CE 271 FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES

CONTENT

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.

Introduction
Aim
Apparatus used
Theory
Procedure
Data Analysis & Calculations
Discussion

INTRODUCTION

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CE 271 FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES

The analysis of the quantity of water which can be discharged through an orifice is arrived at in a
simple, straightforward manner by the application of Bernoulli's equation. However,
experimental tests typically produce a result which is only some 65% of the solution indicated by
the simple analysis. The study of water flow through an orifice is therefore a classic topic to
illustrate the need for a semi-empirical approach which is so often required in Mechanics of
Fluids.

LIST OF SYMBOLS

cross sectional area of orifice

m2

ac

cross sectional area at vena contracta

m2

Cc

coefficient of contraction

Cd

coefficient of discharge

Cv

coefficient of velocity

acceleration due to gravity 981

difference in height
volume flow rate

m/s2
m
m3/sec

horizontal distance

vertical distance

RESULTS

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CE 271 FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES

According to x versus (4hy)0.5 ,Cv value that we got from the slope of the graph is almost
equal to the theoretical values that we calculated from the equation.

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CE 271 FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES

DISCUSSION
There are two methods of analyzing the discharge of a vessel through an orifice. The first of
these applies when the orifice is small in comparison with the head above the orifice; this is
known as small orifice analysis. In this case variations in velocity with height within the jet of
water can be ignored and the velocity is assumed to be constant.
The alternative analysis for large orifices takes into account the variation of velocity with height
within the jet of water issuing from the orifice.

Many constants were calculated during the experiment

They were,
Cd = Coefficient of Discharge

=Actual measured discharge/ Theoretical discharge

Cc = Coefficient of Contraction

=Area of the jet at vena contracta / Area of the orifice

Cv = Coefficient of Velocity

=Velocity at vena contracta / Theoretical Velocity

When we consider Cv values for the 4mm and 6mm, theoretical values that we calculated from
the equations are lower than the experimental values. For Cd values theoretical values are higer
than the values that we calculated from the equation.

Reasons for variations between theoretical and experimental values are,

Human errors
Frictional loss in liquid
Measurement errors
Change in water level
Defects in orifices
The fluid does not flow in streamline condition. Specially with higher H values.

Methods that could be used to improve this practical

When measuring Q, time for a large volume of water so the error caused by measuring
the time is minimized.

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CE 271 FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES

This experiment should carry out for a large no of different H values so that the human

and measurement errors are minimized.

A see-through bucket should be used when taking the x values
The amount of pipe that comes out from the tank should be minimized to lower the
frictional loss.

REFERENCES

Mysite.du.edu,fluids/orifice[online], last accessed on 23rd of march 2014 at:

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CE 271 FLUID MECHANICS

FLOW THROUGH ORIFICES

http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/tech/fluids/orifice.htm

cee.citadel.edu,fluid lab/theory files[online], last accessed on 23rd of march 2014 at:

http://cee.citadel.edu/civl418/Fluids_Lab/Laboratory_Theory_files/Flow%20Through
%20Orifices.doc

Wikipedia.org,bernoullis principle[online], last accessed on 23rd of march 2014 at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli's_principle

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