Experiment 5: Pressure Drop Through Orifice

Plates
Group F
Team Leader:
Research Engineer:
Operations Engineer :
Current Date:
Date for Lab:
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Introduction-Problem Statement

The purpose of this experiment is to measure the pressure drop through

orifice plates and to determine if the orifice coefficient can be assumed to
be constant under certain conditions. Specifically, the orifice coefficient
needs to be calculated for Reynolds numbers greater than 20,000 and
orifice to pipe diameter ratios less than 0.5 and then compared to the
literature value of 0.61.
 Direction of Water Flow

Experimental Setup Pressure

of the Fluid Flow Gauges
System

Differential
Pressure
Orifice Plates Indicator

Rotameters
Pressure
Indicators

Pump
Orifice
Plate
Location
How It Works

Using a single pipe with a constant diameter, three orifice plates will be
interchanged to test the pressure drop for each plate to pipe diameter ratio.
Three different flow rates will be tested for each plate so that different Reynolds
numbers can be tested for each of the orifice plate to pipe diameter ratios. The
expected pressure drop will be calculated for each combination and compared to
the measured pressure drops.
Description of the Experiment -
Procedure Plan
Set-Up:

- To turn the water on, flip the yellow handle behind the bottom pipe to allow
water to flow through.
- Turn on the pump to start the flow of water, flow will stop once the tanks
are full.
- Turn off then turn on the pump to ensure there is flow throughout the
system.
- All valves on the back of the transducer should be open to release any
pressure that is built up.
- Close the valves before starting the experiment.
Description of the Experiment -
Procedure Plan
Calibration:

- Measure the pounds of water that flow over the period of one minute, to
calibrate the rotameters
- Make sure the bucket and draining tube are attached, so no water spills out, this
way the measurement will be accurate
- Make sure the rotameters are open
- The two small rotameters are controlled by the valves below them
- The valve on the main pipe controls the two larger rotameters by allowing flow
into the pipes that lead to the rotameters.
Description of the Experiment -
Procedure Plan
Conducting the Experiment:

- The pressure drop tubes should be removed before changing the orifice plates.
- Close all pipes on both sides and place a bucket underneath to catch any
residual water before removing any bolts.
- Use the two wrenches provided to loosen and remove the bolts holding each
orifice plate in place.
- Remove the previous orifice plate and add the next one, making sure to add the
two rubber fittings on either side of the orifice plate to create a seal.
- A total of three orifice plates of varying sizes should be tested.
- Three different flow rates should be tested for each orifice plate.
Description of the Experiment -
Procedure Plan
Conducting the Experiment:

- Start with the plugs on level 5 and open the valves to make sure the system is
not flooded and to take measurements.
- Close the valves once all of the air is out of the system and check if the pressure
reading is within the range on the dial
- If the pressure drop is in the middle of the range, the data is usable
- If the pressure drop is not within the range, adjust the plugs up one setting
- Repeat until the pressure drop is within the desired range
- The “zero” of the transducer is the reading when nothing is attached
- The reading is given in mV, with the conversion on the labeling
- Graph the data
 Equations

Where:

β = orifice parameter ⍴ = density (kg/m^3) Y=

expansion coefficient

D0 = orifice diameter (m) Q = volumetric flow rate (m^3/s) Cd,c = discharge coeff.
compressible

D1 = upstream pipe diameter (m) Cd = discharge coefficient Cd,i = discharge coeff.

incompressible
Sample Calculations
Calculations display the pressure
drop in three different pipes with
different orifice diameters. The
data displays the difference in
pressure drop for each pipe
depending on the volumetric flow
rate of water through the pipe.
The calculations for pressure drop
were computed using an Excel
spreadsheet.
Expected Results
Since pressure drop is directly related
to flow rate, we can expect the
pressure drop to increase as the flow
rate in the pipe increases. This is
because the pressure drop of the
system is a function of the water flow
rate. From our Excel analysis, it
appears that as the orifice diameter
increases, the pressure drop in the
pipe will decrease.
Safety Hazards

● Leaving stagnant water in the vessels and not cleaning them regularly could
result in the growth of harmful bacteria.
● Any spills must be cleaned up immediately, and the water must be kept far away
from any electrical equipment or the equipment could short circuit.
● Extremely high pressure could cause the equipment to malfunction or damage.