BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (Hons) IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

SEMESTER 3 (JULY - AUGUST 2023)

EM2102 FLUID MECHANICS

LABORATORY
Measurements of discharge through Venturi Meter and Coefficient
of Venturi Meter

Submitted by:
Mohammad Sahibul Ikhwan B20220101

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Table of Contents
............................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3
2.0 Objectives.......................................................................................................................................... 6
3.0 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Equipments ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 Procedures .................................................................................................................................... 7
4.0 Results ............................................................................................................................................... 8
5.0 Discussion........................................................................................................................................ 10
6.0 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 10
7.0 References ....................................................................................................................................... 11

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1.0 Introduction

A venturi meter is an instrument that utilizes the principle of pressure difference to measure the flow
rate of fluids in pipes. It has a converging section where the flow velocity increases and the pressure
decreases, making it possible to calculate the flow rate. This is because the venturi meter can
calculate the velocity by measuring the pressure head at two points, that is before and after the
narrowed throat.

There are many applications of the venturi meter in real world. It is widely used in various industries
and it is used for precise flow rate measurement and control. Some of it are:

• Plumbing – Used in pipelines at waste water collection systems and treatments plants.
• Industrial Sectors – Used to measure and control process flow.
• Automobile – Used to measure airflow in engine carburetors
• Medical diagnosis – Used to measure patient’s blood flow in arteries.
• Domestic and commercial purposes – Used in measuring water supply.

These applications shows that venturi meters are essential tools in a variety of engineering and
scientific areas because of both their dependability and versatility.

The venturi meter measures the flow rate by using the principle of Bernoulli’s equation. The
Bernoulli equation states that the conservation of energy principle is applied to flowing fluids, and
this means that the total energy (Pressure + Potential Energy + Kinetic energy) remains constant.

The energy equation is applied in section 1 (inlet A) and section 2 (throat D)

𝑝1 𝑣12 𝑝2 𝑣22
+ 𝑧1 + = + 𝑧2 +
𝑝𝑔 2𝑔 𝑝𝑔 2𝑔

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At sections 1 and 2, the elevation fluid from the datum level would be equal: (𝒛𝟏 = 𝒛𝟐), this is
because the convergent-divergent venturi tube is horizontal. (refer to figure 1)

𝑝1 𝑣12 𝑝2 𝑣22
+ = +
𝑝𝑔 2𝑔 𝑝𝑔 2𝑔

Figure 1

With the relationship of energy and continuity equations, the flow rate can be calculated by
𝒑
substituting h1 (Water column height in section 1) into 𝒑𝒈𝟏 and h2 (Water column height in section 2)
𝒑
into 𝒑𝒈𝟐 ,

𝑣12 𝑣22
→ ℎ1 + = ℎ2 +
2𝑔 2𝑔

𝑣22 𝑣12
→ ℎ1 − ℎ2 = +
2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑣22 − 𝑣12
→ ℎ1 − ℎ2 =
2𝑔

→ 𝒗𝟐𝟐 − 𝒗𝟐𝟏 = 𝟐𝒈(𝒉𝟏 − 𝒉𝟐 ) (1)

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By continuity equation at section 1 and 2, 𝑨𝟏𝒗𝟏 = 𝑨𝟐𝒗𝟐 ,
𝑨𝟏 𝑨𝟐
𝒗𝟏 = ( )𝒗 𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝟐 = ( )𝒗 (2)
𝑨𝟐 𝟐 𝑨𝟏 𝟏
Substituting equation (2) into (1),
𝐴1 2
→ 𝑣22 − ( ) 𝑣 = 2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
𝐴2 2
𝐴1
→ 𝑣22 [1 − ( )] = 2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
𝐴2
2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
→ 𝑣22 =
𝐴 2
1 − ( 𝐴1 )
2

𝟐𝒈(𝒉𝟏 − 𝒉𝟐 )
→ 𝒗𝟐 = (3)
√ 𝐴 2
𝟏 − ( 1)
𝐴2

Hence Discharge, 𝑄 = 𝐴1𝑣1 = 𝐴2𝑣2 = Qt

From equation (3), Theoretical discharge Qt :

2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
𝑄𝑡 = 𝐴2 𝑣2 𝑜𝑟 𝑄𝑡 = 𝐴2 ×
√ 𝐴1 2
1−( )
𝐴2

Between sections 1 and 2, there is actually some loss of head happening during practice.
Additionally, the venturi meter's contraction section experiences energy loss, and the sections'
velocities are not distributed uniformly. This means that if Actual discharge is 𝑄𝑎 , then 𝑄𝑎 < 𝑄𝑡 .

2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
Therefore, 𝑄𝑎 = 𝐶𝑎 × 𝑄𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑄𝑎 = 𝐶𝑎 × 𝐴2 × √ 𝐴 2 (4)
1−( 1 )
𝐴2

Where, C𝑎 is Actual venturi meter coefficient g is 9.81 𝑚𝑠−2.

Plot √ℎ1 − ℎ2 (y-axis) versus 𝑄𝑡 (x-axis) to get expression as below, and 𝐶𝑡 is obtained from the
gradient of the graph.

√ℎ1 − ℎ2 = 𝐶𝑡 × 𝑄𝑡

Where, 𝐶𝑡 is Theoretical venturi meter coefficient

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 2.0 Objectives
1. To understand the mechanism on how the venturi meter works.
2. To calculate the Discharge Q and Venturi meter coefficient C
3. To compare between Theoretical discharge and Actual discharge
4. To compare between Actual venturi meter coefficient and Theoretical venturi meter
coefficient

3.0 Methodology
3.1 Equipments

Venturi meter Apparatus

Arrangement of Venturi meter apparatus

Volumetric Hydraulic Bench Apparatus

Arrangement of Volumetric Hydraulic Bench Apparatus

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3.2 Procedures

• Lavel the venturi meter.

o Open the flow control valve and venturi meter control valve.

• Close the venturi meter control valve.

o Pressure inside the tube will increase.
o Height of water in manometer tubes will increase.

• Ensure all water level is equal (the water level for our group is 210mm)
o Adjust water level with the venturi meter control valve.
o Adjust or decrease the water level by releasing some air from air valve

• Record area of h1 (section A) and h2 (section D)

o Area of h1 (section A) = A1 = 5.309 x 10-4 m2
o Area of h2 (section D) = A2 = 2.011 x 10-4 m2

• Open venturi meter control valve

o Set h2 and record h1

• Record time taken for the water to reach 5L in the volumetric tank.
o Ensure continuous water flow
o Start the timer when the water reaches 0 starting line at the water volume indicator.
o Open the drain valve, drains all the water and repeat.
o Measure 3 set of time taken and find average.

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4.0 Results
Sample calculation for test 1:

2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
→ 𝑣2 =
√ 𝐴 2
1 − ( 𝐴1 )
2

2(9.81)(0.336)
→ 𝑣2 = 2
√ 2.011 × 10−4
1−( )
5.309 × 10−4

→ 𝒗𝟐 = 𝟖𝟕. 𝟕𝟑𝟏 𝒎𝒔−𝟏

→ 𝑄𝑡 = 𝐴2 𝑣2

→ 𝑄𝑡 = 2.011 × 10−4 × 87.731

→ 𝑄𝑡 = 176.246 (m3/s)

√ℎ1 − ℎ2 𝑄𝑡 × 10−4 𝐶𝑡
Test ℎ1 (𝑚𝑚) ℎ2 (𝑚𝑚) ℎ1 − ℎ2 (𝑚) 𝑣2 (𝑚𝑠 −1 )
(m1/2) (m3/s)
1 346 10 0.336 0.579655 2.774 5.579
2 342 30 0.312 0.558570 2.673 5.375
3 338 50 0.288 0.536656 2.568 5.164
4 334 70 0.264 0.513809 2.459 4.945
5 328 90 0.238 0.487852 2.335 4.696
0.1039
6 324 110 0.214 0.462601 2.214 4.452
7 320 130 0.190 0.435890 2.086 4.195
8 316 150 0.166 0.407431 1.950 3.921
9 312 170 0.142 0.376829 1.804 3.628
10 308 190 0.118 0.343511 1.644 3.306

Table 1 Theoretical value

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 0.7

0.6
y = 0.1039x - 0.0002

0.5
√(ℎ_1− ℎ_2 ) (m1/2)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Qt x 10-4 (m3/s)

Graph for results from table 1

Volume of 𝑄𝑎 × 10−4
Test 𝑡1 (𝑠) 𝑡2 (𝑠) 𝑡3 (𝑠) 𝑡𝑎𝑣𝑔 (𝑠) 𝐶𝑎
water (m3) (m3/s)
1 9.58 9.42 9.70 9.66 5.176 0.9278
2 10.06 10.15 10.12 10.11 4.946 0.9202
3 10.90 10.88 10.88 10.89 4.591 0.8890
4 11.79 11.37 11.48 11.55 4.329 0.8754
5 12.05 12.08 12.26 12.13 4.122 0.8778
5 x 10-3
6 13.16 13.00 13.05 13.07 3.826 0.8594
7 13.87 13.84 13.93 13.88 3.602 0.8586
8 15.57 15.63 15.57 15.59 3.207 0.8179
9 17.73 17.70 17.75 17.72 2.822 0.7778
10 19.79 19.87 19.77 19.81 2.524 0.7635

Table 2 Measured Value

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5.0 Discussion
• We can see from table one that h2 is directly proportional to h1.
• From Table 2, we can see that as the value of h2 increase, the time taken for the water to
reach 5L also increase.
• From the calculations that were made, we managed to obtain the values for both the
discharge and the venturi meter coefficient.
• From Table 1, all the values of Qt are higher that Qa. This happens due to friction between
the water and the surface of the tube.
• From the results that we got in table 1, a graph is plotted and from here we can find Ct by
calculating the gradient. From the graph, we can see that Ct (gradient) is equal to 0.1039.
• We can see that the value of Ct is much smaller than all the values of Ct. This also happened
due to friction.

6.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, from this experiment we can learn on how to operate the venturi meter and
understands it’s mechanism. We were also told about the correct procedures on how to carry out
the experiment.

We also managed to understand the values that we need to record, the independent and the
dependent variable. They are needed for the calculation of Qa ,Qt ,Ca and Ct. Based on the results
obtained, we compared both the actual values and the theoretical values, and understand the reason
behind it.

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7.0 References

[1] A. Kumar Dey, “Venturi meter: Definition, Parts, Working, Equation, Applications, Installation

What is Piping”,

https://whatispiping.com/venturi-meter/

[2] V. Fonseca, “How to Calculate Steam Velocity”, April 24, 2017,

https://sciencing.com/calculate-steam-velocity-4924192.html

[3] J. Juma Yegon, “9 Key Venturi Meter Advantages and Disadvantages. Uses of Ventura Meter. Parts

of Venturi Meter”, August 1, 2021,

https://www.hpdconsult.com/venturi-meter-advantages-and-disadvantages/

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