Manesh Bhudia Group 1
Application of the Bernoulli Equation in a Flume Lab Report
Manesh Bhudia, Student, UCL Civil Engineering The flow rate will be measured using three different
methods at three different positions:
Abstract - Fluid flows is important part of the natural and
technical environment that surrounds us. The understanding
of fluid dynamics is the basis of many technological
processes that significantly improve the quality of life, from
the accuracy of daily weather forecasts to pacemakers used
to aid blood circulation. This report will look into the
fundamental principles of fluid dynamics.
Keywords- Bernoullis equation, Discharge co-efficient,
Flume, Velocity profile, Weir
1. Introduction
Themes Water plan to construct a structure at the Blackfriars
Bridge Foreshore as a part of the Themes Tideway Tunnel
project. This will cause a contraction in the river Themes, this
report will assess the effects of a contraction in an open channel
on the flow rate. This report will also use Bernoullis Equation
to verify theoretical formulas for calculating flow rates through
an orifice and a sharp crested weir.
2. Experimental Setup and Methodology
In the experimental study of flow in a contracted current flume,
a 6 meter flume with a width of 49.5cm is used as illustrated in
fig.1. Water is delivered to a constant head tank though a 10cm
diameter hose from a sump below ground level. At the bottom of
constant head tank there is a circular orifice with a 9.44cm
diameter that allows flow into the flume. The velocity and
height of water is measured at position 1 and 3. The height of
the water is also measured at position 2 where there is a
contraction in the channel to 33.5cm. At the end of the flume
there is a sharp-crested weir which is raised 5.6 cm above the
flume bed. The water discharged over the weir then enters a
rectangular outlet tank with a base of 130cm x 120.5cm, from
which water then discharges into the sump.
Fig.1 A diagram that illustrates the setup of the flume in the laboratory. Where Q
shows the direction of flow.
The water level will be measured at positions one, two and three
along the tank using an ultrasonic distance sensor.
Measurements of the water level above the orifice at the bottom
of the head tank will also be recorded, using a stand pipe. As
well as the velocity of the water at a number of heights above
the flume bed, using an impeller velocity meter.
3. Results and Discussion
I. Cross verifying various methods of measuring flow rate.
1. QADV-Using the water level at position one and the
measurements from an Acoustic Doppler
Velocitmeter (ADV) at position one the flow rate can
be calculated using Q= Velocity x Height x Breadth.
Appendix 1 shows the QADV for each of the 6 cases.
2. Qht-Measurement of flow at the constant head tank
using the flowmeter. Appendix 2 shows Qht values for
each 6 cases.
3. Qout-Measuring the time taken for the discharge tank
to fill by 20cm. Using the known dimensions of the
discharge tank the volume of water can be calculated.
Then the flow rate can be calculated using
Q= volume / time. Appendix 3 shows Qout values for
each 6 cases.
Figure 2 shows a graph which plots QADV and Qht against Qout in order to compare flow
rates.
Figure 2 illustrates how there was a significantly larger error in
Qout than in calculating any of the two other flow rates. This may
have been due to a lag in the time taken to fully close the outlet
with the magnetic stopper, coupled with error arisen due to
parallax when reading the stand pipe.
Figure 2 can also be used to compare flow rates. In theory the
flow rate at any point flow rate should be the same due to the
continuity of flow, so ideally the gradient of both lines would be
1. It is for this reason I have also made the lines intersect point
0,0. From figure 2 I have selected QADV to be my representative
flow rate as the trend line has a smaller linear regression value
and many of the error bars intersect the line. This is despite the
gradient of the line being slightly further away from 1,
compared to Qht.
II. Validation of formulas and coefficients for calculating flow
rate through an orifice and over a sharp crested weir.
The flow rate through a sharp edged circular orifice can be
2
d
calculated using the formula Q =C 2 g h
4
where Qor is the flow rate through the orifice, Cor is the orifice
discharge coefficient, d is the diameter of the orifice, g is the
acceleration due to gravity and hor is the height of water above
the orifice. As the water leaves the orifice the water becomes
turbulant hence flow rate is much lower than the theoretical
value, which is why a co-efficient is required to amend this.
Manesh Bhudia Group 1

Plotting Qadv against the ideal flow rate expected through the 1
2 p+ V 2+ gh=constant , is a fundamental
d 2
flume, 2 g h , the values can be found in
4 component of fluid dynamics. It considers the conservation of
appendix 3 produces the graph shown in fig. 3. energy and illustrates a relationship between pressure, velocity
and elevation [1]. The continuity equation
V 1 A 1=V 2 A 2 , states that the rate at which a volume

enters a system is equal to the rate at which it leaves, providing

the flow is steady.

v 2 A2
v 1=
A1

If a stream line on the surface is considered the pressure head

can be neglected. Therefore:

Fig.3 A graph to calculate the orifice discharge coefficient 2 2

v 21 v 22 v A
The graph in fig.3 shows an evident linear relationship between z 1+ =z2 + = z 1+ 2 22
Qadv and the ideal flow rate through the orifice. The gradient of 2g 2g 2 g A1
which would be the discharge coefficient. The line has a
gradient of 0.47, compared to the typical value of 0.61 [1].
There is a 20% variation in values. The graph also has a large y This can be rearranged to form an equation with the velocity at
intercept which would suggest there is a large systematic error. the contraction as the subject:

2 g( z 1z 2 )
The flow rate over a sharp crested weir can be calculated using

Q=C w 2 g b h1.5 v 2= A 1 2 2
the formula, w where Q is the flow (A 1 A2 )
rate over the weir, Cw is the weir discharge coefficient, g is the
acceleration due to gravity, b is the breadth of the channel at the Multiplying both sides of the equation with the area at the
weir, and hw is the height of water above the weirs edge. contraction gives the theoretical flow rate at the contraction:
Plotting Qadv against the ideal flow rate expected over the weir

2 g b h1.5
w , the values of which can be found in

appendix 4 produces the graph shown in fig. 4.

Q 2= A1 A 2
2 g ( z 1z 2 )
( A 21 A22 )
This equation estimates the flow rate at the contraction however
in reality the flow rate will be lower, therefore this can be
amended by adding a discharge coefficient to it. By plotting the
ideal flow rate using the equation above against QADV, the
coefficient can be calculated, as illustrated in figure 5. The
values of which can be found in appendix 6.

Fig.4 A graph to calculate the weir discharge coefficient

The graph in fig.4 shows a linear relationship between Qadv and

the ideal flow rate over the weir. The gradient of which would
be the weir discharge coefficient. The line has a gradient of 0.91,
compared to the typical value of 0.68 [2]. There is a 34%
discrepancy in values.

III. Derive and validate a formula for the increase in flow

velocity due to a contraction in the channel.
A formula for the increased flow due to a contraction in a
channel can be derived using two formulas, Bernoullis steady
flow of energy equation and the continuity of flow equation.
Bernoullis equation,
Fig.5 A graph to calculate the discharge coefficient due to a contraction in the channel
The graph shows a linear relationship with a gradient of 0.868.
Hence the discharge coefficient for this contraction in the flow is
0.868.
Manesh Bhudia Group 1

suggests that there is significant viscos drag in below 3cm,

which reduces the mean flow along the flume.

4. Concluding remarks

In conclusion I believe the data obtained from the laboratory

experiment has verified the numerous formulae used to calculate
flow rate. Despite having discrepancies of up to 34% in
discharge coefficients I believe that if this laboratory experiment
was repeated so that a suitable mean value could be obtained,
the mean value would be in closer agreement with the values
obtained from books and journals.

Fig. 6 A graph to illustrate how the velocity profiles vary at different heights above the 5. References
flume bed.

Using the data collected from the impeller velocity meter, see
appendix 7, velocity profiles can be constructed as shown in
figure 6. The data from case 1 can be considered anomalous as it [1] B. Massey, "Mechanics of Fluids," in 8th edition, 2006, p.
doesnt fit the trend observed by other cases, this may be due to 117 &125.
a systematic error when measuring.
[2] C. E. a. R. W. C. Kindsvater, "Discharge characteristics of
The trend lines on figure 6 have been extrapolated in order to rectangular thin-plate weirs.," vol. 3001, American Society
find the flow velocity at the surface of the flume. The velocity at of Civil Engineers, 1959.
the bed of the flume would be 0m/sec, because the particles in
contact with the boundary will have the same velocity as the
boundary, due to viscosity. The further away from the boundary
the smaller the viscous drag becomes which is why the
velocities have a logarithmic trend line which increases with the
distance from the bed. Many of the velocities at a distance of
3cm above the bed are above the mean flow velocity. This