Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University

LABORATORY REPORT EVALUATION SHEET

Laboratory Course: CH E 425 Schedule: 7:30 – 10:30 MW

Experiment Number:
Experiment Title: Calibration of a Venturi Meter
Group Number: 4 Date Performed:
Group Members: Hafalla, Carlo B. Date Submitted:
Jacildo, Benjamin Luke III V.
Imperial, Kenneioh Elisar N.
Goldberg, Kate H.
Jucar, Johara Majanil P.
Licudine, Graciela Jane H.

Total
Contents Remarks Score
Points
I. Abstract 10
II. Chapter 1: Introduction 15
III. Chapter 2: Design and Methodology 10
IV. Chapter 3: Results and Discussion 20
Chapter 4: Conclusions and
V. 10
Recommendations
VI. References 5
VII. Appendices
a. List and Uses of Apparatus
b. Definition of Terms 15
c. Computations
d. Graph
e. Documentation
Table of Contents/ List of Tables/ List of
VIII. 5
Figures
IX. Format and Neatness 10
TOTAL POINTS 100 TOTAL SCORE:

Evaluated by: Engr. John Kristoffer Robleza Date:

 Calibration of a Venturi Meter

A Research Study Presented to the

Faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

by

Hafalla, Carlo B.

Jacildo, Benjamin Luke III V.

Imperial, Kenneioh Elisar N.

Goldberg, Kate H.

Jucar, Johara Majanil P.

Licudine, Graciela Jane H.

April 2019
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank each member of the group for their participation in the

performance of the experiment. We would also like to extend our gratitude to our instructor

Engr. John Kristoffer Robleza for his utmost guidance towards us and for ensuring our safety

throughout the experiment. We would also like to thank the School of Saint Louis University

for providing the materials and the venue for our experiment. Most of all, we would like to

thank God for inspiring, guiding and protecting us.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS iii

LIST OF TABLES iv

LIST OF FIGURES v

ABSTRACT vi

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1

Chapter 2: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 3

Chapter 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5

Chapter 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 7

REFERENCES 8

APPENDICES 9

Appendix A 10

Appendix B 11

Appendix C 12

Appendix D 14

Appendix E 15

iii
 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Data on Flow through Venturi Meter 6

iv
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Venturi meter 2

Figure 2. Fluid Flow Apparatus 4

Figure 3. Variation of head loss with respect to flowrate 14

Figure 4. The Fluid Flow Apparatus used in the experiment 15

Figure 5. Controlling the valve to set the volumetric flowrate 15

Figure 6. Measurement of the fluid height in the manometer. 16

Figure 7. Venturi in the fluid flow apparatus 16

v
 ABSTRACT

The mechanism of Venturi meter is based on the Venturi effect – the reduction of
fluid pressure that results when a fluid runs through a constricted section of pipe. In the
experiment performed, the Venturi meter was calibrated by determining its constant
otherwise known as discharge coefficient. This coefficient is the ratio of the actual discharge
to the theoretical discharge i.e., the ratio of the mass flowrate at the end of an actual to that of
an ideal nozzle. The actual mass flowrate was calculated using the volumetric flowrate and
density of the liquid. While the theoretical mass flowrate was computed using certain
parameters – the head loss, diameter ratio of the pipe with the throat. Further, the experiment
showed the relation of headloss with flowrate. A graph of these two parameters showed a
direct relation between them, i.e., as the flowrate increased the headloss also increased.
Keywords: Venturi meter, head loss, discharge coeffiecient, nozzle

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 1

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION

Venturi meters are flow measurement instruments that has a converging conical inlet,

a cylindrical throat and a diverging recovery cone. It has no projections into the fluid, no

sharp corners and no sudden changes in contour.

Increase in velocity and decrease in pressure are caused by the converging inlet

section that decreases the area of the fluid stream. In the center of the cylindrical throat

where the pressure will be at its lowest value, low pressure can be deduced. This is where

neither the pressure nor the velocity will be changing. As the fluid enters the diverging

section the pressure is largely recovered lowering the velocity of the fluid.

When a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe, the pressure of the fluid is

being reduced. This is called the Venturi effect . The fluid velocity must increase through the

constriction to satisfy the equation of continuity, while its pressure must decrease due to

conservation of energy: the gain in kinetic energy is balanced by a drop in pressure or a

pressure gradient force.

Due to Venturi effect, an equation for the drop in pressure may be derived from a

combination of Bernoulli’s principle and the equation of continuity. The equation for venturi

meter is obtained by applying Bernoulli equation and equation of continuity assuming an

incompressible flow of fluids through manometer tubes.

In this experiment, venturi meter was utilized. The objective of this experiment is to

calibrate the venturi meter, measure Rm using a differential manometer, and deduce the head

loss.

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Differential manometer is used to measure the pressure in the flow through pipe and it

is mounted between inlet pipe and throat. We can use different pressure gauges in place of

differential manometer to measure the pressure and different sections. The pressure gauges

are mounted at inlet and throat of the venturimeter. The diverging section is not used for

measuring the discharge because at this section flow separation may occur. When fluid flow

through the venture meter then pressure difference is created which measured by the

differential manometer.

Figure 1. Venturi Meter

The working of venturimeter is based on the Bernoulli’s principle. As the velocity

increases pressure decreases. In the convergent region, as the area and pressure decreases the

velocity increases and has a favourable pressure gradient. In the throat region area and

pressure are constant and the velocity is also constant and pressure gradient is zero. The

decrease in the pressure in between the inlet and throat is measured with the help of

differential manometer. The value of height of mercury in the manometer which is obtained

from difference of pressure heads is used to calculate discharge by using Bernoulli’s

equation.

2
 3

3
 4

Chapter 2

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

The isolating valves other than the pipe containing the venturi meter were closed. The

design and construction of the apparatus were contemplated on in order to assess the method

of operation. The distance between the piezometer stations and the inside diameter of the

venturi meter (especially the throat) were measured. Zero heights of water in the piezometer

were measured with the system completely filled with water but no water flowing. It was

ensured that the isolating valve of the selected pipe was fully open and the control valve

above the pump was closed. The pump was started and was carefully opened until all the air

is displaced from the pipeline, then, the control valve was closed and mercury manometer

was calibrated to zero. The control valves ware operated to give successively higher flow

rates, starting from 130 gph to the limits of the venture piezometer. Water temperature was

measured several times during the experiment. Rate of flow and head loss across the venturi

meter were calculated for each data obtained. Calibration curves were plotted for the meter

on a rectangular coordinate paper in terms of pressure drop vs. flow rate. Value of the venturi

constant was computed. Experimentally determined venturi contant was compared with the

generally accepted value of venturi constant.

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 5

Figure 2. Fluid Flow Apparatus

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 6

Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Temperature : 23.20C ( 296.35 K) C1 : 150 mm D1 : 47.7465 mm

C2 : 75 mm D2 : 23.8782 mm
ρH2O : 997.3217 kg/m3

ρHg : 13568.5751 kg/m3

Table 1. Data on Flow through Venturi Meter

Flowrate Rm Headloss
Venturi Constant
(gph) (mm Hg) (Pa)
130 3 369.4479 0.3435
230 9 1108.3436 0.3509
330 16 1970.8885 0.3776
430 27 3325.0307 0.3788
530 39 4802.8220 0.3884

The experimental determination of the head losses along a pipe containing the venturi

meter was accomplished using the principle of hydrostatic equilibrium whereas the

determination of the venturi constant was accomplished using an empirical formula relating

operation and fluid variables.

Table 1 summarizes the data on the recorded manometer readings, experimental head

loss in the venturi meter and the calculated venturi constant at the corresponding flowrates

ranging from 130 gph to 530 gph, increasing at an increment of 100 gph.

The measured manometer readings at increasing flowrates were increasing from 3, 9, 16,

27 to 39 mm Hg, respectively.

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 7

The experimental head losses were calculated using the hydrostatic equilibrium formula

g
ΔP=Rm⋅ ρ −ρ
gc ( Hg H 2 O ) which gave increasing values of 369.4479, 1108.3436,

1970.8885, 3325.0307 to 4802.8220 Pa, respectively. It can be observed that the head losses

increases with increasing flowrate and manometer reading, consequently. This relation of

flowrate and headloss was depicted on Figure 3 on page 14 which represent a positively

sloping curve. Also, with a significant increase in flow rate or velocity, pressure drop is

expected to decrease which is evident from Bernoulli’s principle of mechanical energy:

Pr essure Head + Potential Head + Velocity Head + Efficiency = Frictional Losses .

The venturi constant represents the head between the entrance and throat section depends

upon the geometric parameters of a given venturi. It was calculated using the defined formula

q1 ρ1
C=
2 g c ΔPρ1
γA 2
√ 1−β 4 wherein Y is 1 for liquids and β is d2/d1 which gave values of 0.3435,

0.3500, 0.3776, 0.3788 and 0.3884, respectively. The calculated venturi constants were quite

constant and precise even with significant increase in flowrates as it takes into account the

energy loss between two sections and is dependent on Reynolds number which were

proportional on each trial.

From this experiment, the venturi effect was observed, wherein with constant mechanical

energy, the flowrate of a fluid passing through a constricted area will increase and its static

7
 8

pressure will decrease. And this effect utilizes both principles of continuity and conservation

of mechanical energy.

8
 9

Chapter 4
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The summarized data is Chapter III for the calibration of the Venturi Meter showed

the relationships of the flowrate to the manometer reading, head loss and venturi constant.

With an increasing flowrate, which starts at 130 gph and ends with 530 gph with a

100-gph increment, the manometer reading increases. Therefore, the flowrate has a direct

relationship with the manometer reading.

Second observation is that the head loss, measured in Pascals, increases with an

increasing flowrate. Like the flowrate – manometer reading relationship, the flowrate has a

direct relationship with the head loss.

Lastly, the venturi constant calculated slightly increases with an increasing flowrate.

With a significant increase in flowrate, however, the venturi constants calculated for each are

quite precise. Therefore, the venturi constant of the fluid flow apparatus falls around 0.3.

Minimal differences can be observed with the calculation of the venturi constant

which may be due to inaccuracy of the fluid flowrate establishment and manometer reading.

Moreover, room conditions are not in ideal state.

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 10

REFERENCES

Fluid friction apparatus. Tecquipment Academia. Retrieved April 22, 2019 from

https://www.tecquipment.com/fluid-friction-apparatus

Helmenstine, A. (August 2017). Manometer definition. ThoughtCo. Retrieved March 15,

2019 from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-manometer-605877

n.a. (June 2018). What is venturimeter? How it works? Mech4study. Retrieved April 22,

2019 from https://www.mech4study.com/2018/06/what-is-venturimeter-how-

it-works.html

n.a. (November 2018). Venturi meters. Codecogs. Retrieved April 22, 2019 from

https://www.codecogs.com/library/engineering/fluid_mechanics/pipes/venturi

-meters.php

Reader-Harris, M. (February 2011). Venturi meters. Thermopedia. Retrieved on April 22,

2019 from http://www.thermopedia.com/content/1241/

Valve. Oxford dictionaries. Retrieved April 22, 2019 from

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/valve

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APPENDICES

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APPENDIX A

List of Apparatus

 Fluid Flow Apparatus – This equipment is used to study the flow, flow measurement

techniques and head losses in a wide variety of pipes and fittings.

 Mercury manometer – A device in which the instrument fluid inside it is mercury

and is primarily used to record or control difference of pressure or fluid flow.

 Thermometer – An instrument for measuring temperature, often a sealed glass tube

that contains a column of fluid, as mercury, that expands and contracts, or rises and

falls, with temperature changes, the temperature being read where the top of the

column coincides with a calibrated scale marked on the tube or its frame.

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APPENDIX B

Definition of Terms

 Venturi meter – This is a flow measurement instrument which use a converging section

of pipe to give an increase in the flow velocity and a corresponding pressure drop from

which the flowrate can be deduced.

 Venturi constant – Otherwise known as the coefficient of discharge, this is the ratio of

the actual discharge to the theoretical discharge, that is, the ratio of the mass flowrate at

the discharge end of the nozzle to that of an ideal nozzle which expands an identical

working fluid from the same initial conditions to the same exit pressures.

 Throat of the Venturi meter – This is the converging portion of the device which has

lesser area compared to the main inlet area. This is also the downstream part of the

equipment.

 Flow rate – Also known as the volumetric flow rate, it is the volume of fluid which

passes per unit time; usually represented by the symbol Q.

 Head loss – This is the equivalent fluid column height where pressure losses are

commonly expressed in the analysis of piping systems.

 Valve – A device used for controlling the passage of fluid or air through a pipe, duct, etc.,

especially an automatic device allowing movement in one direction only.

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Appendix C

Computations

DATA: TH2O = 22.0571 ̊C

ρH2O = 997. 3217
kg
22.0571CO .4297 Paime ; usually represented ipment . area compared ¿ themain inlet area
m3
DA = 0.0408 m
DB = 0.0179 m

HEAD LOSS, ΔP (Pa)

g
ΔP = Rm (ρHg−ρH 2 O)
gc

130 gal/hr: ΔP = ( 9.811 kgN )( 1000

3
m ) (13563.5751
kg
m3
−997.3217
kg
m3
) = 369.4479

Pa

230 gal/hr: ΔP = ( 9.811 kgN )( 9/1000m ) (13563.5751 mkg3 −997.3217 m3kg ) =

1108.3436 Pa

330 gal/hr: ΔP = ( 9.811 kgN )( 16 /1000 m ) (13563.5751 mkg3 −997.3217 m3kg ) =

1970.3885 Pa

430 gal/hr: ΔP = ( 9.811 kgN )( 27 /1000m ) (13563.5751 mkg3 −997.3217 m3kg ) =

3325.0307 Pa

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 15

530 gal/hr: ΔP = ( 9.811 kgN )( 39 /1000 m ) (13563.5751 m3kg −997.3217 m3kg ) =

4802.8220 Pa

VENTURI CONSTANT

CvSb 2 gc ( ∆ P )
Q=
√ 1−β 4 √ρ

130 gal/hr:

( π4 )( 4.4762 x 10 kg m

√
−4 2
3
Cv ) 2(1 ) ( 369.4479 Pa )
gal 3.785 L 1 m 1hr N s2
[ 130
hr][ 1 gal ][ [ ]
1000 L 3600 s
]=
√ 1−( .5 ) 4
997.3217 3
kg
m

Cv = 0.3435
230 gal/hr:

( π4 )( 4.4762 x 10 kg m

√
−4 2
3
Cv ) 2(1 ) ( 1108.3436 Pa )
gal 3.785 L 1 m 1hr N s2
[ 230
hr][ ][ [ ]
1 gal 1000 L 3600 s
]=
√ 1−( .5 ) 4
997.3217 3
kg
m

Cv = 0.3505
330 gal/hr:

( π4 )( 4.4762 x 10 kg m

√
−4 2
3
Cv ) 2(1 ) ( 1970.3885 Pa )
gal 3.785 L 1 m 1hr N s2
[ 330
hr][ 1 gal ][ [ ]
1000 L 3600 s
]=
√ 1−( .5 ) 4
997.3217 3
kg
m

Cv = 0.3776
430 gal/hr:
π
( 4.4762 x 10−4 ) 2(1 kg m2 ) ( 3325.0307 Pa )

√
2

gal 3.785 L 1m 3
1 hr
Cv ()
4 Ns
[ 430
hr ][ ][ [ ]
1 gal 1000 L 3600 s
]=
√1−( .5 ) 4
997.3217 3
kg
m

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 16

Cv = 0.3788
530 gal/hr:
π
( 4.4762 x 10−4 ) 2(1 kg m2 ) ( 4802.8220 Pa )

√
2

gal 3.785 L 1 m 3
1hr
Cv ()
4 Ns
[ 530
hr][ 1 gal ][ [
1000 L 3600 s]]=
√ 1−( .5 ) 4
997.3217 3
kg
m

Cv = 0.3884

APPENDIX D
Graph

Figure 3. Variation of head loss with respect to flowrate

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APPENDIX E
Documentation

Figure 4. The Fluid Flow Apparatus used in the experiment.

Figure 5. Controlling the valve to set the volumetric flowrate.

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Figure 6. Measurement of the fluid height in the manometer

Figure 7. Venturi in the fluid flow apparatus

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