Hydraulics Lab Dr. MALEK G.

HAJAYA

EXPERIMENT NO. 6 and 7

FLOW THROUGH A VENTURI AND ORIFICE : Evaluating the Discharge Coefficient

U I. OBJECTIVE OF THE EXPERIMENT

Fluid flow is an important part of many processes, including transporting materials

Investigate fluid flow using several methods: orifice and Venturi meters, in order to
determinate the fluid flow rate.

U II. THEORY AND EQUATION

A Venturi meter is a flow measurement instrument which uses the Bernoulli principle
to measure the flow rate. It contains a converging section which gives an increase in
the flow velocity and a corresponding pressure drop. An orifice plate is a thin plate
with a hole in the middle. When the fluid reaches the orifice plate, the fluid is forced
to converge to go through the small hole. As it does so, the velocity and the pressure
changes. The difference in fluid pressure between the normal pipe section and the
hole measured with a manometer can be used to estimate the flow rate. All throughout
the pipe network, there are small metal manometer interfaces, which are used to
measure the pressure differences between any two points in the pipe network using a
digital manometer.

For each pipe segment, we can write the mechanical energy balance equation:

P1 V2 P V2
+ 1 + Z 1 = 2 + 2 + Z 2 + Losses
× g 2g × g 2g

For this apparatus Z1 = Z2 = Zero.

DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT SET-UP

The network also contains Venturi and orifice flow meters. Both of them rely on
measurement of pressure difference between two different points to determine the
fluid flow rate. A Venturi meter is a tube of non-constant diameter. To minimize
disturbances to the flow, the edges of the Venturi meter have the same diameter as the
pipe into which the meter is inserted. Variation of the tube diameter leads to variation
of the fluid pressure inside the meter. There are two pressure taps located at the widest

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Hydraulics Lab Dr. MALEK G. HAJAYA

and the narrowest locations of the tube. Therefore, we can determine the flow rate by
measuring pressures p 1 and p 2 at these locations and substituting them into the
Bernoulli equation. For an incompressible fluid, the pressure drop is related to the
flow rate by the following formula:

2 P1 − P2
2
CD ×
D
Q= 2

4   D 4 
1 −  2  
  D1  
 

U III.PROCEDURE:

1. By using the adjustable feet, the apparatus is leveled on the Hydraulics Bench.
Carefully fill the apparatus manometer tubes with water to discharge all
pockets of air from the system and ensure all connecting pipes are free from
air.

2. By adjustment of the feed water and the flow control valve, the levels can be
raised or lowered as required.

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3. Carefully adjust the inlet feed and the flow control valves to provide the
combination of flow rate and system pressure which will give the largest
convenient difference between the highest and lowest manometer levels
between points 1 and point 6.

4. Note the scale reading of each manometer level.

5. Take at least three sets of readings of volume and time to find the flow rate
using the volumetric tank.

6. Use the equation to calculate the theoretical flow rate of the system.

7. Repeat the process for the orifice and record the manometer reading at point 1
U

and point 6.

Data Analysis:
U

1. Use the equation above to calculate theoretical flow rate for both the Venturi
and orifice
2. Use the time and volume data to calculate the real-actual flow rate.
3. Plot the theoretical and actual flow rates and calculate the CD
U U

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