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Hydraulics Lab Expt Orifice Meter

Water Engineering 1 (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)

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HYDRAULIC LAB EXPERIMENT

ON
ORIFICE METER

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Objective
To determine the coefficient of velocity and coefficient of discharge of two different sizes
orifices.

Scope
By measurement of the jet issuing from an orifice in the side of a reservoir under steady
flow conditions (constant reservoir head).

Equipment
In order to complete the demonstration we need a number of pieces of equipment.
 The Hydraulics Bench which allows us to measure flow by timed volume
collection.
 The Orifice and Jet Apparatus.
 A Stopwatch to allow us to determine the flow rate of water.

Technical Data
The following dimensions from the equipment are used in the appropriate calculations. If
required these values may be checked as part of the experimental procedure and replaced
with your own measurements.
Diameter of small orifice = 0.003 m
Diameter of large orifice = 0.006 m
Surface area of reservoir, AR = 1.832 × 10-2 m2

Procedure

Equipment Set Up
Position the reservoir across the channel on the top of the hydraulic bench and level the
reservoir by the adjustable feet using a spirit level on the base. Remove the orifice plate by
releasing the two knurled nuts and check the orifice diameter; take care not to lose the O-
ring seal. Replace the orifice and connect the reservoir inflow tube to the bench flow
connector. Position the overflow connecting tube so that it will discharge into the
volumetric tank; make sure that this tube will not interfere with the trajectory of the jet
flowing from the orifice.
Turn on the pump and open the bench valve gradually. As the water level rises in the
reservoir towards the top of the overflow tube, adjust the bench valve to give a water level
of 2 to 3 mm above the overflow level. This will ensure a constant head and produce a
steady flow through the orifice.

Taking a Set of Results

The methods for obtaining results in the two exercises are described separately.

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EXERCISE 1: Determination of Coefficient of Velocity from Jet

Trajectory

Theory
From the application of Bernoulli's Equation (conservation of mechanical energy for a
steady, incompressible, frictionless flow), the ideal orifice outflow velocity at the jet of the
vena contracta (narrowest diameter) is
Vi  2 gh

where, h is the height of fluid above the orifice.

The actual velocity is

V  Cv 2 gh (1)

C v is the coefficient of velocity, which allows for the effects of viscosity and, therefore
Cv  1 . C v can be determined from the trajectory of the jet using the following argument:
Neglecting the effect of air resistance, the horizontal component of the jet velocity can be
assumed to remain constant so that in time, t the horizontal distance travelled,
x  Vt (2)

Because of the action of gravity, the fluid also acquires a downward vertical (y-direction)
component of velocity. Hence, after the same time, t, (i.e. after travelling a distance x) the
jet will have a y displacement given by
t2
yg
2
which can be rearranged to give:

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2y
t (3)
g
Substitution for t from Eq (3) into Eq (2) and for V from Eq (1) into Eq (2) yields:
x
Cv 
2 yh

Hence, for steady flow conditions, i.e, constant h, C v can be determined from the x and y
coordinates of the jet. A graph of x plotted against yh will have a slope of 2C v . So, Cv
= slope/2 will be the answer.

Procedure
Position the overflow tube to give a high head. Note the value of the head. The jet
trajectory is obtained by using the needles mounted on the vertical backboard to follow the
profile of the jet. Release the securing screw for each needle in turn and move the needle
until its point is just immediately above the jet and re-tighten the screw. Attach a sheet of
paper to the back-board between the needle and board and secure it in place with the
clamp provided so that its upper edge is horizontal. Mark the location of the top of each
needle on the paper. Note the horizontal distance from the plane of the orifice (taken as x
= 0) to the co-ordinate point marking the position of the first needle. This first co-ordinate
point should be close enough to the orifice to treat it as having the value y = 0. Thus y
displacements are measured relative to this position. Estimate the likely experimental
errors in each of the quantities measured.

Repeat this test for a low reservoir head.

Then repeat the above procedure for the second orifice.

Plot yh vs x and determine the slope of the graph. The velocity coefficient C v is equal
to the average of slope/2.

Hint: Plot the above yh in the x-axis and x in the y-axis.

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Sample plots

So, Cv = 1.8481 ÷ 2 = 0.924

So, Cv = 1.794 ÷ 2 = 0.897

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Data Sheet Date: _______________

Student Name & ID: ____________________________________________

1. Orifice diameter, d (m) = 0.003 m

Sl Head, h (m) Horizontal Vertical distance, yh (m) Cv (obtain from
distance, x y (m) slope of graph)
high low (m) high low high low high low
1 0.0135
2 0.0635
3 0.1135
4 0.1635
5 0.2135
6 0.2635
7 0.3135
8 0.3635

2. Orifice diameter, d (m) = 0.006 m

Sl Head, h (m) Horizontal Vertical distance, yh (m) Cv (obtain from
distance, x y (m) slope of graph)
high low (m) high low high low high low

1 0.0135
2 0.0635
3 0.1135
4 0.1635
5 0.2135
6 0.2635
7 0.3135
8 0.3635

Signature of the Lab Demonstrator:

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EXERCISE 2: Determination of Coefficient of Discharge under

Constant Head

Theory
From the application of Bernoulli's Equation (conservation of mechanical energy for a
steady, incompressible, frictionless flow), the ideal orifice outflow velocity at the jet of the
vena contracta (narrowest diameter) is
Vi  2 gh

where h is the height of fluid above the orifice.

The actual velocity is

V  Cv 2 gh (1)
C v is the coefficient of velocity, which allows for the effects of viscosity and, therefore
Cv  1 .

The actual flow rate of the jet is defined as:

Q  AcV
where Ac is the cross-sectional area of the vena contracta, given by:
Ac  Cc Ao

where Ao is the orifice area and C c is the coefficient of contraction and, therefore, Cc  1 .

Hence
Q  Cc Ao Cv 2 gh
The product Cc Cv is called the discharge coefficient C d , so finally

Q  Cd Ao 2 gh

If C d is assumed to be constant, then a graph of Q plotted against h will be linear and

the slope will be C d Ao 2 g .

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Procedure
Measure the flow rate by timed collection, using the measuring cylinder provided to note
the reservoir head value. Repeat this procedure for different heads by adjusting the level of
the overflow tube.

The procedure should also be repeated for the second orifice.

Plot h vs Q and determine the slope of the graph. The coefficient of discharge C d can
slope
then be calculated from C d  .
Ao 2 g

Hint: Plot Q in the y-axis and h in the x-axis.

Sample plots

So, Cd = 0.00003 ÷ (Ao × √2g) = 0.958

So, Cd = 0.0001 ÷ (Ao × √2g) = 0.798

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Data Sheet Date: ________________

Student Name & ID: ____________________________________________

1. Orifice diameter, d (m) = 0.003 m Area of the orifice, Ao (m2) =

Sl Head, h Volume, Time, t Flow rate, h (m0.5) Cd (obtain
(m) V (m3) (sec) Q (m3/sec) from slope)
1
2
3
4
5

2. Orifice diameter, d (m) = 0.006 m Area of the orifice, Ao (m2) =

Sl Head, h Volume, Time, t Flow rate, h (m0.5) Cd (obtain
(m) V (m3) (sec) Q (m3/sec) from slope)
1
2
3
4
5

Signature of the Lab Demonstrator:

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Guidelines
Put your experimental data, calculation table and results into the report.
Exercises 1 and 2 should be submitted in one Report under one coversheet.
Also include the Data Sheets in the Report as an Appendix (signature of the Demonstrator
must be there).

Report Writing
1. Introduction (application of Bernoulli’s theorem to the cases above) - no need
to write
2. Description on how the experiment carried out - no need to write
3. Calculations and Results; include the followings:
 Sample calculations
 Attach calculation tables and graphs
4. Discussion on results
 Comment on the validity of the Bernoulli’s equation for the application of
those exercises.
 Comment on the comparison of the coefficients obtained by the two
exercises you have carried out.
5. Conclusions
6. References (if any)
7. Appendix (attach the signed Data Sheets).

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