LABORATORY III

Calibration of a Venturi Flow Meter

Group Members:
Dustin Harbottle
Taylor Choy
Kevin Ko

Shane McMonagle
Agaton Pasion
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
CEE 320L Fluid Mechanics
Lab Date: October 27, 2011
Report Submitted Date: November 3, 2011

Abstract

The objective of this lab was to determine the calibration rate for a Venturi
flow meter. In this experiment, the flow rate through the pipe and the pressure
difference through the Venturi pipe were measured many times for different flow
rates and pressures to help find a calibration factor for the Venturi flow meter.
The experimental result for the calibration factor was .101 cfs, which came out
to be close to the theoretical prediction of .101 cfs. This means that even with
possibilities for error, the experiment closely reflected the theoretical use of
using a flow meter in the field.

II Introduction
i.

Background

The Venturi meter creates a restricted flow in a pipe, the velocity of the fluid
increases as the cross sectional area decreases, with the static pressure
correspondingly decreasing. A Venturi meter helps to measure flow rate by
measuring a pressure difference between a converging-diverging flow passage. The
main advantage of the Venturi meter is that it has a lower head loss then an orifice
meter. An equation for the Venturi effect may be derived from a combination of
Bernoulli's principle and the continuity equation.

ii.

Reason for Experiment

The reason for the experiment it to be able to measure pressure differences

between pipes by using the Venturi meter, with a properly calculated Venturi meter
it is possible to accurately measure the pressure in any given pipe. Once the
calibration for the Venturi meter is recorded then that specific meter will be able to
be used in the field. Having a properly calibrated Venturi meter will greatly increase
the accuracy of knowing the pressure and flow rate of different pipes.

iii.

Theory

According to the laws governing fluid dynamics, a fluid's velocity must increase
as it passes through a constriction to satisfy the principle of continuity, while its
pressure must decrease to satisfy the principle of conservation of mechanical
energy. Thus any gain in kinetic energy a fluid may gain due to its increased velocity
through a constriction is negated by a drop in pressure.

iv.

Objective

The objective of this lab was to calibrate a Venturi meter by measuring flow rate
along with pressure drop in the Venturi meter. Measuring the two different
quantities allows for the calculation of the calibration factor, which will make the
calculations for the Venturi meter accurate.

III Apparatus and Supplies

i

Instruments and Supplies

Figure III.1 Venturi meter

Figure III.2 Pressure Gauge

Figure III.3 Weighing Tank

Figure III.4 Scale

(typical of 2)

Figure III.5 Stopwatch

IV Procedures
A Venturi meter is installed in a length of pipe from a sump pump to a weighing
tank with a dump valve. The Venturi meter is, in turn, connected to a pressure
gauge. The pump was turned on and a gate valve just downstream of the pump
was opened. Water flowed through the piping system from the sump pump,
through the Venturi meter and to the weighing tank. The initial pressure gauge
reading, in psi, was recorded. The dump valve on the tank was closed and, as water
collected in the tank, the initial and final weight of the water in the tank was
recorded, along with the time interval, using the stopwatches. The water in the
tank was then released via the dump valve, and the gate valve was then closed a
certain amount to cause a pressure difference, p. This new pressure reading was
recorded and the dump valve on the tank was again closed, allowing water to
collect in the tank. The initial and final weight, along with the time interval, was
again recorded for the new pressure reading. The procedure was repeated for a
total of ten trials.

V Equations/Theory

Q=

Experimental Flow Rate:

Theoretical Flow Rate:

Q=CK p

K= A 2

Venturi Constant:

[ ( )]

C=

Error Propagation:

C=C

Derivation of C:

2g
D2
1
D1

Q
K p

Correction Factor:

Relative Error:

w
t

W t ( p )
+ +
W
t
2 p

C
C
Q=CK P C=f ( W , t , P ) =

W
tK P

|W f W|+|tf t|+|fP ( P)|

C=

|(

C=

W
W
W +
t +
)
|
(
)
|
|
tK P
K P t
( 2 tK ( P ) )( P)

[(

C
W
=
C
tK P

3
2

() tKW P )]+[( KW Pt t )( tKW P )]+[( 2 tKW( (P ) (P) p ) )( tKW P )]

2

 C=C

W t ( P)
+ +
W
t
2 P

VI Experimental Results

Trial

t1 (s)

t2 (s)

tavg (s)

1
2

10.41
11.88

10.75
12.41

3
4
5

13.1
14.26
15.13

13.22
14.28
15.34

17.44

17.69

18.04

18.81

20.5

20.57

9
10

22.15
28.23

22.69
29.81

10.58
12.14
5
13.16
14.27
15.23
5
17.56
5
18.42
5
20.53
5
22.42
29.02

W
(lbs)
100
100

P
(psi)
5.5
4.3

100
100
100

3.4
3
2.5

100

1.9

100

1.65

100

1.3

100
100

1.05
0.5

Table VI-1: Trial Data from the experiment

Trial
No.
1

Re

0.94

0.93

0.95

0.94

0.97

0.96

0.99

8
9

1.00
1.02

231430.7
7
201608.6
9
186059.0
9
171586.3
8
160717.9
2
139398.6
7
132892.1
3
119237.28
109212.2

10
Averag
e

1.14
0.98

0
84374.14

Table VI-2: Correction Factors and Reynolds Number

C vs Re
1.2
1
0.8
C

f(x) = - 0x + 1.15
R = 0.68

0.6
0.4
0.2
0
50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

Re

Figure VI-1: Correction Factor vs Reynolds Number

Q vs p
0.10

1.000
1.00

f(x)0.100
= 0.02x + 0.05
R = 0.98

0.010
p

Figure VI-2: log-Log Graph of Flow Rate vs Pressure

10.00

Q= ( p)

=10 yintercept

( 5.5 ) (12 )2

=slope of graph

.425

1
=
.147
100
Q=0 .008614

VII Error Analysis

i Instrumental Error, Statistical Uncertainty and Random
Error
The three instruments used to obtain data for this lab was the pressure gauge,
the scale, and the stopwatch. The pressure gauge had markings 1/10 or 0.1 psi,
therefore the instrumental error for the pressure gauge was 0.05 psi. The scale that
collected the water had an accuracy of 1 lb. so the instrumental error would be 0.5
lb. The stopwatch was a digital stopwatch so its accuracy and instrumental error
was .01 sec. Since there was a constant change in pressure, the statistical error was
unable to calculate. However, the relative error was able to calculate by using the
equation C/C. The average relative error was calculated to be 0.0436.

v.

Other sources of error

Human error must be taken into account mainly with the individuals collecting
the time data. Discrepancies in the times may have occurred due the each
individuals reaction time, having to watch the scale until 100 lbs. of water was
obtained and then stop the watch. Assuming the water flow was constant
throughout the experiment, human error could also be caused due to each person
taking times at different weights with a possibility that the water flow could have
been different at those weights. One or both persons could have taken the time to
early and not allow the flow to become steady enough.

VIII Conclusions and Recommendations

The flow rate through the pipe and the pressure difference through the Venturi
pipe were measured many times for different flow rates and pressures to help find a
calibration factor for the Venturi flow meter. This in turn helps us understand the
flow of the experimental result for the calibration factor, which came out to be close
to the theoretical prediction of .101 cfs. We did get a different result for the
experimental calibration factor, a flow rate of .101 cfs, which leaves some

discussion for error. The experimental value Q of .101 cfs was then compared to the
Q value from the log-log plot, which was .147 cfs, which was relatively close to the
theoretical value calculated.
If this experiment were to be considered more critically, more trials should be
made so there is a decrease in the impact of errors. Another way to achieve more
accurate results would be to use a more accurate way of recording the time at
which the weight started to increase, such as video recording which would allow
frame by frame viewing, and use the same weight difference throughout the entire
experiment.

10

IX References
Crowe, C.T., Elger, D.F., Williams, B.C., & Roberson, J.A. 2009. Engineering Fluid
Mechanics, 9th Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

X Appendices
Appendix I Equations and Sample Calculations

Q=

W
100
ft 3
=
=0.151
t ( 62.4 ) (10.58)
s

Q=C K p

K= A 2

C=

= (0.94) (0.00572)

[ ( )]
2g

D
1 2
D1

1
4 12

( )

(5.50 ) (12)2

2(32.2)

[ ( )]

1
(62.4) 1
2

= 0.151

=0.00572

Q
0.151
=
=0.9 4
K p 0.00572 5.50 ( 12 )2

C=C

] [

W t ( p )
1
0.01
14.4
+ +
=.941
+
+
=.018 9
W
t
2 p
100 10.58 2(792)

11

ft
s