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Study Notes on Application of Bernoulli's Theorem - Flow Measurement EXIT

Day 4 | Fluid Dynamics | Study Notes on Fluid Dynamics

Flow measurement is the chapter in Fluid mechanics which deals with the application of Bernoulli
equation applicable to many situations, not just the pipe ow. It consists of various measurement
apparatus such as Venturimeter, Ori ce meter, Pitot Tube, etc.  and its application to ow
measurement from tanks, within pipes as well as in open channels.
Flow measurement is the quanti cation of bulk uid movement. Flow can be measured in a variety of
ways. Positive displacement ow meters accumulate of a xed volume of uid and then count the
number of times the volume is lled to measure ow.
Some ow measuring instruments are given as:

Pitot Tube 

The Pitot tube is a simple velocity measuring device. 

Uniform velocity ow hitting a solid blunt body, has streamlines similar to this: 

Some move to the left and some to the right. The centre one hits the blunt body and stops.
At this point (2) velocity is zero The uid does not move at this one point. This point is known as
the stagnation point.
Using the Bernoulli equation we can calculate the pressure at this point.
Along the central streamline at 1: velocity u1, pressure p1
At the stagnation point of: u2 = 0. (Also z1 = z2)

 
 Note Point: The blunt body does not have to be a solid. It could be a static column of uid, this
feature is used measure the ow velocity.

Two piezometers, one as normal and one as a Pitot tube within the pipe can be used such as

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 The above expression is for velocity from two pressure measurements and the application of
the Bernoulli equation.

Pitot Static Tube 

The Pitot static tube combines the tubes and they can then be easily connected to a
manometer:

 In reality, its diameter is very small and can be ignored i.e. points 1 and 2 are considered to be
at the same level.
The holes on the side connected to one side of a manometer, while the central hole connects to
the other side of the manometer.
Using the theory of the manometer

We know that, giving

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Advantages of Pitot tube:  

Simple to use (and analyse)
Gives velocities (not discharge)
May block easily as the holes are small

Venturi Meter

 The Venturi meter is a device for measuring discharge in a pipe.

It is a rapidly converging section which increases the velocity of ow and hence reduces the
pressure.It then returns to the original dimensions of the pipe by a gently diverging ‘diffuser’
section.

 Using Bernoulli along the streamline from point 1 to point 2,

By continuity,

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 Substituting and rearranging gives 

 Actual discharge takes into account the losses due to friction, we include a coe cient of
discharge (Cd=0.9) 

 In terms of the manometer readings,

 Giving,

This expression does not include any elevation terms. (z1 or z2)
When used with a manometer The Venturimeter can be used without knowing its angle

Venturimeter Design Note Point:

The diffuser assures a gradual and steady deceleration after the throat. So that pressure rises
to something near that before the meter.
The angle of the diffuser is usually between 6 and 8 degrees.
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If the angle is less the meter becomes very long and pressure losses again become signi cant.
The e ciency of the diffuser of increasing pressure back to the original is rarely greater than
80%.
Care must be taken when connecting the manometer so that no burrs are present.

 Ori ce meter

 Ori ce meter is a device used for measuring the rate of ow of a uid owing through a pipe
which works on the same principle as that of venturimeter. 
Setup for Ori ce meter consists of a  at circular plate which has a circular hole, in concentric
with the pipe which is called ori ce. 
The diameter of ori ce is generally 0.5 times the diameter of the pipe (D), although it may vary
from 0.4 to 0.8 times the pipe diameter.

 
Applying Bernoulli’s equations at sections 1 and 2, we get
 

 
where h is the differential head.
Let A0 is the area of the ori ce, Coe cient of contraction, Cc = A2 /A0 
By continuity equation, we have

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Discharge,

If Cd is the co-e cient of discharge for ori ce meter, which is de ned as

So, the nal discharge of Ori ce meter ,

 

Flow Over Notches and Weirs

A notch is an opening in the side of a tank or reservoir.

It is a device for measuring discharge.
A weir is a notch on a larger scale - usually found in rivers.
It is used as both a discharge measuring device and a device to raise water levels.

Weir Assumptions
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Velocity of the uid approaching the weir is small so we can ignore kinetic energy.
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The velocity in the ow depends only on the depth below the free surface.

 A General Weir Equation

Consider a horizontal strip of width b, depth h below the free surface ,

Integrating from the free surface, h=0, to the weir crest,h=H, gives the total theoretical discharge 

This is different for every differently shaped weir or notch.

Some common types of Weirs 

Rectangular Weir

The width does not change with depth so, b= Constant= B

Substituting this into the general weir equation gives 

To get the actual discharge we introduce a coe cient of discharge, Cd, to account for losses at
the edges of the weir and contractions in the area of ow,

‘V’ Notch Weir 

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The relationship between width and depth is dependent on the angle of the “V”. 

The width, b, a depth h from the free surface is 

So the discharge is 

The actual discharge is obtained by introducing a coe cient of discharge 

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