Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)

Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

Experiment 2
Method of Flow Measurement

Objective
Direct comparison of flow measurement using Venturi, Orifice and Bench.

Overview
In engineering and industrial practice, fluid measurement of many of the
variables and properties, such as density, viscosity, pressure, velocity, flow rate
and etc is one of the problems most frequently encountered by engineers. It is
therefore essential for engineers to be well equipped with knowledge of the
fundamentals and existing methods of measuring various fluid properties and
phenomena. This apparatus is specially designed to obtain the flow rate
measurement by utilizing three basic types of flow measuring techniques, which
are float-type flow meter, venturi meter and the orifice meter.

Experimental Procedure

1. Connect measurement lines.

2. Open all valves at pipe section and the six tubes manometer.

3. Switch on the pump and let the water flow for one minute or until all air
has been expelled from the pipe work.

4. Close the flow control valves and then close the inlet. Let the vent and
drain valves of the six tubes manometer opened.

5. Now immediately close vent and drain valves.

6. Adjust the height of the manometer tubes by slightly opening and closing
vent and drain valves until the height of the manometer become 150 mm.

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 Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)
Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

7. Switch on the pump and open inlet valve slowly.

8. Adjust the height of the water in the manometer tubes with the help of flow
control valve until you get the difference in levels between each
manometer.

9. Record the flow rate shown by the rotameter.

10. Without adjusting any valves, convey the water outlet hose into a
container whose capacity is known and record the time taken for the
water to fill it up.

11. Record manometer readings in the sample reading table.

12. Repeat step 8 to 11 for other flow rate.

Figure 1: Flowmeter Apparatus

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 Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)
Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

Results

Manometer Reading (mm)

Flowrate
Rotameter Rotameter Manometer Flowrate calculated using
(L/hr) (L/min) Reading Vol. Time Q Bernoulli’s Eq.
(mm) (L) (min) (L/min) (L/min)
1 2 3 4 5 6 Venturi Orifice

Given:

2p
V = Ad  k p


Where:

p = hg with h = h1-h2 for Orifice

h = h3-h4 for Venturi meter

Constant:
litre
k = 293 for Orifice
h mbar

litre
k = 240 for Venturi meter
h mbar

water = 1000 kg/m3

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 Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)
Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

Discussion
Discuss the value of volume flow rate by using different flow meters.

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 Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)
Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

Tutorial

1. What are the limitations of Bernoulli’s Theorem?

2. What size standard orifice is required to discharge 0.016 m3/s of water

under a head of 8.69 m? Assume Cd = 1.00

Qactual  cd Aorifice 2 gh

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 Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)
Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

3. When the flow of water through a horizontal 300 mm by 150 mm Venturi

meter (Cd = 0.95) is 0.111 m3/s, find the deflection of the mercury in the

differential gauge attached to the meter.

 
2 gh man  1
Qactual  C d A1 A2   
A1  A2
2 2

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 Fluid Mechanics (CPD 12403)
Experiment 2: Method of Flow Measurement

Conclusion

References

1. Robert L. Street, Gary Z. Walters, John K. Vennard. Elementary Fluid

Mechanics. 7th Ed. John Wiley & Sons Inc.
2. Anthony Esposito. Fluid Mechanics with Applications. Prentice Hall
International Inc.
3. Robert L.Mott. Applied Fluid Mechanics 5th Ed. Prentice Hall International
Inc.