Expt No:

Date

DETERMINATION OF COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE AND

CALIBRATION OF VENTURI METER
AIM

i)

To find the co-efficient of discharge

ii)

To calibrate the given venturimeter.

iii)

To plot the graphs Cd Vs H, log Qa Vs log H and Qa Vs H (calibration curve)

APPARATUS
Apparatus consists of a closed circuit pipe arrangement connected with an venture meter.
A centrifugal pump is used to supply water, the flow rate can be varied by adjusting the valve
fitted to the supply pipe. A U-tube manometer is used for measuring the pressure difference
between the inlet and the just outlet of the venturimeter. A measuring tank having dimensions
40cm X 30cm, fitted with a piezometer is used to measure the actual discharge through the
venture meter.
THEORY
A venturimeter is commonly used to measure discharge in closed conduits having pipe
flow. It consists of a converging cone, a throat section, and a diverging cone.

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The theoretical discharge for a venturi is given by the equation

A A . 2 gH
Qth 1 2
A12 A22
m3/s
Where A1 is the area of the pipe, A2 is the area at the venture throat, H the head causing
flow, and g the acceleration due to gravity.
The above equation is applicable for incompressible frictionless flow only. In order to
account for the frictional and other losses, a discharge coefficient, Cd must be introduced in the
above equation to get the actual discharge

Therefore

Cd =

Qa
Qth

The actual discharge Qa is measured by experiment and hence Cd can be calculated.

n
The calibration equation is given by Qa = KH , where K and n are constants and H is the

manometer reading.

PROCEDURE
1) Start the pump after closing all the delivery valves.
2) Open the delivery valve slightly and remove all the air bubbles from the U- tube
manometer and the connecting tubes.
3) Open the inlet valve and set it for a particular flow rate.
4) Note the pressure difference in the U- tube manometer.
5) Using a stopwatch, find the time taken for x cm of water level rise in the measuring tank.
6) Repeat the experiment for different flow rate setting and tabulate the readings.
7) Close all the valves and stop the pump.

SAMPLE CALCULATION (READING NO:

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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I.

Determination of coefficient of discharge

Cd =

Qa
Qth

Coefficient of discharge,
Where Qa is the actual discharge in cm3/sec
Qth is the theoritical discharge in cm3/sec
I.a) Calculation of Actual Discharge Qa
Actual discharge is measured using a collecting tank.
Qa = (A * x)/t cm3/s
Area of the collecting tank, A

cm2

Rise of water in the collecting tank, x

cm

Time for 5cm of rise of water level

in the collecting tank, t =

Actual discharge, (A * x)/t

cm3/s.

Therefore, Actual discharge, Qa

cm3/s.

I.b) Calculation of Theoretical Discharge, Qth

Qth
Theoretical discharge of the venture is calculated using the equation,

A1 A2 . 2 gH
A12 A22

m3/s

I.b1) calculation of area at inlet and at throat of the given venturimeter

Diameter at the inlet of the venturimeter , d1

cm

Diameter at the throat of the venturimeter, d2

cm

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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 * d 12
A1 =
4
Cross sectional area at the inlet of the venturimeter,

cm2

Cross sectional area at the inlet of the venturimeter, A1 =

A1 =

cm2

* d 22
A2 =
4
Cross sectional area at the throat of the venturimeter,
cm2
Cross sectional area at the throat of the venturimeter, A 2 =

cm2

A2 =

cm2

I.b2)Calculation of Head Causing Flow

Head-causing flow is measured using a U- tube manometer.
hm = h2 - h1 cm of Hg
Left side reading of the U- tube manometer, h1 =

cm of mercury

Right side reading of the U- tube manometer, h 2 =

cm of mercury

m
- 1
w
Density of mercury, m 13600
Head causing flow, H = hm
Density of water, w 1000

Head Causing Flow, H

= (h1-h2) 12.6 cm of water

=

Therefore, Head Causing Flow, H =

Acceleration due to gravity, g

cm of water.

cm of water

= 981 cm/s2

Therefore,
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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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Qth

A1 A2 . 2 gH
A12 A22

Theoretical Discharge, Qth

Theoretical discharge, Qth

cm3/s
cm3/s.

Therefore,
Coefficient of Discharge

Cd =

Coefficient of discharge,

Qa
Qth

=
Therefore, Coefficient of discharge, Cd

II) Calibration of venturimeter

n
The calibration equation of the venturimeter is discharge, Qa = KH .

Where K and n are constants for the venturimeter.

H is the head causing flow in centimeters of water.

cm

K is the Antilog (log K)

Where logK is the Y intercept of the graph log Qa Vs log H =
K = Antilog (log K)

Antilog (log ---------) =

n is slop of the graph log Qa Vs log H = y/x

therefore, Actual discharge,

Qa=K H n
=

(For calibration curve use the values from calibration table)

RESULTS
1. The coefficient of discharge for the given venturimeter, Cd =
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2. The given venturimeter is calibrated

3. The graphs Cd Vs H, log Qa Vs log H and Qa Vs H (calibration curve) are plotted.
INFERENCE

VIVA VOICE
1) What is the effect of the ratio d2/d1 on the value of Cd?
2) Why the diameter of the throat cannot be kept very small?
3) What will happen if the venturimeter is reversed?
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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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4) Can we use an inverted U-tube manometer? If so, how will you determine Cd?
5) What changes in the formula will be required if the venturimeter is vertical?
6) What are the advantages and disadvantages of a venturimeter over an orificemeter?

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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Observations and Tabular Column

Diameter at the inlet d1=20mm=2cm
Diameter at the throat, d2=12.5mm = 1.25cm
Area of collecting tank, A= 50*40cm2= 2000 cm2
Head
causing
flow

Manometer reading
cm of Hg

Serial No.
h1

h2

cm

cm

Time for 0.1 m

rise of water in
Actual
the collecting discharge
tank,
H=h*12.6
Qa
t
cm of

= h1- h2

water

Cm of

Cm of

Hg

water

sec

cm3/s

Theoretical
discharge
Qth

log Qa

log H Cd

cm3/s

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Average coefficient of discharge, Cd =

Calculation for calibration of venturimeter

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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Qa
Qt

K = Antilog (log K)

Antilog (log ---------) =

n is slop of the graph log Qa Vs log H = y/x =

therefore, Actual discharge,

Qa=K H n

Calibration table
Head in cm of
water
Actual
discharge
Qa=KHn cm3/s

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DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG

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