Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific

Research
Mustansiriyah University
College of Engineering
Water Resources Engineering Department
Fluid laboratory

Experiment 4

Flow Measurements Using Orifice

(Discharge Through an Orifice)

By
Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurements Using Orifice

1. Introduction:
There are many situations in the engineering field where it is necessary to
know the flowrate in a pipe. There are various flow-measuring devices that
all determine the flow rate in a pipe but the most common is the obstruction-
type flowmeter. Obstruction flowmeters operate on the idea that a decrease
in flow area in a pipe causes an increase in velocity that in turn decreases
pressure. This correlation of pressure difference and velocity provides the
means of measuring flowrate. The different obstruction-type flowmeters
consist of the orifice meter, the nozzle meter, and the Venturi meter. In this
lab we will be measuring the flow through an orifice meter. A schematic of
a standard orifice meter can be seen below in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Schematic of Standard Orifice Meter

2. Objectives:
To determine the discharge coefficient of orifice meter.

3. Theoretical Aspects:

3.1. Theoretical background:

An orifice meter is defined to be a plate having a central hole that is placed
across the flow of a liquid, usually between flanges in a pipeline. The
pressure difference generated by the flow velocity through the hole enables
the flow quantity to be measured. As seen in Figure 1 the fluid flows
through the left side of the pipe at the pipe diameter D1 and it is restricted
down to D2 as it flows through the restricting plates, this is known as the
orifice. The pressure difference is measured at P1 and P2. This pressure can

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
 Fluid laboratory Flow Measurements Using Orifice

be measured using any different measurement devices such as piezometer

tubes or pressure gages.

Figure 2. Illustration of Secondary Flows and Vena Contract That Occurs in Orifice Meter

The vena contracta is the location of the smallest cross-sectional diameter

of the flow of liquid after the orifice of the meter. This is also shown in
Figure 2 above. This Secondary flows phenomenon is the result of the
inability of the fluid to turn the sharp 90 degree corner formed by the orifice
plates. Some common properties of the vena contracta are: constant
pressure across the cross-sectional area and all the streamlines of flow are
parallel at this location (Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics). To calculate
the theoretical flow rate through the meter you multiply the velocity of the
fluid by the area of the orifice. This value unfortunately will not match the
actual flow rate through the orifice of the meter. This is due to two main
sources of error. The first is the mechanical losses due to friction along the
walls of the meter. The second is the reduction in area of flow due to the
vena contracta phenomenon discussed above. To account for these sources
of error, a discharge coefficient is introduced into the calculation.
According to TheEngineeringToolBox.com a standard value for the
discharge coefficient of an orifice meter is 0.6.

3.2. The Equations:

Vo = (2 𝑔 𝐻o)1/2………(1)
Where:
Vo= the ideal velocity (m/sec).
𝐻o= the height of the water from the top of the tank to the vena contract
(mm).
Vc = (2 𝑔 𝐻c)1/2………..(2)

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurements Using Orifice

Where:
Vc= the actual velocity (m/sec).
𝐻c= the water level in the Pitot tube measured from the stagnation point
(mm).
Cv= Vc / Vo= (2 𝑔 𝐻c /2 𝑔 𝐻o)1/2……(3)
Where: Cv= the coefficient of velocity.
Cc= ac / ao……….(4)
Where: Cv= the coefficient of contraction.
ao= the ideal area of the orifice (mm2). ao=(𝜋/4)do2
ac= the actual area of water which flowing through the vena contracta
(mm2). ac =(𝜋/4)dc2
Thus the equation (4) can be simplified to:
Cc= (dc /do)2…….(5)
do= the ideal diameter of flow (the diameter of the orifice) (mm).
dc= the actual diameter of flow (the diameter of vena contracta) (mm).
dc= dout + din /2 ……..(6)
Where: dout = the outer diameter of jet (mm).
din = the inner diameter of jet (mm).
Qideal = Vo ao ……..(7)
Qactual = Vc ac……..(8)
Qactual = Cv Vo Cc ao……..(9)
Qactual = Cv Cc Qideal……..(10)
Cd = Cv Cc ……..(11)
Where: Cd = the coefficient of discharge. (Figure 3).

Figure 3. The Water Flow through the Orifice Meter

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurements Using Orifice

4. Experimental Work:
4.1. Equipment and apparatus:
The experience consist of the device and tools following, (Figures 4):
1- The orifice meter.
2- Measuring tank.
3- Stopwatch.

Piezometer
tubs

Cylindrical glass
tank

Figuer 4. The Orifice Meter Used in the Experiment

4.2. Procedure:
1. Measure the (Qact) by recording the time for takes the fixed volume of
water in measuring tank, such as, (10, and 15 Liter).
2. Measure (Ho, and Hc) by using piezometer tubes in orifice meter.
3. Measure the diameter of jet at the vena contract (d c) by measuring (dout,
and din) by using the blade on the Pitot tube assembly. In Figure (4), there
is a measurement dial that controls the horizontal movement of the blade.

4.3. Data Sheet:

The table (1) below is the data sheet for this experiment:
Table (1). The Date Sheet
Ran Vol Time Ho Hc do dout din dc
(L) (sec) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
1 19

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurements Using Orifice

5. Calculations and Results:

When calculating the results for this experiment, we follow the following
steps:
1. Calculate Qact by using equation (Qact=Vol/time).
2. Calculate Vo and Vc by using equations (1, and 2).
3. Calculate Cv by using equations (3).
4. Calculate ao and ac by using equation (a=(𝜋/4)d2).
5. Calculate Cc by using equation (4 or 5).
6. Calculate Cd by using equation (10).
7. Calculate Cd (again) by using equation (11).
8. Plot the relationship between piezometer tube height (Ho1/2) (m1/2) and
the actual discharge Qact (Qact x104) (m3/sec). The table (2) is represent the
results for this experiment:

Table (2). The Experiment Results

Ran Qact Vo Vc Cv Cc Cd Cd
(m3/sec) (m/sec) (m/sec) Eq 10 Eq 11
1
2
3

Qact x104
(m3/sec)

6. Discussion: Ho1/2 (m1/2)

1. Is there a difference between the values of Qideal calculated by equation

(7) and Qact by using equation (Qact=Vol/time)? Why?
2. Is there a difference between the values of Qact calculated by equation
(8) and Qact by using equation (Qact=Vol/time)? Why?
3. Is there a difference between the values of the ideal diameter and the
actual diameter? Why?
4. Is there a difference between the values of Cd calculated by equation (10)
and Cd by using equation (11)? Why?
5. What is the relationship type in the plot between the water height in
piezometer tube (Ho) and the actual discharge Qact? Why?

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel