ORIFICE

(PART 3)
PREPARED BY:
ENGR. PRECIOUS PRINCESS T. SABA
Instructor
 UNSTEADY FLOW
o The flow through orifice is said to be steady only if the total head producing flow, H, is constant. The amount of
fluid being discharged for a time t can therefore be computed using the formula
Vol = Q t
where Q is the discharge, which is constant or steady.
o In some conditions, however, the head over an orifice, tube or weir may vary as the fluid flows out and thus
causing the flow to be unsteady.
Qin ≠ Qout

o Consider the tank shown in the figure to be supplied with a fluid (inflow) and
simultaneously discharging through an outlet.
 If Qin > Qout, the will rise
VARIABLE HEAD
 If Qout > Qin the head will fall.
o Suppose we are required to compute the time to lower the level from h1 to
h2 (assuming Qout > Qin), the amount of fluid which is lost in the tank will be
Where dV is the differential volume lost
dV = (Qin – Qout)dt over a differential time dt. The head over
𝑑𝑣
dt = 𝑄𝑖𝑛 −𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡 the outlet is h, then the level will drop dh,
thus, dV = Asdh, where As is the area of the
surface.
 Then,
𝐴𝑠𝑑ℎ
dt = 𝑄𝑖𝑛 −𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡

Integrating both sides,

𝒉𝟐 𝑨𝒔 𝒅𝒉
t= 𝒉𝟏 𝑸𝒊𝒏 −𝑸𝒐𝒖𝒕

When there is no inflow (Qin = 0), the formula becomes:

ℎ2 𝐴𝑠 𝑑ℎ
t= ℎ1 −𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡

Interchanging the limits to change the sign of the integrand:

ℎ1 𝐴𝑠 𝑑ℎ
t= ℎ2 𝑄𝑜𝑢𝑡

o If As is varying, it must be expressed

in terms of h.
 03
o For tanks with constant cross – sectional area (As) and the outflow (Qout) is
through an orifice or tube (with no inflow), the time for the head to change
from H1 to H2 is:
𝐻1 𝐴𝑠 𝑑𝐻
t= Ao = area of the orifice
𝐻2 𝐶𝐴𝑜 2𝑔𝐻
C = coefficient of discharge
g = acceleration due to gravity
𝐴𝑠 𝐻1 −1
t = 𝐻 2 dH As = area of surface
𝐶𝐴𝑜 2𝑔 𝐻2
𝟐𝑨𝒔
t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 )
𝑪𝑨𝒐 𝟐𝒈

o If liquid flows through a submerged orifice or tube connecting

two tanks as shown , the time for the head to change from H1 to H2
Volume lost is: 1
𝐴𝑠 𝐻1 𝐴𝑠1𝐴𝑠2 −2
Volume lost = Volume gain t= 𝐻 𝐴𝑠1+𝐴𝑠2
𝐻 dH
𝐶𝐴𝑜 2𝑔 2

𝟐 𝐀𝐬𝟏𝐀𝐬𝟐
Volume gain t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 )

team
𝐂𝐀𝐨 𝟐𝐠 𝐀𝐬𝟏+𝐀𝐬𝟐

Where:
As1 and As2 are the areas of
surface of liquids in the tanks at
any time. If As1 and As2 will vary, it
must be expresses in terms of H.
SAMPLE PROBLEM
1) A 1.5m – DIAMETER VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL TANK 3m HIGH CONTAINS 2.5m OF WATER. A 100mm DIAMETER
CIRCULAR SHARP – EDGED ORIFICE IS LOCATED AT ITS BOTTOM. ASSUME C =0.60
(A) HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO LOWER THE WATER LEVEL TO 1m DEEP AFTER OPENING THE ORIFICE?
(B) HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO EMPTY THE TANK?

Figure:
SOLUTION:
Given: AS 3m
tank: diameter = 1.5m 2.5m
height = 3m
height of water = 2.5m
orifice: diameter = 100mm = 0.100m
C = 0.60 After time t:
A o Since the cross – sectional area of the tank is constant
and there is no inflow, we can use the formula:
𝟐𝑨𝒔
t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 ) 3m
𝑪𝑨𝒐 𝟐𝒈
AS
initial head, H1= 2.5m
1.0m
head at time t , H2= 1m
 o We should first determine the value of Ao and As.
 Value of Ao:
𝜋
Ao = 4 ( 0.100)2 = 0.00785 m2
 Value of As:
𝜋
As = 4 ( 1.5)2 = 1.767 m2
o Solving for t:
𝟐𝑨𝒔
t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 )
𝑪𝑨𝒐 𝟐𝒈
𝟐(𝟏.𝟕𝟔𝟕)
t= ( 𝟐. 𝟓 - 𝟏. 𝟎 )
(𝟎.𝟔𝟎)(𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟓) 𝟐(𝟗.𝟖𝟏)
t = 98.4s
B o To empty the tank: o If the tank is empty, H2 = 0
o Solving for t:
𝟐𝑨𝒔
t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 )
𝑪𝑨𝒐 𝟐𝒈
3m 𝟐(𝟏.𝟕𝟔𝟕)
t= ( 𝟐. 𝟓 - 𝟎)
(𝟎.𝟔𝟎)(𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟓) 𝟐(𝟗.𝟖𝟏)
t = 267.83s
CE BOARD MAY 1999

2) AN OPEN CYLINDRICAL TANK 4m IN DIAMETER AND 10m HIGH CONTAINS 6m OF WATER AND 4m OF OIL
(SG=0.8) FIND THE TIME TO EMPTY THE TANK THROUGH A 100mm DIAMETER ORIFICE AT THE BOTTOM. ASSUME
Cc = 0.9 AND Cv = 0.98

SOLUTION:
Given: Figure:
tank: diameter = 4m As
height = 10m 4m
height of water = 6m oil
10m
height of oil = 4m
6m
orifice: diameter = 100mm = 0.100m
water
Cc = 0.90
Cv = 0.98
o Due to their densities, the figure
o Since the cross – sectional area of the tank is constant and would be like this. Given that the oil
there is no inflow, we can use the formula: has lower density than water.
𝟐𝑨𝒔
t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 )
𝑪𝑨𝒐 𝟐𝒈
o We have 2 layers or liquids, in order to determine the time to empty the tank we are going to consider
to stages: orifice draining the water and orifice draining the oil. Thus,
Total time to empty the tank = time to drain water + time to drain oil
o Water will be drained first since water is at the bottom of the tank.
o Remember the previous topics, “heads under various conditions”? We need first to convert the layers of
liquid into our reference liquid. This time we need to convert everything into water so that the right
value of H will be used.
As
h oil h in water
SG h 4m
hinwater = oil oil oil oil 3.2m 10m
SGwater 10m Oil (in terms of
(0.80)(4) water)
hinwater = 6m
1
hinwater = 3.2m water water 6m
o After time t, when all of the water’s already drained:

oil 3.2m 10m 10m

6m 3.2m
water Oil (in terms of
water)

Initial head, H1 = 9.2m

Headt after time t, H2 = 3.2m
o We should determine the value of Ao and As. o Solving for t:
𝟐𝑨𝒔
 Value of Ao: t= ( 𝑯𝟏 - 𝑯𝟐 )
𝜋 𝑪𝑨𝒐 𝟐𝒈
Ao = 4 ( 0.100)2 = 0.00785 m2
𝟐(𝟏𝟐.𝟓𝟔𝟔𝟒)
 Value of As: tw = ( 𝟗. 𝟐- 𝟑. 𝟐)
(𝟎.𝟔𝟎)(𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟓) 𝟐(𝟗.𝟖𝟏)
𝜋
As = 4 ( 4)2 = 12.5664 m2 tw = 1019.3s

o After time t, when all of the oil’s already drained: Initial head, H1 = 4m
Headt after time t, H2 = 0
o Solving for toil:
𝟐(𝟏𝟐.𝟓𝟔𝟔𝟒)
t oil= ( 𝟒- 𝟎)
(𝟎.𝟔𝟎)(𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟓) 𝟐(𝟗.𝟖𝟏)
t = 1638.2s
10m
empty
T = tw + toil
Oil 4m T = 1019.3 + 1638.2
T = 2657.3s
3) A TANK WITH A SHAPE OF A FRUSTUM OF A CONE , WITH UPPER BASE DIAMETER 2.5m, 1.25m – DIAMETER AT
THE BOTTOM, AND IDS 4m HIGH. THE 100mm – DIAMETER SHARP – EDGED ORIFICE WITH COEFFICIENT OF
DISCHARGE OF 0.60 IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM. IF FULLY FILLED WITH WATER, DETERMINE THE TIME TO EMPTY
THE TANK IN MINUTES.

SOLUTION:
Given: Figure:
tank: diameter (upper) = 2.5m
diameter (bottom) = 1.25m
height = 4m 4m
height of water = 6m
height of oil = 4m
orifice: diameter = 100mm = 0.100m
C = 0.60
o The cross – sectional area of the tank is varying (the area of
the surface of the water changes with respect to its height).
We can use the general formula
𝐻1 𝐴𝑠 𝑑𝐻
t= 𝐻2 𝐶𝐴𝑜 2𝑔𝐻
o We have to express As in terms of H since the area of the water surface varies. To find the function of
As at any height of the liquid: 2.5m Considering liquid at any
1.25m head H:
0.625m 0.625m

x
4m 4m
H X – 0.625 0.625m
4m
0.625m
1.25m Using similar triangles: H
𝑥−0.625 0.625
o We should determine the value of Ao and As. =
𝐻 4
0.625𝐻
 Value of Ao: x = 4 + 0.625
𝜋
Ao = 4 ( 0.100)2 = 0.00785 m2 x = 0.15625H + 0.625
0.625m
 Value of As:
As = 𝜋𝑥2
Isolating half of the section:
As = 𝜋(0.15625𝐻 + 0.625)2
o For the limits:
initial head, H1 = 4m
head at time t, H2 = 0

4 𝜋(0.15625𝐻+0.625)2 𝑑𝐻
t=
0 (0.60)(0.00785) 2(9.81)𝐻
Integrating using calculator: Tips: if your calculator displays “math error”, just replace 0 by any
t = 439.04s number close to zero but not equal to zero, as your lower limit (ex.
0.000001). The closest to zero, the smallest the discrepancy (with
regards to the final answer). The calculator probably is having a
hard time computing 0 on the denominator as a substitute to
𝐻