉𝐴 )( 𝐴𝐴 ) = (𝑉𝐵 )(𝐴𝐵 ) ⇔ 𝑉𝐵 = 𝑉𝐴

L (𝑧𝐴 = 𝑧𝐵 & 𝑕𝐴 =
𝐴𝐴
𝐴𝐵

𝑃𝐴
𝛾
𝑃𝐵
, 𝑕𝐵 = )
𝛾

2
1 1 𝐴𝐴
⇒ 𝑕𝐴 − 𝑕𝐵 = 𝑉𝐵 2 − 𝑉𝐴 2 = − 1 𝑉𝐴 2
2𝑔 2𝑔 𝐴𝐵

2𝑔(𝑕𝐴 − 𝑕𝐵 )
⇒ 𝑉𝐴 =
𝐴𝐴 2
−1
𝐴𝐵

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

2𝑔(𝑕𝐴 − 𝑕𝐵 )
⇒ 𝑄 = 𝐴𝐴 ×
𝐴𝐴 2
−1
𝐴𝐵

b. Orifice Plate:

Runs 𝒉𝑬 (mm) 𝒉𝑭 (mm) 𝒉𝑬 − 𝒉𝑭 𝑽𝑭 (m/s) 𝑸𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 *

(mm) 10^-3 (m³/s)
1 180 108 72 0.178 0.378
2 207 105 102 0.212 0.449
3 229 102 127 0.237 0.501
4 250 100 150 0.258 0.545
5 298 97 201 0.298 0.631

Continuity equation:

𝑄𝐸 = 𝑄𝐹 ⇔ (𝑉𝐸 )( 𝐴𝐸 ) = (𝑉𝐹 )(𝐴𝐹 ) ⇔ 𝑉𝐸 = 𝑉𝐹

. F 𝐴𝐹
𝐴𝐸

Bernoulli equation:
𝑃𝐸 𝑣𝐸 2
𝑧𝐸 + +
𝛾 2𝑔

. S 𝑃𝐹 𝑣𝐹 2
= 𝑧𝐹 + +
𝛾 2𝑔
+ 𝛥𝑕

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𝑃𝐸 𝑃𝐹
(𝑧𝐸 = 𝑧𝐹 & = = 0 & 𝛥𝑕 = 𝑕𝐸 − 𝑕𝐹 )
𝛾 𝛾

2
1 1 𝐴𝐹
⇒ 𝛥𝑕 = 𝑉𝐸 2 − 𝑉𝐹 2 = − 1 𝑉𝐹 2
2𝑔 2𝑔 𝐴𝐸

2𝑔𝛥𝑕
⇒ 𝑉𝐹 =
𝐴𝐹 2
−1
𝐴𝐸

2𝑔𝛥𝑕
⇒ 𝑄 = 𝐴𝐹 ×
𝐴𝐹 2
−1
𝐴𝐸

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

c. Rotameter:

Runs height in Mass flow rate Volume flow rate

rotameter (cm) (kg/s) (𝑸𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 ) *10^-
3 (m³/s)
1 10 0.225 0.226
2 12 0.275 0.276
3 13.5 0.300 0.301
4 14.9 0.325 0.326
5 17.3 0.375 0.376

From the curve below showing the relationship between the

rotameter reading and the mass flow of water inside it, we can

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tell for different runs (different rotameter readings) the

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correspondent mass flow.

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Then, to find the volumetric flow rate:
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = 𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 × 𝑄 ⇔ 𝑄=
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

3. Mass flow rate was calculated using the previous equation in the:

a. Venturi Meter: Runs Mass flow

rate (kg/s)
1 0.245
2 0.283
3 0.311
4 0.341
5 0.392

b. Orifice Plate: Runs Mass flow

rate (kg/s)
1 0.376

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2 0.448
3 0.500

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4 0.543
5 0.629

c. Rotameter: Runs

1
2

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Mass flow
rate (kg/s)
0.225
0.275

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3 0.300
4 0.325
5 0.375

4. Flow rate collected in the volumetric measuring tank:

Runs Volume Time (s) 𝑸𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 *10^-

(L) 3 (m³/s)
1 5 20.69 0.242
2 5 17.25 0.290
3 5 15.18 0.329
4 5 14.55 0.344
5 5 12.06 0.415

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Volumetric measured flow:

𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

5. Plot of the flow rate calculated using the rotameter versus the flow rate
measured in the tank:

0.400
0.380
Q calculated *10^-3 (m³/s)

0.360
0.340
0.320
0.300
0.280

F
0.260
0.240

.
0.220
0.200
0.200 0.250 0.300 0.350 0.400 0.450

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Q measured *10^-3 (m³/s)

6. The error in reading the flow rate in each device is given by:

Runs

1
2
3 L
Meter (%)
1.52
2.08
5.33
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Flow error in Venturi Flow error in Orifice
Plate (%)
56.24
55.05
52.25
Flow error in
Rotameter (%)
6.62
4.85
8.66
4 0.60 58.59 5.15
5 5.15 52.17 9.29

Flow error:
𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 − 𝑄𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑
% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100
𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

In addition, the graph of these errors with respect to the measured flow is
shown:

70.00

60.00

50.00
Flow error (%)

40.00
For the orifice plate
30.00
For the venturi meter
20.00
For the rotameter
10.00

0.00
0.200 0.250 0.300 0.350 0.400 0.450

F
Q measured *10^-3 (m³/s)

7. The discharge coefficient for both the venture meter (𝐶𝑑 ) and the orifice
plate (K) is given in the following table:

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L
Runs
1
2
3
4
5
.
𝑪𝒅
0.985
1.021
1.056
1.006
1.054
k
0.640
0.645
0.657
0.631
0.657

Discharge coefficient:
𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑
𝐶𝑑 𝑂𝑅 𝑘 =
𝑄𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑

8. The Reynolds’ number for both venturi meter and orifice plate is given as
follows:

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Runs ℝ𝒆 in the venturi ℝ𝒆 in the orifice

meter plate
1 13399 10331
2 15502 12297
3 17030 13721
4 18656 14912
5 21478 17262

Finding Reynolds’ number using dynamic viscosity:

𝜌𝑉𝐷
ℝ𝑒 =
𝜇

9. For the venture meter as well as for the orifice plate, the relationship

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between the discharge coefficient and the Reynolds’ number is shown in
the following graph:

1.06
Cd vs Re

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.
1.05
Discharge coefficient(Cd)

1.04
1.03
1.02

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1.01
1
0.99
0.98
12000 14000 16000 18000 20000 22000
Reynolds' number(Re)

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

K vs Re
0.660

Discharge coefficient(K)
0.655

0.650

0.645

0.640

0.635

0.630
10000 11000 12000 13000 14000 15000 16000 17000 18000
Reynolds' number(Re)

10. Finally, the difference between the three devices is given by this table:

Venturi Orifice

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Rotameter

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meter Plate

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Accuracy (%) 97.06 45.14 93.09
Pressure Loss (Pa) 1075.97 1275.51 1324.42/972.29

The accuracy represents which among these devices will give a better

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result (more accurate answer):
% 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑦 = 100 − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟

The pressure loss must be lowered in order to have a better result:

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑠 = Δ𝑃 = Δ𝑕 × 𝛾
Where Δ𝑕 is the average of the difference between the height of
water in the manometers (or the rotameter) at the beginning and
end of each device.

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Discussion

Comparing the calculated flow errors for the venturi meter, the rotameter
and the orifice plate shows that the values found using the venturi meter
are the most accurate, since they range between 0.60 and 5.33 %(average
of 2.94%). Those found using the rotameter are close behind, with flow
errors going from 4.85 to 9.29 %(average of 6.91%).
However, the flow errors for the values found using the Orifice plate are
very large and exceed 50%(average of 54.86%). This difference in flow
errors can be seen in the corresponding graph.

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The previous observations are supported by the calculated values of the the
pressure loss which indicate that the orifice plate is responsible for the
highest loss of pressure (1275.51 Pa) then comes the venturi meter

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(1075.97 Pa) and at last the rotameter with the lowest value(972.29 Pa).

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The discharge coefficient for both the venturi meter and the Orifice plate
was calculated then drawn with respect to the Reynolds‘ number. These
two graphs reveal the difference between the two devices; in fact, the line

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that belongs to the venturi meter has a different range of alternation from
the other graph (from 13000 to 22000 for Re and from 0.98 to 1.06 for Cd),
on the other hand, the orifice plate’s line has a narrower range (from 10000
to 18000 for Re and from 0.63 to 0.66). for the same flow of water passing
through the apparatus, these devices give different values for both the
Reynolds‘ number and the discharge coefficient. The Cd values for the
Venturi meter vacillate around 1 (having an average of 1.025) which is not
within the given bounderies (0.975-0.995) due to several sources of error.
Furthermore, the value given for k (0.601) is different from the average of k
calculated (0.646).

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 Lab report # 4 CIE 321

Finally, the accuracy percentage shows clearly that the venturi meter
(97.06%) and the rotameter (93.09%) yield values that are more precise
than the orifice plate (45.14%).

The experimental results were not exactly accurate due to many

experimental factors, including:

Imprecision in recording the readings of the manometers and the

rotameter
Imprecision while using the stop-watch to record the time
Imprecision while converting from the rotameter scale reading to the
mass flow of water using the given calibration curve
The friction between the water and the tube which we ignored by

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considering water an ideal fluid

Conclusion

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This experience has allowed us to measure the water flow rate using
different devices: Venturi meter, enlargement, orifice plate, 90°elbow and
rotameter. However, we only discussed the difference between three of them. As

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a result, the orifice plate has the lower accuracy percentage, but the venturi and
the rotameter have encountered the least error. Nevertheless, in real life,
building a venturi meter is the most difficult since a lot of precise measurements
must be taken.

References

Elementary Fluid Mechanics, by R. Street, G. Watters, and J. Vennard, John Wiley

and Sons, Inc.

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