Experiment No.

4: Orificemeter
AIM: To determine the coefficient of discharge using orifice meter.

APPARATUS:

. Measuring tank
2. A pipe line with an orifice meter
3. Tapping with ball valves are provided at inlet and outlet of Orifice meter and these are

connectcd to a manometer
4. A constant steady supply of water with a means of varying the flow rate using a

monoblock pump.
5. Stop watch for the measurement of flow rate by collecting a fixed quantity of water.

THEORY:
Orifice meter (Figure 1) is a simple device used for measuring the discharge through
pipes. By reducing the cross sectional area of the flow passage, a pressure difference between the
two sections before and after the orifice is developed and the measurement of the pressure
difference enables the determination of the discharge through the pipe. However, an orifice
meter is a cheaper arrangement for discharge measurement through pipes and its installation
requires a smaller length as compared to a Venturimeter. As such, where the space is limited, the

orifice meter may be used for the measurement of discharge through pipes.
 r Fue

p
D

Figure 1. Schematic of Orificemcter

the bottom ofa thin walled tank or vessel. The
An orifice is an opening in the side or

opening serves to discharge the liquid ntained in the tank. Orifices can be classificd on the

basis of their shapes, discharge conditions and shape of the upstream edge. A sharp edged orifice
has the bevelled side facing the downstream so that there is a minimum contact with the fluid

sharp edged orifice

flowing through the orifice and consequently minimum frictional effects. A

is considered as a standard orifice and it is mostly used for the discharge measurement.

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:

1. Orifice meter is fitted in a long pipe with pressure tapping at appropriate locations.
2. A single column manometer or U-tube manometer with manometric liquid is used to
record differential pressure in the flow.
3. Discharge collection tank and stop clock.
4. Make appropriate arrangement for the inflow and outflow of water to/from the

experiment set-up.

PROCEDURE:

1. Fill in the sump tank with clean water.

2. Ensure that ali the valves are closed before switching on the pump.
3. After switching on the pump open the bypass delivery valve.
4. Open the corresponding valve of the orifice meter pipeline.

5. Adjust the flow rate through bypass valve of the pump.

 6. Open the coresponding pressure tapping.
7. Notc down the differcntial head
reading in
the manometer. Expcl if any air is there, by
opening the drain cocks provided with the manometer.
8. Actual discharge is dctermincd from the volume of watcr
collected in thc colleting tank
per unit time. Ensure that the bottom of the tank is closed at
the time of collection.
9. Repeat the experiment for different flow rates (by opening by-pass valve).

CALCULATIONS:
Area of measuring tank, A =
0.12 m
Acceleration due to gravity, g=9.81 m/sec
Diameter of the inlet pipe of orifice meter, D =
25 mm

Diameter of jet at vena-contracta, d =

12.5mm

Sample Table:
S.
No.
Time taken
for 10cm
Differential Head Loss of Head Actual Theoretical Coefficient
of water
(cm of Hg (m of water) discharge Discharge of discharge
h2 | H=h-h2 Qa
rise (T sec) 12.6H Qth Ca
h (m/sec) (m/sec)
100

Theoretical discharge is given by,

a,a2/2gh
Qth a-a
Where,
h Loss of Hcad =

(12.6 x H) m of water
H, Differential head in em of Hg.
a, Area of the orifice (T/4) x D* m
a, Area of jet at vena contracta (n/4) x d* m
 Actual discharge,
AR
Qa 100T
wherc,
A- Area of collecting tank in m

level in the tank in

cm

R- Rise of water
in sec.
T-Time water in the tank
of collection of
the Orifice
the fluid flows through
as
loss of energy
there is always a
In actual practice theoretical discharge. The
discharge will be less than
the actual
account of which
meter, on a factor Ca called
multiplying the theoretical discharge by
obtained by
actual discharge can be ratio between the actual1
Orifice meter, which is defined as the
of the
the Coefficient of discharge
of the Orifice meter.
discharge and the theoretical discharge

Qa
CaQt
Sample Calculations:

Theoretical Coefficient
Actual
Differential Head Loss of Head of
S. Time taken
(m of water) discharge Discharge
for 10 cm (cm of He) Qth discharge
No.
of water h h2 | H=h-h2
12.6H
Q (m/sec) Ca
(m/sec)
rise (T sec) 100

3.987 x 10 0.67
50.4 2.66 x 10
45 2-2 4 4.883 x 10 0.68
75.6 13.33 x 10|
2 36 3-36 3.37x 10|
5.639x 10 0.66
4 4 8 100.8
32
AR/T

0.12x0.1
45
2.667 x 10 m'/sec

4.908 x 10m
aj
1.227 x 10m
a2
50.4 m
h
 a y2gh
Qch
th a- a
Qh-3.987 x 10 m'/sec
Ca 0.67

PRECAUTIONS:

1. There should be no air bubbles entrapped while taking the reading ofthe manometer
2. Each reading should be taken only when steady state conditions are reached.

GRAPH:

1. A calibration curve between differential pressure head H on X-axis and actual

discharge Q. on Y-axis is drawn.

2. Cais determined by plotting the following graphs:

(a) a Vs h

(b) Qa Vs Qrh

RESULT:

1. Mean value of Ca from computations

2. Ca from Q. Vs Vh graph
3. Ca from graph

VIVA-VOCE Model Questions:

1. How are the types of orifice classified?

Ans: Concentric orifice plate, eccentric orifice plate, segment orifice plate and quadrant

edge orifice plate.

2. What is an eccentric orifice platec?

Ans: An eccentric orifice plate is one in which the centres of the plate and the orifice do

not coincide.
. Can downstream pressure recovered in an orificemeter?

Ans: No, downstream pressure cannot be recovered in an orificemeter.

4. How is the actual discharge obtained in this experiment?

Ans: The actual discharge is found by calculating the volume filled in a tank of given

dimensions divided by time measured.

5. What are the parameters on which the theoretical discharge depends?

Ans:The theoretical discharge depends on areas of inlet and throat and head loss.

6. What is discharge of a pipe? What are its units?

Ans:Discharge is the volume of fluid flowing through a pipe cross section per unit time.
Its units are m/s

7. What would be the units for mass flow rate, volume flow rate, discharge coefficient?

Ans: kg/s, m'/s, dimensionless

8. How is the pressure head of flow determined using mercury U-Tube manometer?
Ans: By applying the hydrostatic equation before and after the orifice.

9. How would you determine "Ci' from the graph Qa and vh?
Ans: We know the relation between Qh and vh as Q. =4NgR
a-
The relation Q. = Ca Qn is also known. Therefore, Q, = 4 2 g f . After getting the

Va -a
slope of the line plotted between Q. and vh from the graph a s / = K , we can find

C-Kya-g2

10. What is the basie principle on which a orificemeter works?

 Ans: The basic principle of working of orilicemeter is mass conservation and energy

conservation principles.

11. The formation of the vapour and air pockets in the liquid ultimately results in a
phenomenon that is called
Ans: Cavitation

12. The pressure at throat section of venturimeter should be. the vapour pressure of
the flowing liquid.
Ans:Above

13. A U-Tube manometer is used for mcasuring the difference between thc at

section and 2.
Ans:Pressures

14. What is turndown ratio?

Ans: Turndown ratio is or rangeability, indicates the range in which a flow meter or
controller can accurately measure the fluid. In other words, it's simply the high end of a
measurement range compared to the low end, expressed in a ratio and is calculated using
a simple formula.

15. What is the typical value of turndown ratio for an orifice meter?
Ans: 3:1

16. What is boundary layer separation and where is it most expected to happen in a?
Ans:When the low momentum layer near the boundary (boundary layer) separates due to
adverse pressure gradient, it is called boundary layer separation.

17. What is the difference between a manometer and a barometer?

Ans: Manometer measures the pressure difference between two points whereas a
barometer is used only for measuring atmospheric pressure.
I8. What is vena contracta'?
Ans:Vena t 'ontracta is the smallest eross section of the low. It is smaller than the
smallest pipe eross section because the
flow does not follow the contour of the
pipe but bccause of momentum, its cross section enclosing
reduces further to a smaller size called
as ihe vena contracta.

19. What is contraction

coefficient?
Ans:Coetticient of contraction is the ratio of area of cross
section to the area of vena
contracta
20. What is the value of
coefficient of contraction for a orificemeter?
Ans:C Coctficicnt of contraction =
0.64

21. Why is the coefticient of contraction for a orifice meter less

than one whereas that for
venturimeter is greater than one equal to one?
Ans: Due to the
gradual contraction of the converging passage, there is no vena
contracta
formed, therefore the coefficient of contraction is one for a
venturimeter, whereas in an
orificemeter, there is a small vena contracta formed.

22. What the situations where you would use either an

are
orificemeter or a venturimeter?
Ans: An orifice meter is a
cheaper arrangement for discharge measurement through
and its installation requires a smaller
pipes
length compared to
as a Venturimeter. As such,
where the space is limited, the orifice meter may be used for the
measurement of
discharge through pipes.

1
 Onu mitu

Oiumubta

9
Onu