Experiment No.

6
Bernoulli’s Principle

Aman Kumar | 1701CE03 | Fluid mechanics lab| 4th Oct 2018

I. OBJECTIVE:
To demonstrate use of venturimeter and to find coefficient of discharge C d for it.
II. MATERIAL REQUIRED:
1. A pipe provided with inlet and outlet and pressure tapping and venturi in
between them
2. Differential u-tube manometer
3. Collecting tank with piezometer
4. Stopwatch
5. Scale

Figure 1: Experimental Setup

III. INTRODUCTION:
If a constriction is placed in a closed channel carrying a stream of fluid, there will be
increase in velocity, and hence increase in kinetic energy, at the constriction, from an
energy balance, as given by Bernoulli’s theorem, there must be a corresponding
reduction in pressure. Rate of discharge from the constriction can be calculated by
knowing this pressure reduction, the area available for flow at the constriction, the
density of fluid, and the coefficient of discharge. The last named is defined as ratio of
actual flow to the theoretical flow.
IV. THEORY:
Venturimeter is a device used for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe.
The basic principle on which a venturimeter works is that by reducing the cross
sectional area of the flow of passage, a pressure difference is created and the
measurement of the pressure difference enables the determination of the discharge
through a pipe. The Venturimeter consists of three main parts as shown in fig 2.
1. Convergent cone
2. A Cylindrical throat
3. Divergent cone
The inlet section of the venturimeter is of the same diameter as that of the pipe,
which is followed by a convergent cone. The convergent cone is a short pipe, which
tapers from the original size of the pipe to that of the throat of the venturimeter. The
throat of the venturimeter is a short parallel-sided tube having uniform cross
sectional area smaller than that of the pipe. The divergent cone of the venturimeter
is a gradually diverging pipe with its cross sectional area increasing from that of the
throat to the original size of the pipe. At the inlet section and at the throat, (i.e.,
section 1 and 2) pressure taps are provided to measure the pressure difference. By
applying the Bernoulli equation to the inlet section and at the throat, (i.e., section 1
and 2) an expression for the discharge is obtained.
Water is allowed to flow through the meter at different rates ranging from zero to
the maximum and the corresponding pressure differences shown in the manometer
are noted. The actual discharge A is determined using the measuring tank and the
stop watch.

V. PROCEDURE:
1. The pipe is selected for conducting venturimeter experiment
2. The motor is switched on, as a result water will flow through it.
3. According to the flow the reading in the manometer will change.
4. The reading of H1 and H2 is noted.
5. Note the initial reading of water in tank.
6. Measure the flow of water using stopwatch for 60 seconds.
7. Calculate the flow rate and find coefficient of discharge.

VI. OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

DATA
Acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81 m/s2 Diameter at inlet d1 = 0.028 m
Area of measuring tank A = 0.077 m 2 Diameter at inlet d1 = 0.014 m
OBSERVATION TABLE
SR. NO. H1 (cm) H2 (cm) R1 (cm) R2 (cm) T (s)
1 63.3 57.2 8 20.6 60

R= (𝑚)
Qa = .( )
a1 = 𝑑 (𝑚 )
a2 = 𝑑 (𝑚 )
H= (𝑚)
Qt = (𝑚 /𝑠)
Cd =
after calculating, we find
R = 0.126 m
Qa = 1.617 x 10-4 ( )
a1 = 6.1525 x 10-4 (𝑚 )
a2 =1.5393 x 10-4 (𝑚 )
H = 0.061 m
Qt = 1.73 x 10-4 (𝑚 /𝑠)
.
Cd = . = 0.934

VII. SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS:

Following are the safety-precautions taken while doing this experiment.
1. Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 200 volts and above 230
volts.
2. Never fully close the flow control valve v2 and the by-pass valve v1
simultaneously.
3. To prevent clogging of moving parts, run pump at least once in a fortnight.
4. Always keep apparatus free from dust.
VIII.SOURCES OF ERROR:
1. Tank water contains air which may create bubbles in pipes.
2. Parallax error
3. Instrument error in stopwatch

IX. RESULT:
The value of discharge coefficient is found to be 0.93. which is close to the
expected value of Cd of venturimeter which usually lies between 0.95 to 0.98.

X. CONCLUSION:
This experiment was conducted to find discharge coefficient of venturimeter.
Results shows that flow rate of water did not change at any cross-section
either it is smaller or larger. This also verifies the continuity equation as well
as Bernoulli’s theorem .