CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

CALIBRATION OF VENTURI AND ORIFICE METERS

TITLE

Experiment No.:1

• CHE 402-V2 • ChE LABORATORY 1

Date Started: February 18, 2019 Group no. 3

Date Finished: February 18, 2019 Members:

1. Belicario, Jureen

2. Clarin, John Ray

3. Flores, Angelica

4. Ordono, Nino

5. Pueblas, Christhel

6. Villaver, Germaine

Prepared by: John Ray O. Clarin

Prepared for: Engr. Kirsten Gail T. Miaga

 Abstract

This experiment was done in order to know the properties and differences of an orifice

meter and Venturi meter. This two types of head meters are used in measuring flow rates. The

equipment was turned on and one at a time the head meters was allowed to flow with water

ensuring that no large bubbles forming inside the tubes of the head meters.The properties of

both head meter was pre-recorded, such as diameters and cross sectional areas. Manometer

readings of both head meters were recorded, the upstream and downstream difference were

taken and recorded as Rm. For the actual flow rate, volume was taken at a certain time interval

and recorded. The plot of the coefficient of discharge for both orifice and venturi against the

Reynolds number would show a significant trend.

I. Introduction

In the field of chemical engineering, it is important to measure and control the

amount of substance, material or chemicals entering and exiting a chemical or any other

processing plant. A majority of these materials are in the form of fluids, thus flowing in

pipes or conduits. The simplest in measuring are those that are measured directly in the

volume of fluids, such as an ordinary gas and water meters and positive – displacement

pumps. The most common flow measuring devices are the pitot tube, venturi meter, orifice

meter, and open – channel weirs. For this experiment the venturi meter and orifice meter

was used.

For venturi meters, it is usually inserted directly into a pipeline.Venturi meters

measure flow rate using a converging section of the pipe in order to give an increase in the

flow velocity and a corresponding pressure drop from which the flow rate can be

determined. The manometer for a venturi is connected to the two pressure taps, one in the

throat and the other in the upstream section. The pressure difference for both points will be

measured.An example of venturi meter is shown below:

Figure 2. Venturi meter

 As for the orifice meter, it is used in ordinary installations in a process plant where

the venturi meter has disadvantages. Venturi meters occupy a lot of space and is expensive.

As for the throat diameter, it is fixed and may result in inaccurate pressure differences. The

orifice meter solves this problems but may result in a much larger permanent head or power

loss. An example of orifice meter is shown below:

Figure 2. Orifice meter

II. Theory

Flow meters are measurement devices commonly used in measuring volume or

mass of a fluid such as gas or liquid. Flow meters comes in many names such as: flow

gauge, flow indicators, liquid meter, flow rate sensor, etc. which depends on the type

of industry.

In the field of chemical engineering, some of the most common flow meters

used are the orifice and the venturi meter. These types of flow meter, uses the pressure

difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the element in measuring the

change in pressure by increasing the flow rate.

In comparison the orifice meter is by far the simplest and most inexpensive of

the two. The orifice meter consists of a flat plate which is perpendicularly placed to the

stream flow, attached to the conduit flanges, with a concentric hole with respect to the

conduit. An Orifice Meter is basically a type of flow meter used to measure the rate of

flow of Liquid or Gas, especially Steam, using the Differential Pressure Measurement

principle. It is mainly used for robust applications as it is known for its durability and

is very economical. As the name implies, it consists of an Orifice Plate which is the

basic element of the instrument. When this Orifice Plate is placed in a line, a differential

pressure is developed across the Orifice Plate. This pressure drop is linear and is in

direct proportion to the flow-rate of the liquid or gas. Since there is a drop in pressure,

hence it is used where a drop in pressure or head loss is permissible.

As for a venturi meter, it is a device used to measure the flow rate or discharge

of fluid through a pipe. Venturi meter is an application of Bernoulli’s equation as is an

orifice meter. Its basic principle is also depends on the Bernoulli equation i.e. velocity

increases pressure decreases. The principle of venture meter is firstly developed by G.B.

Venturi in 1797 but this principle comes into consideration with the help of C. Herschel
in 1887. The principle is that when cross sectional area of the flow is reduced then a

pressure difference is created between the different areas of flow which helps in

measuring the difference in pressure. With the help of this pressure difference we can

easily measure the discharge in flow.

For the equations governing the orifice and venturi meter, it both follows the

continuity equation which states that the decrease in the area will increase the rate of

the flow of a fluid. This increase in velocity will result in a pressure drop in order to

conserve mechanical energy according to the law of conservation of energy. For a

venturi meter the area of the tube decreases gradually, because of this the velocity

increases gradually. While for an orifice meter, there is a sudden decrease in the area

of the flow due to the restriction of the orifice plate. Both of which causes an increase

in the velocity and causes a pressure drop between two points which can be determined

using a manometer connected to the two points.

Equations used in both the venturi and orifice meter are derived from the

Bernoulli's equation and continuity equation:

III. Apparatus and Experimental Procedures

Materials/ Equipment:

 Hydraulic bench apparatus

 Orifice meter,

 Venturi meter

 Stopwatch

 Manometer

 Water

 Caliper

Procedures:

The venturi and orifice meters were set up. The pump was started and the main

regulating flow valve was gradually opened to fix the water flow rate. The tubes from

the venturi or orifice pressure tapping point were connected to the manometer, care was

taken to ensure that there are no air bubbles formed within the tubes. Ample time of

flowing was allowed to stabilize the flow of water. The upstream and downstream of

the manometer was read and recorded. The diameter of the cylindrical cross-section of

the tapping points of the apparatus were recorded. The theoretical volumetric flow rate

was recorded. For any reading of the manometer, the volume discharged at the outlet

was collected and the time to collect the certain volume was measured using a graduated

cylinder. The volume and time were recorded. The actual volumetric flow rate was

measured. Several trials were taken by adjusting the valve opening. The data were
recorded and the coefficient of discharge and Reynolds number were computed for both

venturi and orifice meters.

IV. Results and Discussions

Results:

Upstream Downstream Q(actual) Q(theo) Rm C Nre

59 58.5 33.65 42.05 0.5 0.80023781 4118.55

63.5 62.8 45.54 49.75 0.7 0.91537688 4873.13

77.5 76 69.53 72.83 1.5 0.954689 7133.54

83 81 76.92 84.1 2 0.91462545 8237.1

92 89.5 89.03 94.03 2.5 0.94682548 9209.36

Table 1. Experimental data for Orifice meter

Upstream Downstream Q(actual) Q(theo) Rm C Nre

55.5 55.48 17.18 21.06 0.02 0.81576448 1340.67

75 74.8 54.07 66.6 0.2 0.81186186 4239.57

86 85.7 73.19 81.56 0.3 0.89737616 5192.39

93.5 93.1 82.65 94.18 0.4 0.87757486 5995.66

98.5 98 85.06 105.3 0.5 0.80778727 6703.35

Table 2. Experimental data for Venturi meter

 Venturi Meter
0.92

0.9
Coefficient of Discharge
0.88

0.86

0.84

0.82

0.8
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000
Reynolds Number

Figure 3. Graph of Cd against Reynolds number for Venturi Meter

Orifice Meter
0.98
0.96
Coefficient of Discharge

0.94
0.92
0.9
0.88
0.86
0.84
0.82
0.8
0.78
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000
Reynolds Number

Figure 4. Graph of Cd against Reynolds number for Orifice Meter

 Pressure Drop Vs. Flow Rate (Venturi)
0.6

0.5
Pressure Drop
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Flow Rate

Figure 5. Pressure drop against flow rate for Venturi Meter

Pressure Drop Vs. Flow Rate (Orifice)

3

2.5
Pressure Drop

1.5

0.5

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Flow Rate

Figure 6. Pressure drop against flow rate for Orifice Meter

Discussion:

For the data in Table 1, it shows the values gathered for the venturi meter. The Venturi

meter had very little noticeable pressure drops than that of the orifice meter. As the flow rate

was increased gradually, the Reynolds number increased since it is directly proportional with

each other. As for the discharge coefficient of the Venturi meter, it was computed to be around

0.80 which is almost the same for all intervals of flow rate. The graph on Figure 3 shows the

relationship of the coefficient of discharge with the Reynolds number. It showed to increase at

the first two runs then slowly drops back down.

For the orifice meter, Table 2 shows the values used in computing the Qtheo and the Cd

along with the NRe. The orifice meter showed greater pressure drops than that of the Venturi

meter. As for the values of discharge coefficient, it was computed to be about 0.90 which was

also almost constant for all intervals of flow rate. Increase in flow rate also meant in increase

of Reynolds number. As show in Figure 4, the graph trended upwards and stayed above.

For both flow meters, Figure 5 and 6 showed that as the velocity of the flow increased,

the pressure drop between the two points of both flow meter increased giving an upward trend

in the graphs.
Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusion

For this experiment, the data successfully showed that in increasing the flow

rate of the fluid, the pressure drop between two points also increased. The

coefficient of discharge for the equipment also was found out to be about 0.80 for

Venturi and 0.90 for the Orifice meter. The graphs also showed its relationship to

the Reynolds number taken at different interval as the flow rate increased.

Recommendations

Furthermore, to be more accurate at gathering data it would be best if no bubbles

were at the tubes of the equipment in order to get exact pressures drops. If large air

bubbles was found inside the tubes, the pressure drop in the manometer would be

very erroneous. The slightest drop in the manometer would cause a very large

computational error. The calculated data was found out to be very sensitive with

slight changes to the pressure drop.

Reference(s)

[1] Geankoplis C.J. 2012, Principles of Transport Processes and Separation Processes,

Pearson Education, Inc. pg. 929.

[2] Richardson J.F., Harker J.H., &Backhurst J.R. 2002, Chemical Engineering Volume

2, 5th edition, Particle Technology and Separation Processes, Butterworth-Heinemann

An imprint of Elsevier Science Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP 225

Wildwood Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801-2041

[3] McCabe, W. L., Smith, J. C., &Harriot, P. (1993). Unit Operations of Chemical

Engineering (5thed.). New York; London: McGraw-Hill