Contents :

 Introduction
 Flow rate
 Types of flow meters
 Venturi meter
 Orifice meter
 Factors effecting the flow rate
Flow :
The action of moving of fluid along in a steady and
continuous stream

Types of flows based on Reynolds number :

 Laminar flow
 Transition flow
 Turbulent flow

 If the Reynolds number measured for the fluid flow is

less than 2100 then it is said to be “Laminar flow”
Reynolds number < 2100
 If the Reynolds number is in between 2100 to 4000
then it is said to be “Transition flow”
2100<Reynolds number>4000
 If the Reynolds number is greater than 4000 then it is
said to be “Turbulent flow”
Reynolds number>4000

Reynolds number:
A dimensionless number used in fluid mechanics to
indicate whether the fluid is steady or turbulent
Reynolds number = 𝐷𝑣𝜌/𝜇
Where
D is diameter of the pipe
V is the velocity flowing through the pipe
𝜌 is density of the fluid
𝜇 is the viscosity of the fluid
 Flow rate :
The volume of fluid per unit time is known as “Flow rate”
Q = V/T
Where
Q is flow rate
V is the volume of fluid in 𝑚3
T is the time in Sec

Types of flow meters :

 Volumetric flow meter
 Mass flow meter

Volumetric flow rate :

It is the volume of the fluid which passes per unit time.

 It is represented in Q or 𝑉 .
𝑚3
 Units :
𝑠
 Examples : venturi meter , Orifice meter , Roto meter

Mass flow rate :

It is the mass of a substances which passes per unit time.

 It is represented in 𝑚.
𝑘𝑔
 Units :
𝑠
 Examples : coriollis mass flowmeter , thermal mass
flowmeter
VENTURI METER :

A venturi meter is a device used for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid flowing
through a pipe

Principle :

The working of venturi meter is based on the principle of Bernoulli’s equation

Bernoulli’s statement :
It states that in a steady, ideal flow of an incompressible fluid, the total energy at any
point of the fluid is constant. The total energy consists of pressure energy, kinetic
energy and potential energy or datum energy

Potential energy + kinetic energy + pressure energy = constant

𝑃 𝑣2
+ + z = constant
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

Construction :

Venturi meter consists mainly 3 parts : converging part

Throat

Diverging part
 Converging part: It is a tapered portion whose radius decreases as we
move forward

Throat: It is middle portion of the venturi. Here the velocity of the fluid
increases and pressure decreases. It possesses the least cross section
area

Diverging part: In this portion the fluid diverges

Working :

The venturimeter is used to measure the rate of flow of a fluid flowing

through the pipes.
 Consider two cross section, first at the inlet and the second one is at the
throat. The difference in the pressure heads of these two sections is used
to calculate the rate of flow through venturi meter.
 As the water enters at the inlet section i.e. in the converging part it
converges and reaches to the throat.
 The throat has the uniform cross section area and least cross section area
in the venturi meter. As the water enters in the throat its velocity gets
increases and due to increase in the velocity the pressure drops to the
minimum.
 There is a pressure difference of the fluid at the two sections. At the
section 1, the pressure of the fluid is maximum and the velocity is
minimum. And at the section 2 , the velocity of the fluid is maximum
and the pressure is minimum.
 The pressure difference at the two section can be seen in the manometer
attached at both the sections.
 This pressure difference is used to calculate the rate flow of a fluid
flowing through a pipe.
Basic equations :
𝑅𝑚
H= (𝜌𝐴 − 𝜌𝐵)
𝜌𝐵

𝐴1 𝐴2
K= √2𝑔
2
√𝐴1 −𝐴2 2

𝐴𝐻
𝑄𝐴 =
𝑡

𝑄𝑇 = 𝐾√𝐻
𝑄𝐴
𝐶𝑉 =
𝑄𝑇

Observations :

s.no Manometer reading Volume of Time in sec Volumetric

fluid in litres flow rate
LHS RHS

1 3.2 -6.2 0.0125 17 7.35*10−4

2 5.2 -8.2 0.0125 14 8.9*10−4

3 1.5 -4.5 0.0125 23 5.4*10−4

Precautions :

 Drive out all the entrapped air from differential mercury

manometer
 Maintain a constant discharge before taking any reading
ORIFICE METER :
It is basically a type of flow meter used to measure flowrates of liquids
especially steam.

Principle :

When the liquid whose flow rate is to be determined is paased through

a orifice meter, there Is a drop in the pressure between inlet and outlet
of orifice meter

The drop pressure can be measured by differential pressure measuring

manometer

Construction :

It consists of mainly 3 parts : inlet section

Outlet section

Orifice plate
Procedure :

1. Fill in the sump tank with clean water

2. Keep the delivery valve closed
3. Switch ON the pump & open the delivery valve
4. Open the corresponding ball valve of the Orifice meter pipe line
5. Adjust the flow through the control valve of the pump
6. Open the corresponding ball valves fitted to Orifice meter tapings
7. Note down the differential head reading in the Manometer
8. Operate the (PVC Ball) valve to note down the collecting tank
reading against the known time and keep it open when the
readings are not taken
10.Change the flow rate & repeat the experiment

Basic formulas :

𝑅𝑚
H= (𝜌𝐴 − 𝜌𝐵)
𝜌𝐵

𝐴1 𝐴2
K= √2𝑔
√𝐴1 2 −𝐴2 2

𝐴𝐻
𝑄𝐴 =
𝑡

𝑄𝑇 = 𝐾√𝐻
𝑄𝐴
𝐶𝑜 =
𝑄𝑇
Observations :

s.no Manometer Volume of Time in sec Volumetric flow

reading fluid in litres rate

LHS RHS

1 86 79.4 0.0125 198 5.05*𝟏𝟎−𝟓

2 86.5 79.3 0.0125 90 1.09*𝟏𝟎−𝟒

PRECAUTIONS :

 Make sure that the orifice plate should not bend

 Drive out all the entrapped air from differential mercury
manometer
Factors effecting flowrate :

 Pressure
 Density
 Viscosity
 Roughness of the wall
 Friction factor
 Hydraulic diameter

RESULT :
Hence using the above two flowmeters , the flow rate of the fluid is
determined.