Experiment 2

Orifice Coefficients
Objective:
To calculate the Coefficient of Discharge Cd, Coefficient of Velocity Cv, and Coefficient of
Contraction Cc for various heads over orifice fitted in the side of a tank.
To draw a relationship between these coefficients and the size of the orifice.
Concepts to be learned:
Principle of conservation of energy, continuity equation, Discharge, pressure, velocity, kinetic
energy, pressure energy, potential energy and properties of fluids, loss due to entrance of flow
in a pipe, contraction loss, related loss in pressure, velocity and mass flow rate.
Theory:
The coefficient of discharge is a ratio of the actual discharge and the theoretical discharge. The
actual discharge is the discharge that occurs, affected by friction as the jet passes through the
orifice. The theoretical discharge would be the discharge achieved without friction. The
coefficient of discharge is related to the volumetric flow rate of the fluid and the cross sectional
area of the orifice. It is also related to the gravitational constant and the head over the orifice.
Coefficient of Discharge C d =

Qact
A H2
, where Qth = a 2gH 1 and Qact =
Qtheo
t

where
Qact = Volumetric Flow Rate (actual)
a = Cross sectional area of the orifice
A = Cross sectional area of the measuring tank
g = the gravitational constant
H1 = head over orifice
H2 = Height of water collected in the tank
t = Time of water collection in the tank
The Coefficient of Velocity is the ratio of the actual velocity to the ideal velocity. The actual
velocity is the velocity that is achieved affected by friction as the jet passes through the orifice.
The ideal velocity would be the velocity achieved without friction. The Coefficient of Velocity is
related to the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distances spanned by the water jet.
The trajectory of the jet from Vena-contracta of the orifice is that of the projectile under the
action of the gravity.

x = Va t = Cv 2 gH t
Cv =

y=

1 2
gt
2

x
4 yH

The Coefficient of Contraction is a ratio of the actual diameter of the jet divided by the ideal
diameter of the jet. The actual diameter is the diameter of the water jet at the Vena-contracta.
The ideal diameter would be the diameter of the orifice. The Coefficient of Contraction can be
derived from a relationship with the Coefficients of Discharge and Velocity.

Cc =

Cd
Cv

Description of the Apparatus:

The apparatus consist mainly of a cylindrical tank with a small orifice near the bottom of the
tank. There is an inlet hose through which the tank is filled and supplied with water and there is
an adjustable overflow pipe near the top of the tank through which the level of water in the tank
can be perfectly maintained. The tank is mounted on a frame along with a recording system that
is used to measure the jet of water produced from the orifice when in use. The recording system
consists of a clipboard and adjustable needles. The needles can be adjusted in height to
correspond with the arc of the water jet. Paper can be mounted against the clipboard and the
position of the tops of the needles can be recorded on the paper.
Experimental Procedure:
1. Set up the apparatus such that the orifice is facing the sink. Place the water drainer
under the apparatus. Fill the water tank up to a level. Record the water level or head (H).
Measure the diameter of the orifice fitted in the orifice plate. At this time the water jet
should be formed and protruding forcefully from the tank.
2. Place the paper in the clamp against the clipboard. Raise all the needles to their starting
position.
3. Measure the flow rate Q of the water jet. Collect water fro
from
m the jet for a set amount of
time. Record the volume of water collected and the time for which it was collected.
4. Adjust the height of each needle such that the tip of the needle is just above the water jet
as it passes underneath.
5. Once all the needles are set, mark the position of the top of each needle on the paper
against the clipboard. Vena
Vena-contracta
contracta should serve as first mark. The vena-contracta
vena
is
the place where the water jet narrows from the diameter of the orifice to the diameter of
the jet. The position
sition of the vena
vena-contracta
contracta is usually very close to the orifice. Once all the
marks are made, return the needles to their starting position.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 for 4 more heads. It is recommended that you simply increase
the water level each time u
until
ntil you near the top of tank. You need to increase the rate of
the input water flow.
7. Measure x-distance
distance and yy-distance for each jet of the orifice w.r.t. heads.
heads

(Available)
Observations:
1. Cross sectional areas of orifice and measuring tank.
2. For each jet, measure horizontal and vertical distances X and Y from vena-contracta,
vena
after locating a point on the falling jet.

S.No Water Head Height of water Location of a point in

in tank H1

collected
in the falling jet
Measuring tank Horizontal Vertical
H2
distance
distance
X
Y

1
2
3
4
5
6

Specimen Calculations:
Show calculation procedure at each stage of calculation for any one head over orifice. Show
calculations for all head over orifice in the form of table.
1. Calculate theoretical discharge based on theoretical velocity of free falling jet from a
tank.
2. Calculate actual discharge.
3. Obtain coefficient of discharge for each head over orifice.
4. Calculate Coefficient of velocity for each head using derived equation.
5. Obtain Coefficient of contraction from calculated Cd and Cv values.
S.No
X
A H2
Qact
Cd

Qtheo = a 2gH 1

Qact =

60

Cd =

Qth

Cv =

4YH1

Cc =

Cv

1
2
3

Report Requirements:
1. Calculate the Cd and Cv for all 5 readings. Then calculate the average of all readings.
2. From the average values for Cd and Cv, calculate Cc for the orifice.
3. Comment about the relationship between all three coefficients with respect to the
cross sectional area of the orifice and with respect to one another. Speculate on
theory to explain these relationships.