EXPERIMENT NO: 3

AIM: To determine coefficient of discharge of Orifice meter.

OBJECTIVES:

➢ To measure the volume flow rate or discharge through a pipe having a pressurized fluid flow.
➢ To comprehend the abstraction of vena contracts in pipe flows.
➢ To determine the coefficient of discharge of an orifice meter.

APPARATUS

➢ Orifice meter
➢ Piping System
➢ Supply Pump Set
➢ Measuring Tank
➢ Differential Manometer
➢ Sump
➢ Stop Watch

THEORY

An orifice plate is a device used for measuring the volumetric flow rate. 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 vice versa.

An orifice plate is a flat circular thin plate which has a circular sharp-edged hole called orifice. It is an
opening in the side or bottom of a vessel or a tank through which liquid will flow under the condition that
the liquid surface is always above the top edge of the opening.

The orifice diameter is 0.5 times the diameter of the pipe. A differential manometer is connected at section
1 which is at a distance of about 1.5 to 2 times the pipe diameter upstream from the orifice plate, and at
section 2, which is at a distance of about half the diameter of the orifice on the downstream side from the
orifice plate.

The basic principle on which an orifice meter works is that by reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow
of passage, a pressure difference between the two sections is developed and the measurement of the pressure
difference enables the determination of the discharge through pipe.

However, an orifice meter is a cheaper arrangement for discharge measurement through pipes and its
installation requires a smaller length as compared to venturi meter.

The differential pressure head is measured using a manometer and the discharge through the pipe cross-

section can easily be calculated.

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The figure above shows an orifice meter connected in a pipe of diameter D containing a fluid flowing under

the influence of pressure forces.

The theoretical discharge through the pipe cross-section can be calculated as;

D =Diameter of pipe
A1 = Area of pipe at inlet
do = Diameter of orifice
A2 = Area of pipe at orifice
h = Pressure head difference in the limbs of manometer

h = x (Sm /S – 1)
Where,
x = difference between the liquid column in U tube,
Sm = Specific Gravity of manometric liquid,
S = Specific Gravity of liquid flowing through pipe.

The actual discharge can be determined by recording the time to fill a known volume of fluid in the

volumetric tank.

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VENA CONTRACTA

When an orifice meter is installed in a pipe, the cross-section contracts. Consequently, the streamlines come
close to each other. The section where the streamlines come the closest possible is termed the vena contracta.
The velocity of fluid at this section shows an instantaneous hike followed by a pressure decrement.

The figure above shows the graphical trend of pressure variation across the orifice plate. It can be seen that
at the contracted section, the pressure magnitude is the least after which the pressure head is restored but to
decremented value in comparison to the pressure at the inlet. This is because of frictional losses incurred as
the fluid traverses the pipe length.

COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE, Cd

The coefficient of discharge of an orifice meter is the ratio of the actual discharge to the theoretically-
calculated volume flow rate. Mathematically, it is given as;

PROCEDURE

• Start the pump and by using the discharge control valve, adjust the flow rate and measure it by
noting down the time taken (t) to fill the volumetric tank in the hydraulic bench to a known depth.
• Calculate the actual discharge as follows;
Q = V/t = (A×R)/t
• Before allowing the fluid to flow into the orifice meter apparatus, ensure that the pipelines are free
from air bubbles. To do so, turn on the air-release valves to allow the air bubbles to traverse the pipe
length to enter the tank.
• Open the valve of the orifice meter pipeline to allow water to flow through the orifice plate.
• The manometer present below shows a pressure drop. Record the level of manometric fluid in both
limbs of the manometer in order to determine the differential pressure head.

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 • Calculate the theoretical discharge.
• Determine the coefficient of discharge of the orifice meter by taking the ratio of actual discharge to
the theoretical one.
• Repeat the above process for a different discharge value. To alter the flow rate, rotate the discharge
control valve either clockwise or anticlockwise.
• Average out the value of the coefficient of discharge of the orifice meter.

OBSERVATION TABLE

Tank Level
S. No. Time (sec.)
H1 (cm) H2 (cm)
1 0 3.5
2 3.5 7.0
3 7.0 10.5

Sr. Level of Differential Volume Time Theoretical Actual Coefficient

No. manometric Pressure (V) Discharge Discharge of
fluid (cm) Head, h (t) Discharge
3
(cm) (cm ) Qth Qact
Left Right (sec) Cd
Limb Limb (cm3/s) (cm3/s)
(h1) (h2)

1.

2.

3.

FORMULAES USED:

1. Calculate actual discharge using below formula.

Actual Discharge: - The time taken to collect some, R cm of water in the collecting tank in m³/sec.

Where,
A = area of the collecting tank in m² (30 cm × 28 cm)
R = rise of water level taken in meters (3.5 cm) (H2 – H1)
t = time taken for rise of water level to rise in seconds.

2. Using difference in mercury level “x”, calculate the theoretical discharge of orificemeter by using
following expression

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Where,
h = difference of head in meters = (h2 – h1) × (Sm /S – 1)
= (h2 – h1) ×12.6 m

A1 = Area of at inlet = (π/4)*d12 A2 = Area1 of orifice = (π/4)*d2

2

g = acceleration due to gravity d1 = inlet/pipe diameter = 2.8 cm

d2 = orifice diameter = 1.45 cm Sm = Specific gravity of mercury =13.6
Sw = Specific gravity of water = 1

3. Calculate the coefficient of discharge of orifice meter Cd = Qac / Qth

RESULTS

Coefficient of Discharge of the orifice meter = ………………………

PRECAUTIONS

• The availability of water in the sump tank should be ensured prior to pumping the water.
• The meniscus of the manometer should be read carefully.
• It is preferable to wear safety goggles and gloves while handling hydraulic fluids.
• It is imperative to remove the air bubbles in the pipelines that may otherwise yield misleading
results.

DISCUSSION

• The coefficient of discharge of an ideal pipe is 1. This is because the theoretical and actual flow rate
values coincide. However, the existence of such a pipe is hypothetical and energy or frictional losses
during the flow of fluid can be minimized but not eliminated.
• Depending upon the viscosity of the fluid and its Reynold number, different types of orifice plates
can be used. These include segmental, eccentric, conical, and quadrant orifice plates.
• Orifice meters can serve to measure the discharge through water treatment plants, filtration plants,
oil refineries, etc.
• Make sure while taking readings, that the manometer is properly primed. Priming is the operation of
filling the manometer’s upper part and the connecting pipes with water by venting the air from the
pipes.

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