HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY PROGRAMS

FLUID MECHANICS EXPERIMENTS

REPORT
 EXPERIMENT 3D: MEASURE THE VOLUMETRIC FLOW RATE
I. PURPOSE
The experiment helps student:
_ Understand the method for measuring volumetric flow rate in pipes base on the
energy and momentum conservation condition.
_ Know how to use gauge pressure measuring tube and machine.
_ Calculate volumetric flow rate from difference pressure.
II. THEORY
Orifice plat (a) and venture nozzle (b) (Figure 1) are commonly used to measure volumetric
flow rate in pipes. The flow rate is marked form the difference of pressure before and after
using devices.

Apply Bernoulli equation for the flow between cross-section before and after using devices
like Figure 1 (neglecting energy loss)
p 1 V 12 p 2 V 22
Z1 + + = z2 + + (3-1)
γk 2g γk 2 g
Q Q
Let the pipe horizontal (z1 = z2), velocity V1 = , V2 = .
A1 A2

Flow rate Q is found according to the difference pressure p1 – p2:

 ( ) √ ρ2 ( p − p )
2
1 πd
Q= . (3 – 2)
√ 1−β 4
4 1 2
k

With d is diameter of orifice plat or venture nozzle; D is diameter of tube; β = d/D.

When calculate to energy loss, the coefficient of flow rate C is add to the formula (3 – 2):

Q=
C
.
√ 1−β 4 4( ) √ ρ2 ( p − p )
π d2
k
1 2 (3 – 3)

C is called coefficient of flow rate, C ≤ 1.

Coefficient C depends on the shape of orifice plat or venture nozzle and Reynolds number of
flow.

III. EXPERIMENTAL DESCRIPTION

1. Orifice plat
2. Venture nozzle
3. Fans and electric motors
4. Inverter
5. Measuring tubes
6. Pressure gauges
7. Silicon tubes
1, 2, 3 and 4: order number of the measuring tubes.

The fans make flow in pipe. Inverter is used to control the fans velocity and change the
volumetric flow rate in pipe. Two devices for measuring flow rate: orifi0ce plat and venture
nozzle are installed inside the pipes. Pressure before and after using each device are led to
gauge pressure measuring tube. The differences of pressure before and after are shown in two
ways: on two gauge pressure measuring tubes which contain water and on the gauge pressure
measuring clock.
 IV. PROCEDURE
i. Carefully check the in and out mouth of the tubes.
ii. Turn on the fans switch.
iii. Adjust the inverter to about 400 – 450 turns/ min.
iv. Read the water level in tubes 1 and 2, fill in Table 1, the first row under “gauge
pressure measuring tubes 1 and 2” column. Read the number in the manometer on
the left, fill in Table 1, the first row under “manometer” column.
v. Read the water level in tubes 3 and 4, fill in Table 2, the first row under “gauge
pressure measuring tubes 3 and 4” column. Read the number in the manometer on
the right, fill in Table 2, the first row under “manometer” column.
Repeat from step iii to v for three values of turns on the inverter: 650 – 700 turns/
min, 900 – 950 turns/ min and 1150 – 1200 turns/ min. Fill in Tables 1 and 2.
V. REPORT INTRODUCTION
 Read the temperature of atmosphere.
 Found in the appendix with specific weight ρ k of atmosphere, ρn of water and
kinematic viscosity v of atmosphere.
a. Measure the difference of pressure:
 For Orifice plat:
p1− p2= ρn g( h2−h 1) (3 – 4)
With h2 and h1 are height of water level in tubes 1 and 2, calculate in meter.
 For Venture nozzle
p3− p 4=ρ n g(h 4−h3) (3 – 5)

With h3 and h4 are height of water level in tubes 1 and 2, calculate in meter.\
b. Calculate the coefficient C:
 For Orifice plat:
o Diameter D = 149 mm, d = 65 mm
o β = d/D = 0.436
Reynolds number:
VD
Re = (3 – 6)
v
o Coefficient C is calculates by the formula:

( )
6 0.73
2.5 10 4 −1
+ 0.00390 β ( 1−β ) −0.0158 β
2.1 2 4 3
C=0.5959+0.312 β −0.1840 β + 0.0029 β
ℜ
(3 – 7)
Because C depends on the Reynolds, so it depends on velocity V and flow rate Q.
Therefore, C must be calculated by repeat method in the table below:

V = Q/A = 4Q/ π D 2 Re Calculate C by (3 – Calculate Q by (3 –

7) 3)
Guess Q    New Q
calculated by (3
– 2)
New Q   
The process is repeated until Q value converging.
Fill the results of C and Q correspond to each frequency in to Table 1.
 For Venture nozzle:
o Diameter D = 149 mm, d = 65 mm.
o Β = d/D = 0.436
o Coefficient C is calculates by the formula:
o C=0.9858−0.196 β 4.5
o Flow rate Q is calculated by formula (3 – 3).
Fill the results of C and Q correspond to each frequency in to Table 2.
c. Compare the difference pressure values measured by gauge pressure
measuring tube and manometer.
d. Compare the values p1 – p2, p3 – p4 and the corresponding number in the
manometer. Compute the differences:
( p1− p2 ) −¿ ¿
And
¿
( p3− p 4 )−¿ ¿ manometer on the¿
¿(% )

Fill the results to Tables 1 and 2.

e. Compare the flow rate measured by orifice plat or venture nozzle:
From the results of Q in Tables 1 and 2, draw two relating lines (Q – fans speed) for
two devices orifice plat or venture nozzle. Show the results in Graph 1. Name Graph 1.
f. Comment:
 Explain the differences between the pressure results by gauge pressure measuring
tube and manometer.
 Compare flow rate measured by two methods orifice plat or venture nozzle on Graph
1.
 Between two methods orifice plat or venture nozzle, which one more accurate? Why?

EXPERIMENT REPORT
ToC: 32.5oC

γair ¿ 1.1649 kg /m3 ; ν air =1.6036 × 10−2 m2 / s

γwater = 995.7 kg/m3

 Table 1: Orifice plat
Difference
Tube 1, Tube 2, h2 −h1 p1− p2 Pressure (pressure gauge-
Frequency h1 (m) h2 (m) C Q(m3/s)
(m) (Pa) gauge (Pa) measuring tube)
(%)
404 0.215 0.225 0.01 97.85 120 18.45 0.625 1.497 ×10
−2

670 0.205 0.235 0.03 293.56 320 8.2 0.621 1.607 ×10−2

910 0.19 0.25 0.06 578.128 590 0.48 0.620 2.251 ×10
−2

1160 0.172 0.268 0.096 939.4 940 0.006 0.619 2.866 ×10−2

Table 2: Ventury nozzle

Frequency Tube 3, Tube 4, h 4−h 3 p3 − p 4 Pressure Difference C Q(m3/s)
h3 (m) h 4 (m) (m) (Pa) gauge (pressure gauge-
(Pa) measuring tube)
(%)
404 0.213 0.218 0.005 48.92 70 30.11 0.981 1.059 ×10
−2

670 0.21 0.224 0.014 136.99 150 8.6 0.981 1.772× 10−2
910 0.204 0.229 0.025 244.63 250 2.1 0.981 2.368 ×10
−2

1160 0.196 0.235 0.039 381.63 385 0.8 0.981 2.958 ×10
−2
3.50E-03

2.96E-03
3.00E-03 2.87E-03

2.50E-03 2.37E-03
2.25E-03

2.00E-03
FLOW RATE (m3/s)

1.77E-03
1.61E-03
1.50E-03
1.50E-03

1.06E-03
1.00E-03

5.00E-04

0.00E+00
300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
Frequency (Hz)

Orifice Ventury