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COLIN PROFFIT 13/0905/2215

ORIN EDWARDS 13/0905/2224
JOEMOAL WILLIAMS 13/0905/1368
ANDRE CHOWBAY 13/0905/0369
DAHLIA DURGA 13/0905/----
NICHOL EASTMAN 13/0905/2240
 Applications of the Energy Equation

What are PIPE ORIFICES?

A Pipe orifice or orifice plate is a device
used for measuring flow rate in pipes. In
some cases it is often called a restriction
plate.

it is used when the fluid is single-phase

(rather than being a mixture of gases and
liquids, or of liquids and solids)

It uses the same principle as a Venturi

nozzle, namely Bernoulli's principle.
Applications of the Energy Equation
History

The first record of the use of orifices for the

measurement of fluids was by Giovanni B. Venturi, an
Italian Physicist.

Also Professor Robinson of Ohio State University has

designed and used the orifaces plate to measure gas
in the 1890s

About 1903 Mr. T.B. Weymouth began a series of tests in

Pennsylvania leading to the publication of coefficients
for orifice meters.
 Applications of the Energy Equation

Orifices plates can be employed to

Determine mass flow rate
Determine volumetric flow rate
Bernoulli's principle
which states that there is a relationship between the
pressure of the fluid and the velocity of the fluid. When the
velocity increases, the pressure decreases and vice versa.
Applications of the Energy Equation
Applications of the Energy Equation
LIMITATION ON THE VELOCITY OF FLOW IN
A PIPELINE

Since Bernoullis equation requires that the total energy

per unit weight of a flowing fluid shall, if there are no
losses, remain constant, any increase in velocity or
elevation must be accompanied by a reduction in
pressure. Furthermore, since the pressure can never fall
below absolute zero, there will be a maximum velocity for
a given configuration of a pipeline which cannot be
exceeded. For a flowing liquid, the pressure will never fall
to absolute zero since air or vapour will be released and
form pockets in the flow well before this can occur.
THEORY OF SMALL ORIFICES
DISCHARGING
TO ATMOSPHERE
 An orifice is a geometric opening in the side of a wall and
tank, through which fluid can flow. A circular sharp edged
orifice at the side of a water tank is shown. The volume rate
of flow discharged through an orifice will depend upon the
head of the fluid above the level of the orifice and it can
therefore be used as a means of flow measurement.
 Total energy per = Total energy per
unit weight at A unit weight at B,

Putting = H, = 0, = v and Pa = Pb
Velocity of jet, v = 2
Torricellis Law describes the relationship between the
velocity of fluid leaving a container under the force of
gravity and the height of the fluid. In its simplest form,
Torricellis law states that water in a tank will escape
through a (small) hole in the bottom with the same speed
that it would attain falling from the same height to the
level of the hole. Torricellis result may be calculated using
the conservation of energy methods.
Terricellis law derive

- = 2 2
+ - -
2 2

But - = H, and the velocity at A is negligible due to

the surface area and the area at the orifice. We know this
from the continuity equation where
1 1 = 2 2 , also we know that the pressure at A and B is
atmospheric pressure therefore =
2
H= , 2 = 2gh, = 2
2
Therefore V = 2 , this is the theoretical velocity
Discharge at the Orifice
Q = AV, where V = 2

Q = A 2
There are two reasons for the difference in theoretical and actual discharge. One is because there
is a loss of energy, the actual discharge at B is less at A, it is modify by introducing a coefficient
known as the coefficient of discharge ( ).
Actual Discharge
=
= A 2
Actual Velocity at B
To find this velocity we introduce another coefficient known as the coefficient of velocity ( ).
= V
= 2
Second, the area of the issuing jet at B is less than the area of the orifice A at C. This is where we
have a contraction in the fluid body this region is known as the Vena Contracta.
Actual area of the jet at B
Our third coefficient is the coefficient of contraction ( ).
= A
Actual discharge at B
=
= A 2
But
= A 2
Now we equate the two discharge
A 2 = A 2
A 2
=
A 2
 =
Also we have now

=

Example
A jet of water discharges horizontally into the atmosphere from an orifice in the
vertical side of a large open-topped tank Derive an expression for the
actual velocity v of a jet at the vena contracta if the jet falls a distance z vertically in a
horizontal distance x, measured from the vena contracta. If the head of water above
the orifice is H, determine the coefficient of velocity.

If the orifice has an area of 650 mm2 and the jet falls a distance y of 0.5 m in a
horizontal distance x of 1.5 m from the vena contracta, calculate the values of the
coefficients of velocity, discharge and contraction, given that the volume rate of flow
is 0.117 m3 and the head H above the orifice is 1.2 m.
Solution
Let t be the time taken for a particle of fluid to travel from the vena contracta region to the ground.

Deriving an expression for the velocity of jet at the vena contracta.

In the x or horizontal direction the distance travel is due to velocity and in the y or vertical direction the
distance travel is due to gravity.

V=

2
x = vt y=
2
2 2
t= =
2
t=

equating t

2 2 2 2
= , = , 2 = , v=
2 2
this is the actual velocity of the jet at the vena contracta.
Given
x = 1.5m
y = 0.5m
h = 1.2m
A = 6502 = 6.5 104 2

0.117 3
=
6

2
2
=
2

2
= 4
 = 2
4

= 1.52
4(0.5)(1.2)

= 0.968

=
2

0.1173
= 60

6.5104 2 21.29.8072
 = 0.618

=
= 0.6180.968
= 0.638