Lab 1: Flow through a venturi meter

Introduction
The following experiment is performed to demonstrate Bernoullis theorem. The apparatus used
for the experiment is a Venturi meter made of acrylic. It has a number of tappings that enable
the measurement of the static pressure at various points of the venturi tube. The tappings are
connected to a manometer with an air bleed valve situated at the top right corner of the
apparatus to remove air bubbles from the tappings. Water enters the venturi tube through a hose
and then the water fills a plastic tank that measures the volume of water filling the tank. The flow
rate of the water is controlled using a valve attached to the pump.
Apparatus

Venturi meter apparatus

Stopwatch

Aim

To deduce the discharge coefficient

To calculate flow rate in a venturi meter
To demonstrate Bernoullis theorem

Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.

The hypodermic tube is withdrawn from the test section

The pump is started
The air bleed valve is pressed to remove trapped air bubbles
The flow regulator valve is rotated to begin water flow and increased to the maximum
measurable flow rate
5. The flow rate is measured by reading the volume of water accumulating in the tank and
the time taken is measured using a stopwatch
6. The manometer heights of the tappings are recorded into a table
7. Steps 6 and 7 are repeated for decreasing flow rates
Sample Calculations
Section 4.2
2 1

a) Qi = A2

A2 2
p p2
] [2 g 1
+ z 1z 2 ] 2
A1

( )

[1

Z1=Z2
Qi=

1
(16 103)2
16 2 1
3 2
2
[1
] [ 2 9.81 253 10 ]
4
26

( )

= 5.683x10-4m3/s

5.683x10-4 x 60 x 103 = 34.10 LPM

b) Cd = Qa/Qi = 28.72/34.10 = 0.842
Section 4.3
a) Venturi meter flow rate = Qa/Cd = 28.72/0.879 = 32.67 LPM

b) Percentage error = (Qi - Qa)/Qi x 100= (32.67-28.72)/32.67 x 100 = 12.09%

Section 4.4
ViB = [2 x 9.81 x (290-246) x 10-3]0.5 = 0.929 m/s
Ai = ( x (26 x 10-3)2)/4 = 5.31 x 10-4 m2
ViC = ((25.07/60) x 10-3) / 5.31 x 10-4 = 0.787 m/s
ViB-ViC = 0.929 0.787 = 0.142 m/s
Results
Section 4.2
a)

Qa (LPM)
28.72
28.05
27.41
24.58

A
265
240
255
220

B
229
205
223
190

Water Head (mm)

C
D
12
162
10
142
27
160
32
140

E
191
170
190
162

Qa (LPM)

A-C (mm)

Qi (LPM)

28.72
28.05
27.41
24.58

253
230
228
188

34.10
32.51
32.37
29.39

Qa (LPM)

Qi (LPM)

28.72
28.05
27.41
24.58

34.10
32.51
32.37
29.39

F
225
202
220
185

b)

Qa
Cd= Q i
0.842
0.863
0.847
0.802

Graph of Qa vs Qi
40
30

Qa (L/m)

20
10
0
29

30

31

32

Qi (L/m)
c)

33

34

35

Cd = Qa/Qi = Slope of graph =

28.7224.58
34.129.39

= 0.879

Section 4.3
a)
Qa (LPM)

Qi =Qa/0.879 (Venturi meter flow rate

L/M)
32.67
31.91
31.18
27.96

28.72
28.05
27.41
24.58
b)

Qa
(LPM)
28.72
28.05
27.41
24.58

Qi =Qa/0.879 (Venturi meter flow

rate L/M)
32.67
31.91
31.18
27.96

Percentage
Error
12.09%
12.10%
12.09%
12.09%

Section 4.4
QAV
LPM

Cross
Section
i

A
25.0
7

22.6
4

Using Bernoulli equation

h*=hH
(mm)
290

hi
(mm)
246

ViB=

[2g( h h ) ]

(m/s)
0.929

Using Continuity
Equation
Ai=Di2/4
ViC=QA
(m2)
V/Ai
(m/s)
-4
5.31x10
0.787

Differen
ce
ViB-ViC
(m/s)
0.142

-4

1.142

-0.013

285

220

1.129

3.66x10

280

20

2.256

2.01x10-4

2.079

0.177

-4

1.331

0.225

275

150

1.556

3.14x10

272

175

1.380

3.80x10-4

1.010

0.370

-4

0.787

0.142

264

220

0.929

5.31x10

265

233

0.792

5.31x10-4

0.711

0.081

1.020

-4

1.031

-0.011

263

210

3.66x10

21.4
3

257

80

1.864

2.01x10-4

1.877

-0.013

256

158

1.387

3.14x10-4

1.202

0.185

-4

0.993

0.244

255

177

1.237

3.80x10

248

198

0.990

5.31x10-4

0.711

0.279

-4

0.673

-0.001

175

152

0.672

5.31x10

173

132

0.897

3.66x10-4

0.976

-0.079

-4

1.777

-0.126

170

31

1.651

2.01x10

166

88

1.237

3.14x10-4

1.137

0.100

-4

0.940

0.145

0.673

0.144

164

104

1.085

3.80x10

158

124

0.817

5.31x10-4

Conclusion
The experiment performed in section 4.2 and 4.3 produced reliable results within the limits of
experimental accuracy with few anomalies in the data occurring. The value of C d is expected to
lie between 0.9 and 0.99 however the value we obtained is 0.879 which is very close to the
range but unfortunately lies outside the expected range. The percentage error between the
actual flow rate and the venturi flow meter was constant at 12.09%. The major sources of errors
in the experiment are human errors. The measurement of the volume flow rate using a
stopwatch introduced some errors into the data. The other cause of error was recording the
manometer height while the water inside it constantly fluctuated. Frictional losses were another
source of error.
The experiment in section 4.4 demonstrated Bernoullis Theorem as the difference in the
velocities obtained using Bernoullis equation and the equation of continuity was quite small
considering experimental accuracy limits. The minimum difference in the velocities was -0.001
while the maximum difference was 0.279 which can be attributed to the errors in the experiment.
The source of error in this section was again measuring the flow rate using a stopwatch, the
fluctuating water levels inside the manometers and the energy loss due to resistances and
friction.
The experiment can be improved by using computers to measure the volume flow rate through
the venturi tube and by taking the average value of the fluctuating water level inside the
manometers.

References

Applied Fluid Mechanics 5th Edition, Robert L. Mott, Prentice-Hall

Elementary Fluid Mechanics 7th Edition, Robert L. Street, Gary Z. Watters, John K. Vennard,
John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Fluid mechanics 4th Edition, Reynold C. Binder