FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENT

Pitot Tube
Venturi meter
FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENTS
Pitot tube Venturi meter Orifice meter Weir

DEVICE COEFFICIENTS
Coefficient of Discharge, 𝐶 or 𝐶𝑑 Coefficient of Contraction, 𝐶𝑐
It is the ratio of the actual discharge through the device It is the ratio of the actual area of the contracted
to the ideal or theoretical discharge which would occur section of the stream or jet to the area of the opening
without losses. through which the fluid flows.
Actual discharge 𝑄 Area of the stream or jet 𝑎
𝐶 = 𝐶𝑑 = = 𝐶𝑐 = =
Theoretical discharge 𝑄𝑇 Area of opening 𝐴
Coefficient of Velocity, 𝐶𝑣
Relationship between the Three Coefficients
It is the ratio of the actual mean velocity to the ideal or
theoretical velocity which would occur without any 𝐶 = 𝐶𝑐 𝐶𝑣
losses.
Actual velocity 𝑣
𝐶𝑣 = =
Theoretical velocity 𝑣𝑇
PITOT TUBE
A pitot tube also known as pitot probe is a flow measurement
device used to measure fluid flow velocity. Static Pressure

It was invented by the French engineer Henri Pitot in the early

18th century and was modified to its modern form in the mid
19th century by French scientist Henry Darcy. →→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
It was widely used to determine the airspeed of an aircraft,
→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
water speed of a boat, and to measure liquid, air and gas flow
velocities in certain industrial applications.

Henri Pitot Henry Philibert Gaspard Darcy

PITOT TUBE
Dynamic Pressure
A pitot tube also known as pitot probe is a flow measurement

Stagnation Pressure
device used to measure fluid flow velocity. Static Pressure
ℎ
It was invented by the French engineer Henri Pitot in the early ℎ2
18th century and was modified to its modern form in the mid
19th century by French scientist Henry Darcy. → → ℎ→1 → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
↗
→ → → →1 → → → → → → 2
It was widely used to determine the airspeed of an aircraft, ↘ 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 0
water speed of a boat, and to measure liquid, air and gas flow →→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
velocities in certain industrial applications.
𝑣1 2 𝑃1 𝑣2 2 𝑃2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
𝑣 2 𝑃1 𝑣2
+ = ℎ2 + ℎ1 = ℎ2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔
𝑣2 𝑃1 𝑣2
= ℎ2 − = ℎ2 − ℎ1 = ℎ
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔
𝑃1
𝑣 2 = 2𝑔 ℎ2 − 𝑣= 2𝑔ℎ
𝛾
Open Streams
2𝑃1
𝑣= 2𝑔ℎ2 −
Henri Pitot Henry Philibert Gaspard Darcy 𝜌 Close Conduits
PITOT TUBE
Dynamic Pressure
A pitot tube also known as pitot probe is a flow measurement

Stagnation Pressure
device used to measure fluid flow velocity. Static Pressure
ℎ
It was invented by the French engineer Henri Pitot in the early ℎ2
18th century and was modified to its modern form in the mid
19th century by French scientist Henry Darcy. → → ℎ→1 → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
↗
→ → → →1 → → → → → → 2
It was widely used to determine the airspeed of an aircraft, ↘ 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 0
water speed of a boat, and to measure liquid, air and gas flow →→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
velocities in certain industrial applications.

→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→
↗
→→ →
2 → → → → → → 1→ → → →
↘ 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 0
→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→

𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖 ′ 𝑠 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑣1 2 𝑃1 𝑣2 2 𝑃2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
Henri Pitot Henry Philibert Gaspard Darcy
VENTURI METER are flow measurement instruments 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. They have been in common use for many
years, especially in the water supply industry.

Gauge pressure Piezometer

𝑄
1 2

Throat
Inlet Outlet

𝑣1 2 𝑃1 𝑣2 2 𝑃2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
𝑣2 2 𝑣1 2 𝑃1 𝑃2
− = 𝛾 − 𝛾
2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑣2 2 − 𝑣1 2 𝑃1 − 𝑃2
= 𝛾
Giovanni Batista Venturi
2𝑔
increase in decrease in
=
kinetic energy potential energy
Differential
Venturi Principle Manometer
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. A glass tube with a 90˚ bend is open at both ends. It is inserted into a flowing stream of oil (SG = 0.90) so that
one of the opening is directed upstream & the other is directed upward. If oil outside the tube is 50 mm higher
than the surface, determine the velocity measured by the tube.
SOLUTION:
1
1−2
50 mm
0 0 0
𝑣1 2 𝑃1 𝑣2 2 𝑃2 2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 𝑆𝐺 = 0.90
0
𝑣= 2gℎ

= 2 9.81m/s2 0.05 m
𝑣 = 0.990 m/s
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
2. A pitot static tube (C = 1.0) is used to measure air speeds. With water in the differential manometer and a gage
difference of 75 mm, calculate the air speed using 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 1.16 kg/m3.
SOLUTION:
1 2 Bernoulli’s Equation Pressure Difference
1 2 𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝑣12 𝑃1 𝑣22 𝑃2 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝛾𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑦 + 𝛾 0.075
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 − 𝛾𝑎𝑖𝑟 0.075 −𝛾𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑦
𝑣12 𝑃2 𝑃1 𝑃2 − 𝑃1
= − = 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 0.075 𝛾 − 𝛾𝑎𝑖𝑟
2𝑔 𝛾 𝛾 𝛾𝑎𝑖𝑟
75 mm
𝑣12 0.075(9810− 1.16 × 9.81 )
=
2 9.81 1.16 × 9.81

𝑣𝑇 = 35.596 m/s 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙

𝑣 = 𝐶𝑣 𝑣𝑇

𝑣 = 35.596 m/s
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
3. Carbon tetrachloride having specific gravity of 1.6 is flowing through a pipe. The differential gage attached to
the Pitot-static tube shows a 80 mm deflection of mercury. Assuming Ct = 0.97, find the velocity of flow.
SOLUTION:

1 2 Bernoulli’s Equation
80 mm 𝑣12 𝑃1 𝑣22 𝑃2 𝑣12 9.4176
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2 =
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2 9.81 9.81 × 1.6
𝑣12 𝑃2 𝑃1 𝑃2 − 𝑃1
𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑦 = − = 𝑣𝑇 = 3.43 m/s 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
2𝑔 𝛾 𝛾 𝛾𝑐
𝑠𝑔 = 13.6
Pressure Difference 𝑣 = 𝐶𝑣 𝑣𝑇
𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝛾𝑚 0.08 − 𝛾𝑐 0.08 𝑣 = 3.328 m/s
1
2 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 0.08 𝛾𝑚 − 𝛾𝑐
𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 9.4176 kPa
𝑠𝑔 = 1.6
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
4. A horizontal 150 mm diameter pipe gradually reduces its section to 50 mm diameter, subsequently enlarging
into 150 mm section. The pressure in the 150-mm pipe at a point just before entering the reducing section is
140 kPa and in the 50 mm section at the end of the reducer, the pressure is 70 kPa. If 600 mm of head is lost
between the points where the pressures are known, compute the rate of flow of water through the pipe in L/sec.
SOLUTION:
1 2 Bernoulli’s Equation
𝐻𝐿1−2 = 600 mm
150 mm ∅
50 mm ∅
𝑣12 𝑃1 𝑣22 𝑃2
+ + 𝑧1 − 𝐻𝐿 = + + 𝑧2
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
1 2
𝑣2 2
9 140 𝑣2 70
𝑃2 = 70 kPa + −0.6 = +
𝑃1 = 140 kPa 2 9.81 9.81 2 9.81 9.81
Continuity Equation 𝑣2 = 11.394 m/s
𝑄1 = 𝑄2 Discharge
𝜋
𝐴1 𝑣1 = 𝐴2 𝑣2 ; 𝑄 = 𝐴𝑣 = 0.05 2 11.394
𝜋 𝜋 4
2 2
0.15 𝑣1 = 0.05 𝑣2 = 0.0224 m3 /s
4 4
𝑣 𝑄 = 22.373 L/s
𝑣1 = 2 → 𝐸𝑞. 1
9
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
450 mm ∅
5. A 150 mm diameter venturi horizontal meter is installed 150 mm ∅
in a 450 mm diameter water main. The deflection of the 𝑄
mercury in the differential manometer connected from the 1 2
inlet to the throat is 375 mm. 𝑦
a. Determine the discharge neglecting head lost.
b. If HL = 300 mm water, find the discharge.
375 mm
SOLUTION:
a. Continuity Equation
𝜋 2
𝜋 2
𝐴1 𝑣1 = 𝐴2 𝑣2 ; 0.45 𝑣1 = 0.15 𝑣2
4 4
𝑣2 1 2 Bernoulli’s Equation
𝑣1 =
9 𝑣12 𝑃1 𝑣22 𝑃2 𝑣22 − 𝑣12 𝑃1 − 𝑃2
1 2 Pressure Difference + + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2 ; =
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
𝑃1 + 9.81𝑦 + 9.81 0.375 2 𝑣2 2
𝑣2 − 46.352 𝑣2 = 9.688 m/s
− (9.81 × 13.6) 0.375 −9.81𝑦 = 𝑃2 9 =
2 × 9.81 9.81
𝑃1 − 𝑃2 = 46.352 kPa
Discharge
𝜋 2
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑣; 𝑄= 0.15 9.688
4
𝑄 = 0.171 m3 /s
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
450 mm ∅
5. A 150 mm diameter venturi horizontal meter is installed 150 mm ∅
in a 450 mm diameter water main. The deflection of the 𝑄
mercury in the differential manometer connected from the 1 2
inlet to the throat is 375 mm. 𝑦
a. Determine the discharge neglecting head lost.
b. If HL = 300 mm water, find the discharge.
375 mm
SOLUTION:
b. Continuity Equation 1 2 Bernoulli’s Equation
𝑣2 𝑣12 𝑃1 𝑣22 𝑃2
𝑣1 = + + 𝑧1 − 𝐻𝐿 = + + 𝑧2
9 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
1 2 Pressure Difference
𝑃1 − 𝑃2 = 46.352 kPa 𝑣22 − 𝑣12 𝑃1 − 𝑃2
+ 𝐻𝐿 = Discharge
2𝑔 𝛾
𝜋
2 𝑣2 2 𝑄 = 𝐴𝑣; 𝑄= 0.15 2 9.376
𝑣2 − 9 46.352 4
+ 0.3 =
2 × 9.81 9.81 𝑄 = 0.166 m3 /s
𝑣2 = 9.376 m/s
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
6. A 37.5 mm venturi meter (C = 0.957) is installed in a 75-mm diameter horizontal pipe carrying oil having
specific gravity of 0.852. If the recorded flow in the meter was 1.5 liters per second, what could have been the
deflection of water (mm) in the differential manometer connected between the inlet and the throat?
SOLUTION:
Discharge
75 mm ∅ 𝑄 = 0.0015 m3 /s = 𝐶𝑄𝑇
37.5 mm ∅
𝑄 = 1.5 L/s 𝑄𝑇 = 0.001567 m3 /s
𝑠𝑔 = 0.852
1 2
𝑣1 = 0.355 m/s
𝑦 𝑣2 = 1.419 m/s

ℎ =? Pressure Difference

1 2 Bernoulli’s Equation 𝑃1 = 𝑃2 + 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑦 + 𝛾ℎ − 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 ℎ − 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑦

𝑣12 𝑃1 𝑣22 𝑃2 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2 𝑃1 − 𝑃2 = ℎ −𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 ℎ
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 𝑠𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑙
𝑣22 − 𝑣12 𝑃1 − 𝑃2 𝑃1 − 𝑃2 1
= =ℎ −1 = 0.0962 m
2𝑔 𝛾 𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙 0.852
𝑃1 − 𝑃2
= 0.0962 m ℎ = 0.554 mm
𝛾𝑜𝑖𝑙
ℎ = 553.993 m
FLUID FLOW MEASUREMENT
Orifice