LAB REPORT SKPU 1711

FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

2016/2017 01
EXPERIMENT

: FLOW MEASUREMENT

LAB INSTRUCTOR
SECTION

:
:

GROUP NO.
GROUP MEMBERS

:
No Name
.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

DATE OF
PREPARATION

DATE OF
EXPERIMENT

NRIC

GRADING SECTION
Criteria

Score

Comment

Total Mark

Cover Sheet
Report Summary
Theory
Experimental Procedures
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
References
Appendix

Summary
The aim of this experiment is to determine and compare the coefficient of discharge,

for a series of flow measurement devices. Such flow meters are based on the principle
that the change in the static pressure or pressure drop or head can be related to the
change in the velocity caused by a change in the cross-sectional area of the flow. The
relationship between flow rate and pressure difference is determined by the Bernoulli
equation, assuming that changes in elevation, work and heat transfer are negligible. Some
typical head meters are described briefly in the following:
The Venturi meter is a device for measuring discharge in a pipe. It consists of a rapidly
converging section which increases the velocity of flow and hence reduces the pressure.
It then returns to the original dimensions of the pipe by a gently diverging the diffuser. By
measuring the pressure differences, the discharge coefficient can be calculated. This is a
particularly accurate method of flow measurement as energy loss is very small.

An orifice plate is a restriction with an opening smaller than the pipe diameter which is
inserted in the pipe; the typical orifice plate has a concentric, sharp edged opening, as
shown in Figure 2. Because of the smaller area the fluid velocity increases, causing a
corresponding decrease in pressure. The flow rate can be calculated from the measured
pressure drop across the orifice plate, P1-P3. The orifice plate is the most commonly used
flow sensor, but it creates a rather large non-recoverable pressure due to the turbulence
around the plate, leading to high energy consumption.

A Pitot tube is a simple device used to measure flow rates. It works for both liquid and
gas flows. The device, in its simplest form, consists of a small diameter hollow tube bent
into the shape of a L. Usually the upstream opening is smaller than the diameter of the
tube. The height, above the center-line, of the fluid in the in the vertical leg of the tube is
related to the velocity of the fluid in the flow. Pitot tubes (also called Pitot probes) and
Pitot-static tubes are widely used for flow speed measurement. A Pitot tube is just a tube
with a pressure tap at the stagnation point that measures stagnation pressure, while a
Pitot-static probe has both a stagnation pressure tap and several circumferential static
pressure taps and it measures both stagnation and static pressures. Figure 3 illustrates the
types of Pitot tubes.

Introduction
Measuring the flow rate is an important aspect in all industries. There are several ways to
measure the flow of fluids in pipes.
Objectives:
1. Measure the flow of water using different flow meters (Orifice plate flow meter and
measuring nozzle, Pitot tube, Venturi nozzle and rotameter) by applying Bernoullis
principle
2. Investigate the relationship between flow and pressure through different flow meters
3. Determine the corresponding discharge coefficients (Cd) for each flow meters

Theory on Venturi meter

Referring to the above Venturi tube diagram, the Bernoulli equation can be applied to
points 1 and 2. Following the analysis, the equations for flow rate can be derived.
Volumetric flow rate:

Qth= A V
3 3

2g

A
3

h1

1-

where:

A1

Qth

theoretical volumetric flow rate (m /s)

A1
A3
h1

cross sectional area at 1 (m )

2
cross sectional area at 3 (m )
height of manometer column 1 in meters (m)

h3

height of manometer column 3 in meters (m)

The discharge coefficient is defined as the ratio of actual volume flow rate to theoretical
volume flow rate:
Coefficient of discharge, Cd = Qactual/Qtheoretical
The discharge coefficient is less than unity due to the losses caused by the wall shear
stress, the losses in contraction and the losses during expansion.
Q act

C Q
d

th

2g

= Cd A3

h3

h1

A 2

3
1
A

2g
3

3
1 A
1

h1 h3

2g
and Qact n h ..........where n C

dA

3 A 2

3
A
1

1-

This equation can be written as:

Log Qact = log n + aLog h
In order to find n and hence, Cd experimentally, a graph of Log Q act versus Log h can
be
used.

1.2

Orifice Plate Meter

Referring to the orifice plate diagram, the Bernoulli equation can be applied to points 1
and 3. Following the analysis, the equations for volumetric flow rate can be expressed as
the following:

Q
th

where:

Qth
a
m

=a

2g h

1 - m2

theoretical volumetric flow rate (m /s)

2
cross-sectional area of plate (m )
ratio of cross-sectional area of plate to pipe, (a/A)
difference in height of manometer column (m)

The discharge coefficient is defined as the ratio of actual volume flow rate to theoretical
volume flow rate:
Coefficient of discharge, Cd = Qactual/Qtheoretical

1.3

Pitot and Pitot Static Tube

Referring to Figure, writing the Bernoullis equation between points 1 and 2:

v2

z
g 2g
2g
1 g
v2

and zeroing out z1, z2, and v2 we get

v2

P
2

2g

Assigning values to the various parameters

Pgd

and P g(d h)

Substituting into the Bernoulli equation, neglecting friction, andsolving for v1 we obtain,
v2
2g

PP
o

g(d h) g d

Therefore, (theoretical velocity) is

v 2 g h
Where h is head difference measured.
The difference between the Pitot tube and the static Pitot tube is the small opening on the
side of the submerged part of the tube. Unlike the stagnation tube, a direct measurement
of P is possible. Using the Bernoulli equation and neglecting friction:

P v2 z P v2
z
g 2g 1 g 2g
1

P
1

P
2

g g

2
2

2g

v 2
P

The value of v calculated through the above equation is called theoretical value.
However, the actual value is calculated as:
v c 2gh or v c

c : equipment constant (c = 1 if Re > 3000 for pitot- static tube and depends on types of
pitot tubes).