NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CALICUT

FLUID MECHANICS AND FLUID MACHINERY

LABORATORY

Printed Lab Record

For

CALIBRATION OF VENTURIMETER
Aim
To calibrate venturimeter and to study the variation of coefficient of discharge with
Reynolds number

Introduction
A venturimeter is a device used for measurement of discharge of a fluid flowing through
a pipe. This is one of the applications of Bernoulli’s equation. It consists of three parts:

1) Short converging part

2) Throat
3) Divergent part

New Term
 Throat : This is the section in venturimeter having lowest cross sectional area

Specifications
1) Diameter of pipe =
2) Throat diameter =
3) Cross sectional area of measuring tank =
4) Specific gravity of mercury =

Experimental Set-up

Venturimeter

Mercury Manometer

Flow Direction

Measurement Tank
 The experiment set up consists of venturimeter held in place between two pipe flanges. A
manometer having mercury as a manometric fluid is connected across the venturimeter (i.e. at
the entrance & at the throat section). This will measure the head difference at inlet & at throat
which will be indication of rate of flow rate through the pipe.

Working formulae
𝑄
1) Coefficient of discharge 𝐶𝑑 = 𝑄 𝑎
𝑡ℎ

Where 𝑄𝑎 = Actual flow rate

a1 ×a2
And Qth = ×√2gH
√a1 2 −a2 2

2) Head in terms of water H= h (S-1)

Where, h = Difference in the level of manometric fluid
S = Specific gravity of manometric fluid

3) For calibration,

Qa = k.H m

Here, we have to determine value of constant ‘k’ & power ’m’ by regression and graphical
method.

a. Graphical method:
Applying log to above equation, we get,
ln 𝑄𝑎 = ln k + m*ln H
Comparing this equation with equation of line y = mx + C
So our y = ln 𝑄𝑎 & x = ln H

Now, draw the graph ln 𝑄𝑎 Vs ln H, you will get a straight line having slope ‘m’ & y intercept
C = ln k. By this we will get constant ‘k’ & power of H ‘m’.

b. Regression method:
Considering y = ln 𝑄𝑎 & x = ln H, following formula can be used
∑y = m.∑x + n.C where, n= No. of observations
∑x.y = m.∑𝑥 2 +C. ∑x
After equating values & solving these two equation simultaneously, we can get value of ‘m’ & C
= ln k. By this find value of ‘k’.

Reynolds number: Re = ρVD/μ

where, μ is the dynamic viscosity of water

V is the velocity and D is inlet diameter

Experimental Procedure

Turn on flow control valve &
set it at particular flow rate.
(Suggestion: Start from low
flow rate)
Close the drain valve &
measure the time required
for 5 cm rise in water level in
measuring tank by stopwatch.
(After this open the drain
valve)

Now change the flow rate &

Measure the manometric
repeat the experiment
readings & note them down.
number of times.

Sample Calculation
Observational Table

Time
Manometric readings Water required 𝑽
head for 5 cm 𝑸𝒂 𝑸𝒕𝒉 (m/s) ln𝑸𝒂 lnH ln
Sr.No. 𝑪𝒅 𝒙𝟐 x*y Re
Left Right Difference(h) (H) rise in (𝒎𝟑 /s) (𝒎𝟑 /s) (y) (x) Re

(cm) (cm) (m) (m) water

level (s)

∑y= ∑x= ∑𝒙𝟐 = ∑xy=

Graphs
 𝑪𝒅 𝐯𝐬 𝒍𝒏 𝑹𝒆

 𝒍𝒏 𝑸 𝐯𝐬 𝒍𝒏 𝑯

 𝑸 𝐯𝐬 𝑯

Results

Venturimeter

𝐂𝐝 (Avg.)

Calibration result by regression method 𝑄𝑎 = _________𝐻 −−−−−−−

Calibration result by graphical method 𝑄𝑎 = _________𝐻 −−−−−−

Inference