FLUID MECHANICS

Venturimeter
  With the aid of a diagram, explain the operation of a Venturimeter
and define the symbols involved.
 Calculate the head, flow rate and area in the Venturimeter
Learning  With the aid of a diagram, explain the fluid flow through an orifice.
Objectives  Calculate the coefficient of contraction and coefficient of velocity
in an orifice.
 With the aid of a diagram, explain the operation of a Rotameter.
  A venturi meter, or venturi flow meter, is a device used to measure
the velocity, or flow rate, of fluid flowing through a pipeline.
 The flow meter is commonly used in plumbing applications to
determine the flow of fluids such as water, liquid propane, and oil.

What is a
venturimeter?

The Venturi Principle

A venturi creates a constriction within a pipe (classically an hourglass

shape) that varies the flow characteristics of a fluid (either liquid or gas)
travelling through the tube.
  Applications:
 It is used where high pressure recovery is required.
 Can be used for measuring flow rates of water, gases, suspended solids, slurries and dirty
liquids.
 Can be used to measure high flow rates in pipes having large diameters (few meters).
 Advantages of venturi meters
 Less changes of getting clogged with sediments
 Coefficient of discharge is high.
A venturimeter  Its behaviour can be predicted perfectly.
 Can be installed vertically, horizontally or inclinded.
 Limitations
 They are large in size and hence where space is limited, they cannot be used.
 Expensive initial cost, installation and maintenance.
 Require long laying length. That is, the veturimeter has ti be proceeded by a straight pipe which
is free from fittings and misalignments to avoid turbulence in flow, for satisfactory operation.
Therefore, straightening vanes are a must.
 Cannot be used in pipes below 7.5cm diameter.
Operation of a
venturimeter

1. Bernoulli’s
equation

2. Continuity
equation
 As the liquid flows through the pipeline, the device measures the
pressure of the liquid before it enters the venturi tube and as it
exits the constricted area. These measurements are then
compared to figure the volumetric flow rate of the fluid.
 The venturi meter can accurately measure flow rate using
Bernoulli's principle.
 Bernoulli stated that the velocity of liquid increases in direct
proportion to a decrease in pressure. When the liquid is forced
through a constricted pipeline, it begins to move at a higher rate
of speed because the majority of the pressure is held behind the
constriction.
the pressure drop and the head
loss are related by:
Bernoulli’s and
continuity
equation
Bernoulli’s and
continuity
equation
Continuity
equation
 If at sections 1 and 2 the pipe is
circular with diameters d1 and d2
respectively, then
 (d1)2.v1 = (d2)2.v2
The volume flow rate through the venturi meter is given by
 Venturi meter to find differential pressure, given flow rate, area
and density.

 Manipulate previous formula*

Worked
examples
Orifice

 The orifice meter consists of a flat orifice plate with a circular hole
drilled in it called the orifice.
An orifice plate is a device used
for measuring flow rate, for
reducing pressure or for
restricting flow (in the latter
two cases it is often called
a restriction plate). It uses the
same principle as aVenturi
nozzle, Bernoulli's
principle which states that
there is a relationship between
the pressure of the fluid and the
velocity of the fluid. When the
velocity increases, the pressure
decreases and vice versa.
 JET OF WATER
 The continuous stream of a liquid, that comes out or flows out of
an orifice, as known as the Jet of Water.
 VENA-CONTRACTA
 Consider an orifice is fitted with a tank. The liquid particles, in
order to flow out through the orifice, move towards the orifice
from all directions. A few of the particles first move downward,
then take a turn to enter into the orifice and then finally flow
through it.
 It may be noted, that the liquid particles loose some energy, while
taking the turn to enter into the orifice. It can be observed that the
jet, after leaving the orifice, gets contracted.
 The maximum contraction takes place at a section slightly on
the downstream side of the orifice, where the jet is more or less
horizontal. Such a section is known as Vena-Contracta.
 A theoretical orifice plate showing perfect flow which is used as a
standard for comparing the efficiencies of real flows

A theoretical orifice A real orifice plate

plate showing perfect showing how the fluid
flow which is used as a would actually flow
standard for comparing
the efficiencies of real
flows
  The ratio of the area of the jet, at vena-contracta, to the area
of the orifice is known as coefficient of contraction.
Mathematically coefficient of contraction

Coefficient of
contraction
 The value of Coefficient of contraction varies slightly with the
available head of the liquid, size and shape of the orifice. The
average value of is 0.64.
 The ratio of actual velocity of the jet, at vena-contracta, to the
theoretical velocity is known as coefficient of velocity.
The theoretical velocity of jet at vena-contracta is given by the
relation, ,where h is the head of water at vena-
contracta.

Coefficient of Mathematically coefficient of velocity,

Velocity
The difference between the velocities is due to friction of the orifice.
The value of Coefficient of velocity varies slightly with the different
shapes of the edges of the orifice. This value is very small for sharp-
edged orifices. For a sharp edged orifice, the value of increases
with the head of water.
  A rotameter is a device that measures the flow rate of
liquid or gas in a closed tube. It belongs to a class of
meters called variable area meters, which measure
Rotameter flow rate by allowing the cross-sectional area the fluid
travels through, to vary, causing a measurable effect
on a float that rises depending on the rate of flow.
  The rotameter's operation is based on the variable area principle:
 fluid flow raises a float in a tapered tube. The greater the flow, the
higher the float is raised.
 The height of the float is directly proportional to the flow rate.
 With liquids, the float is raised by a combination of the buoyancy of the
Operation of a liquid and the velocity head of the fluid.
 With gases, buoyancy is negligible, and the float responds to the
rotameter velocity head alone.
 The float moves up or down in the tube in proportion to the fluid
flow rate and the annular area between the float and the tube wall.
 The float reaches a stable position in the tube when the upward
force exerted by the flowing fluid equals the downward gravitational
force exerted by the weight of the float.