Fluid Mechanics Lab

Experiment No.5:
Orifice meter
Abstract:
This experiment is about learning some facts about flow rate measurement by
orifice meter, in this experiment we will study the basic concepts of orifice meter and find
the discharge coefficient (Cd) & flow coefficient (k).
After doing this experiment, the main result that we obtained is that the average
(Cd) is about 1.029 ,this result is wrong, because the normal value of the discharge
coefficient (Cd) must be less than 1 (approximately 0.95) the error may resulted when we
record the time Or when we record the pressure difference.
By using the orifice meter in this experiment we can calculate the flow rate, the
discharge coefficient, and Reynolds number at a different states of the flow rate.
In general, we can use the orifice meter in many purposes in the most engineering
application, and it has a many advantages and disadvantages for using it.
An important observation in this experiment is that the Energy loss at the orifice
section is greater than it at the venture contraction

Objectives:
1- To study the basic concept of orifice meter.
2- To study the orifice meter as the measuring instrument.
3- To measure the volumetric flow rate (Q) by orifice meter.
4- To calculate the discharge coefficient (Cd) & Flow coefficient (k).

Introduction:
We often need to control the flow rate through a pipe by measure the flow rate in
this pipe. Orifice meter is one of the flow meters that can measure the flow rate.

The orifice flow meter is a tube that is connected into a pipeline whose flow rate
would be measured. Orifices, also called orifice plates, constrict fluid flow using a flat metal
disc with a circular hole in the center. The inlet and outlet diameter of the orifice tube equal
the diameter of the pipe in which the orifice is installed.

The basic concept of the orifice meter is that when the fluid flowing in the pipe
passes through a section whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of the pipe (orifice),
the stream lines will come closer together, as a result of this, the velocity of the fluid will
increase and the pressure will drop down so as to remain the mass flow rate constant, and
if the pipe is horizontal, then according to Bernoulli's principle if the velocity is increase in a
region the pressure in this region will decrease. and by measuring the pressure difference
we can determine the volumetric flow rate.

Observe that figure (2) shows a differential manometer attached to the orifice meter
at points 1 and 2; this is one way to measure the pressure drop (P1-P2) between these two
points. Another way is to mount one pressure gauge to the orifice meter at point 1 and a
second pressure gauge at point 2 as shown in figure (3).

Orifices such as the one in the figure (1) are common in water and waste water
treatment facilities, power plants, and chemical and petrochemical processing operations.
Advantages:
1) No moving parts, low maintenance.
2) Low cost.
3) Small.

Disadvantages:
1) Low accuracy.
2) Pressure drop is large than pressure drop
through the venturi contraction.
3) Requires lengths of straight pipe upstream
and downstream.
4) Contraction of flow reduces accuracy of the
Figure (1) : Orifice meter
downstream pressure measurement.

The pressure drop at the orifice section is larger than the pressure drop at the venturi
contraction because the stream line is compressed suddenly, bet in venturi it is
compressed gradually.

Figure (2) Orifice meter with attached manometers

Theory:
When an incompressible fluid flows in a pipe which is connected with orifice meter, we can
relate the flow rate of the fluid in the pipe by applying Bernoulli's equation and continuity
equation at point 1 [point a] (at the upstream constant diameter section) and at point 2
[point b] (at the minimum flow section of the jet) to give:
2 g (h1 − h2 )
Qtheo = C c A 2
(1)
1 − C c ( AA1 ) 2

And
QExp = KA 2 g∆h (2)
Where:
Qtheo: is the theoretical volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
Qexp : is the experimental (actual) volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
A1,A°:is the cross sectional area of the section 1 & 2 respectively.(m2)
h1,h2: is the liquid height at the sections 1 & 2 respectively. (m)
 CV C C
K : Flow coefficient =
2
1 − C C ( AA1 ) 2
Cd : Is the discharge coefficient (dimensionless) = CV CC
CV : Velocity coefficient.
d Orifice
C C : Contraction coefficient (depends on the value of )
DPipe
d d
[ If ≤ 0.3 ⇒ CC=0.62 , =0.8 ⇒ CC=0.72 ]
D D
Where the discharge coefficient equal:
QExp
Cd = (3)
Qtheo
We can also calculate the Reynolds number for the fluid at the orifice section by the
relation:
ρvd
Re = (4)
µ
4Qexp × ρ
Also: Re = (5)
π× µ×d
Where:
Re: Reynolds number (dimensionless)
Qexp: Experimental volumetric flow rate (m3/s)
ρ = density of water (kg/m3)
µ = viscosity of water (N.s/m2) [at certain Temperature]
d = diameter of the orifice (m)

Note: we can see how these equation can be derived in the appendix.

After we doing the experiment we should have the following data:

h1 and h2 from the reading of the manometer connected to the points 1 & 2.
D1, D2 from the instructor.
Qexp by calculating the fixed volume of the fluid flows in a certain time

Methodology:
Apparatus & Equipments:
The apparatus which used in this experiment (Orifice meter) is shown in the previous
figures (2).

To do this experiment we should have the following materials and equipments.

1- Hydraulic Bench.
2- Orifice meter apparatus with attached manometers.
3- Liquid to fill the pipes (water).
4- Stop clock to record time exactly.

Procedure:
1- Check the construction and the calibration of the orifice meter after fill it with
incompressible liquid (water).
2- Be sure that the reading of the both sides of the manometer is balanced.
3- Start increase the flow rate, record height difference between both sides of the
manometer after the flow rate has been in equilibrium.
 4- Close the stopper in the water trough and record the time needed by a certain
volume of the liquid to fill (Qexp)
5- Repeat this process 5 times.

Operating Fluids:
In this experiment we will measure the volumetric Flow rate by using orifice meter
filled by water.

Sample of Calculations:
Height in the first side of manometer = h1 = 405cm
Height in the second side of manometer = h2 = 390cm
Diameter of the pipe = 2.4cm
Diameter of the throat = 2cm
Viscosity of water at 20°C = 1.0019×10-3 N.s/m2
Time needed = 35 sec.
d 0.02
= = 0.8333
D 0.024
∆V (5 − 0) × 10 −3
Q Exp = = = 1.4286 × 10 −4 m 3 /s
∆T 35
2 g (h1 − h2 ) π −2 2 2 × 9.81 × 15 × 10 −3
Qtheo = C c A = 0.72 × ( 2 × 10 ) = 1.4169 × 10 − 4 m 3 /s
2
1 − C c ( AA1 ) 2 4 1 − 0.72 2 ( 22.4 ) 4
Q exp 1.4286 × 10 −4
Cd = = = 1.00826
Q theo 1.4169 × 10 − 4
4Q × ρ 4 × 1.4286 × 10 −4 × 1000
Re = = = 9077.5
π × µ × d π × 1.0019 × 10 -3 × 0.02
Qexp 1.4286 × 10 −4
v (at the orifice) = = π −2 2
= 0.4547 m/s
4 ( 2 × 10 )
A
Qexp 1.4286 × 10 −4
k= = = 0.838
A 2 g∆h π4 (0.02) 2 2 × 9.81 × 0.015
Tabulated k = 0.87 at Re = 9077

Results:
Table 1: Results & Calculations
Trial h1 h2 Time Volume
3 3
No. (mm) (mm) (s) (L) Qexp (m /s) Qtheo (m /s) Cd
-4 -4
1 405 390 35 5 1.4286×10 1.41571×10 1.009

-4 -4
2 430 395 22 5 2.2727×10 2.16253×10 1.051

-4 -4
3 434 370 18 5 2.7778×10 2.92427×10 0.9499

-4 -4
4 463 370 13 5 3.8462×10 3.52508×10 1.091

-4 -4
5 511 370 11 5 4.5455×10 4.34047×10 1.0472
 (k)
(k) Tabulated
Re (Reynolds Velocity at Experimental
Flow
Trial number at the orifice Flow
Coefficient
No. the orifice) (m/s) Coefficient

1 9077.3 0.455 0.838235791 0.87

2 14441.2 0.723 0.87299001 0.84

3 17650.3 0.884 0.789063893 0.83

4 24438.9 1.224 0.90634089 0.815

5 28882.4 1.447 0.869907931 0.81

Results and discussion:

In this experiment, the main result is that the discharge coefficient (Cd) is about 1,
the normal value of Cd is about 0.95-0.97 in the orifice meter, the error in this experiment
may be resulted when we read the time of a certain volume flow through the pipe or the
pressure difference from the differential manometers.
Plot (1): the Relation Between Q (Theoritical) and Q
(Experimental)

0.0005
Experimental Volumetric Flow rate

0.0004

0.0003
(m3/s)

0.0002

0.0001

0
0 0.0001 0.0002 0.0003 0.0004 0.0005
3
Theoritical Vloumetric Flow rate ( m /s)

In the previous figure we find that the relation between the experimental volumetric
flow rate and the theoretical volumetric flow rate is about the linear relation and the slope
of the line gives the average value of Cd.
In the next plot we can see the relation between the discharge coefficient and the
Experimental Volumetric flow rate
 Plot (2): the Relation Between Q (Experimental) and the
discharge coefficient (C d)

1.1

Discharge Coefficient (Cd)

y = 0.0184x + 0.9747
1.075
1.05
1.025
1
0.975
0.95
0.925
0.9
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
-4 3
Experimental Vloumetric Flow rate (*10 m /s)

And in the figure below, we can see the plot of discharge coefficient and the theoretical
volumetric flow rate:
Plot (2): the Relation Between Q (Experimental) and the
discharge coefficient (Cd)

1.1
Discharge Coefficient

1.075 y = 0.0146x + 0.9875

1.05
1.025
(Cd)

1
0.975
0.95
0.925
0.9
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
-4 3
Theoritical Vloumetric Flow rate (*10 m /s)

As we see from the previous figures, the discharge coefficient is independent from the
experimental & theoretical volumetric flow rate, since the slope in the previous tow figures
is too small, and the slope resulted from the error resulted in this experiment.

In the next plot we can see the relation between the experimental flow rate and the
Reynolds number at the orifice:
Plot (4): the Relation Between Reynolds Number &
Experimental Volumetric flow rate

28000
Reynolds Number

23000

18000

13000

8000

3000
1 2 3 4 5
-4 3
Experimental Vloumetric Flow rate (*10 m /s)

Also we can see in the next plot the relation between the calculated Reynolds number and
the measured velocity at the orifice:
 Plot (5): the Relation Between Reynolds Number & the
Actual Velocity at the orifice

30000

Reynolds Number
25000

20000

15000

10000

5000
0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5
Actual velocity In the pipe (m/s)

As we see from the previous tow plots that the relation is directly proportional between the
calculated Reynolds number and measured volumetric flow rate also it is directly
proportional between the Re and the measured velocity of water at the orifice section. This
result can be estimated from equation (4) and (5), and when the Re value is increase, the
flow tend to be turbulent (Q is High).

Error Analysis:
As we see in the results and calculation section, the error in calculating the discharge
coefficient resulted from the time measurement accuracy and the accuracy in the pressure
difference measured. Therefore when the time is recorded wrongly the Qexp is then
calculated wrongly (the experimental flow rate is a function of time at constant volume
change), & if the pressure difference is measured incorrectly the Qtheo is then computed
incorrectly, then the error is existed in all the variables that depends – finally – on the time
measured & the pressure difference like (Qexp), (Qtheo), (Cd), (Re), & (vact).

Conclusions and recommendation:

The errors in this experiment can be decreased if we use a digital equipment to
measure the time accurately, and this equipment should be full automatic and do not
depend on the human effect.
Also, when we measure the pressure difference by digital equipments like
piezoelectric elements & Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT).
And if the human effect is exist, the accuracy in time measurement can be
improved by decreasing the flow rate so as to record time of the initial and final
volume without the large magnitude of error. Or increasing the volume collected in
a time interval.

References:
1. Anthony Esposito, Fluid mechanics with application, 1998, Prentice-Hall,
USA.
2. Smith & others, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, McGraw–Hill,
New York, 6th Edition, 2001.
3. Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipments.
 4. Perry, R. H., & D. W. Green, eds. Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook. 7th
edition, McGraw-Hill, 1997.
5. Lab Sheet.

Appendix:

The general form of the venturi meter equation can be derived by apply the Bernoulli’s
equation and continuity equation between the point (1) & (2):

Figure (3) Orifice meter with attached pressure gauges

P1 v12 P2 v 22
Bernoulli Equation: + + Z1 = + + Z2
γ 2g γ 2g
P v2 P v2
⇒ 1+ 1 = 2 + 2
γ 2g γ 2g
P P v2 v2
⇒ 1− 2 = 2 − 1
γ γ 2g 2g
2 g (h1 − h2 ) = v 22 − v12 (*)

Continuity equation: m = m
ρv1 A1 = ρv 2 A2
A
⇒ v1 = v 2 2 (**)
A1
A2 2
Substitute (**) in (*) to get: 2 g (h1 − h2 ) = v 22 − (v 2 )
A1
A
2 g (h1 − h2 ) = v 22 (1 − ( 2 ) 2 )
A1
2 g (h1 − h2 )
v2 =
(1 − ( AA12 ) 2 )

The theoretical volumetric flow rate Q is Q = v 2 A2

2 g (h1 − h2 )
Q = A2 (1)
(1 − ( AA12 ) 2 )
The Experimental volumetric flow rate is:
2 g (h1 − h2 )
Q = C d A2 (2)
(1 − ( AA21 ) 2 )
 ρvd
Reynolds Number: Re = (4)
µ
Qexp = v act A2 = v act × π4 d 22
4Qexp × ρ
⇒ Re = (5)
π × µ × d2