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Experiment No. : 02

Name of the Experiment : Calibration of Orifice Meter

Objectives :

• Find out discharge co-efficient at any Reynold’s number.

• Find out the volumetric flow rate.
• Determination of Reynold’s number in different velocities.
• Plot of discharge co-efficient against Reynold’s number.
• Plot of actual and ideal volumetric flow rate vs. pressure head .

Introduction :

The obstruction flow meter is a device used to measure the discharge of an internal flow. In these
meters, flow rate is calculated by measuring the pressure drop over an obstruction which is
inserter in to path of the flow. There are many classifications according to the type obstruction
used. The most commonly used categories are venturi meter, orifice meter and nozzle meter.
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). Either a volumetric or mass flow
rate may be determined, depending on the calculation associated with the orifice plate. It uses
the same principle as a venturi nozzle, namely 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 when the velocity decreases, the pressure increases. The
orifice meter consists of a flat orifice plate with a circular hole drilled in it. The construction is
very simple and so the cost is low compared to the other obstruction meters. The thickness of
the pipe is less than or equal to 0.05 times the diameter of the pipe.
However, if the plate thickness in two sides is equal, then no leveling is done for the edge of the
orifice. The plate is clamped between the two pipes linger with the leveled surface downstream.
The diameter of the orifice may be varying from 0.2 to 0.85 times the pipe diameter but generally
the orifice diameter is kept as 0.5 times the pipe diameter.
There is a pressure tap upstream from the orifice plate and another just downstream. Reduction
of cross-sectional area of the flowing stream in passing through the orifice increases the velocity
head at the expense of pressure head. This reduction of pressure between taps is measured using
a differential manometer and it gives a measure of the discharge. The pressure recovery is poor
compared to venturi meter.
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Design & Calculation :

Let us consider an orifice meter through which some liquid flowing as shown in the figure.

We assume that the flow is horizontal along Z1 and Z2 and incompressible between section (1) and
section (2). Let the velocity and pressure at section (1) be V1, P1 and at section (2) be V2, P2. Applying
Bernoulli’s equation at section (1) and section (2), we get,

𝑃1 𝑣1 2 𝑃2 𝑣2 2
+ + 𝑍1 = + + 𝑍2
𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔

𝑃1 𝑣1 2 𝑃2 𝑣2 2
𝑜𝑟, + = + [𝑍 = 𝑍2 ]
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 1

𝑃1 − 𝑃2 𝑣2 2 − 𝑣1 2
𝑜𝑟, =
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔
Where ρ is the density of the flowing fluid and g is the acceleration due to gravity representing the
pressure difference by H.

𝑣2 2 − 𝑣1 2
=𝐻
2𝑔
The relation between pressure differences H and manometer diffraction h is,
𝜌𝐻𝑔
𝐻 = ℎ( − 1)
𝜌𝐻2 𝑂

If we assume velocity profile uniform at point 1 and point 2, the continuity equation can be written as,
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𝑄 = 𝐴1 𝑉1 = 𝐴2 𝑉2
Where A1 is the area of the pipe and A2 is the venacontraeta,
𝐴2 𝑉2
𝑉1 =
𝐴1

𝐴 𝑉
𝑉2 2 − ( 𝐴2 2 )2
1
=𝐻
2𝑔

2𝑔𝐻
𝑉2 = √
𝐴
1 − (𝐴2 )2
1

2𝑔𝐻
Therefore, the distance rate is obtained as, 𝑄𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 = 𝐴2 𝑉2 = 𝐴2 √ 𝐴
1−( 2)2
𝐴1

Then the actual value will be different from the ideal value so obtained because of the deviations from
the assumptions of no viscosity and dimensionality.

2𝑔𝐻
Thus, the actual discharge rate can be written as 𝑄𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 = 𝐶𝑑 × 𝑄𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 = 𝐴2 𝑉2 = 𝐴2 √ 𝐴
1−( 2 )2
𝐴1

Here, Cd is called discharge coefficient of the orifice meter.

Experimental Setup :

➢ One centrifugal pump, Q= 100 L/minute, H=20 m of water.

➢ Two GI tanks (200 L capacity) fitted with glass level indicator (50 cm long, ¼” or ½” bore
glass).
➢ One set of venture meter (1” × ¼”); material: brass/stainless steel/Perspex
➢ Pipes, valves and fittings of 1” nominal diameter (material: GI for pipes and fittings,
valves: brass).
➢ One set of manometer (100 cm long).

Apparatus :

➢ Venturi meter
➢ Measuring flask
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➢ Stopwatch
➢ Weight machine

Work & Procedure :

➢ Check the experimental set up for leaks. Measure the dimensions of collecting tank.
Note down the flow meter specifications.
➢ Now open the inlet value fully and allow the water to fill fully in the flow meter.
➢ Make sure the heights of Mercury column in both limbs are same if there is no discharge
through the meter.
➢ Slightly open the outlet value of the flow meter and observe the manometer limbs.
➢ Now adjust it to get a steady pressure difference between the limbs of the manometer.
Note down the corresponding Mercury levels.
➢ Collect fluid in a definite time by operating stop watch.
➢ Determine the mass of the fluid by weight machine and convert it to volume.
➢ Repeat the above procedure for different floe rates by changing the outlet value
opening, tabulate the readings.
➢ Complete the tabulation and find the average value of Cd
➢ Draw the necessary graphs and calibrate the meters.

Precaution :

➢ Stop watch should be operated carefully.

➢ We have to collect water to the bucket sincerely.
➢ We have to find the vales carefully.
➢ Inlet diameter and outlet diameter should be known specifically.

Observation :

Diameter at inlet, D1 =
Diameter of venacontraeta, D2 =
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Area of inlet pipe, A1 =

Area of venacontraeta, A2 =
At room temperature (30°C) kinematic viscosity (v) of water is, vwater = 0.8 × 10−6 𝑚2 /𝑠
At room temperature (30°C) density of fluid (water), ρ = 1000 kg/m3

Tabulation :

Observation h (m) Mass of H2O Volume of H2O, v (m3) Time, t Qactual (m3/s)
no. (kg)
01 0.009 1.22 1.22 × 10−3 10.2 1.196 × 10−4
02 0.025 2.155 2.155 × 10−3 10.2 2.1127 × 10−4
03 0.044 3.155 3.155 × 10−3 10.2 3.093 × 10−4
04 0.058 3.435 3.435 × 10−3 10.2 3.351 × 10−4
05 0.0745 4.195 4.195 × 10−3 10.17 4.1248 × 10−4

Observation Velocity, v1 = 𝑄𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐷1 𝑉1

2𝑔𝐻 𝐶𝑑 = 𝑅𝑒 =
𝑄𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 = 𝐴2 √ 𝑄𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑉
no. Qactual/A1 (m/s) 𝐴
1 − (𝐴2 )2
1

01 0.236 1.0716 × 10−4 1.116 7493

02 0.417 1.786 × 10−4 1.1829 13239
03 0.610 2.371 × 10−4 1.3045 19367
04 0.661 2.720 × 10−4 1.2320 21082
05 0.814 3.084 × 10−4 1.3375 25844
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Graphical Representation :

Discharge Coefficient vs. Reynold's Number Graph

6

5
Discharge Coefficient

0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000
Reynold's Number, Re

Pressure Head vs. Actual Flowrate Graph

4500

4000

3500

3000
Pressure Head

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5
Actual Flowrate
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Pressure Head vs. Ideal Flowrate Graph

45000

40000

35000

30000
Pressure Head

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ideal Flowrate

Result & Discussion :

The average value of Cd is 1.235. From the graph of pressure head vs ideal flow rate shows that
pressure head is quite proportional to volumetric flow rate; although from pressure head vs
actual flow rate (i.e., the volumetric flow rates which we found practically) graph, the graph has
a sharp fall at h= 0.181 m point. Except the fact, this graph also shows quite proportional
properties.

Conclusion :

Consequently, it can be said that the lab was successful. Although we had some issues with
elevation head because we assumed z1 was equal to z2. But they weren’t equal which we found
afterwards. Despite that, we completed our lab successfully.
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Recommendation :

The operation of the venturi meter can be applied in the following mechanisms:

1. Pressure Transducers
2. Robotic Fueling System

Reference :

Robert L. Daugherty, Joseph B. Franzini, E. John Finnemore: “Fluid Mechanics with Engineering
Application” S.I. Metric Edition, Mc Graw Hill Book Company, New York.
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