EXPERIMENT # 3:

Flow through a Venturi Meter

Objective.

1.
2.

To determine the coefficient C of a Venture Meter by comparing the measured flow rate with the
ideal flow rate.
To measure the pressure distribution along the meter and compare it with the ideal pressure
distribution.

Apparatus:Venturi Meter.

Theory:A Venturi meter is an apparatus for finding out the discharge of a liquid flowing in a pipe. A venture
meter, in its simplest form, consists of the following three parts:
(a). Convergent cone
(b). Throat
(c).
Divergent cone.

A Venturi meter
Applying Bernoulli along the streamline from point 1 to point 2 in the narrow throat of the Venturi meter
we have

By the using the continuity equation we can eliminate the velocity u2,

Substituting this into and rearranging the Bernoulli equation we get

To get the theoretical discharge this is multiplied by the area. To get the actual discharge taking in to
account the losses due to friction, we include a coefficient of discharge

This can also be expressed in terms of the manometer readings

Thus the discharge can be expressed in terms of the manometer reading::

Notice how this expression does not include any terms for the elevation or orientation (z1 or z2) of the
Venturimeter. This means that the meter can be at any convenient angle to function.
The purpose of the diffuser in a Venturi meter is to assure gradual and steady deceleration after the throat.
This is designed to ensure that the pressure rises again to something near to the original value before the
Venturi meter. The angle of the diffuser is usually between 6 and 8 degrees. Wider than this and the flow
might separate from the walls resulting in increased friction and energy and pressure loss. If the angle is

less than this the meter becomes very long and pressure losses again become significant. The efficiency of
the diffuser of increasing pressure back to the original is rarely greater than 80%.

Method.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Stand the apparatus on top of the hydraulics bench. Connect the bench supply hose to the inlet pipe
and secure to with a hose clip. Connect a hose to the outlet pipe and put the other end of the hose
into the hole leading to the bench weighing tank.
Open the outlet valve, then switch on the bench pump and open the bench supply valve to admit
water to the apparatus.
Partly close the outlet valve so that water is driven into the manometer tubes. Then carefully close
both valves so that you stop the flow whilst keeping the levels of ware in the manometers
somewhere within the range of the manometer scale.
Level the apparatus by adjusting the leveling the screws until the manometers each read the same
value.
Open both valves and carefully adjust each one in turn until you obtain the maximum differential
reading (h1-h2) whilst keeping all the water levels within the range on the manometer scale. If
necessary, adjust the general level by pumping air into the reservoir or releasing air from it
Record all of the manometer readings and measure the flow rate by timing the collection of water
in the bench weighing tank.
Partly close the outlet valve to reduce the differential reading (h1-h2) by about 10%. Adjust the
supply valve to keep all of the readings within the range on the manometer scale.
Repeat (8) and (9) until you have about 8 sets of readings over a range of flow rate. For one of these
conditions, again record all of the manometer reading.

RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

CALCULATION OF C

Q = Ca2 2g(h1-h2)/ 1-(a2/a1)2

Rearranged to express C we have

C = 1/a2

1-(a2 /a1)2 /2g

Q/ h1 h2

Now d1 = 26,00 mm
a1 = 531 mm2 = 5,31 10 4 m2
2
(a2/a1) = 0.143 1- (a2/a1)2 = 0.857
Q
C = 1039
h1-h2
TABLE1.
Piezometer
Tube No. n
A(1)
B
C
D(2)
E
F
G
H
J
K
L

DIMESIONS OF VENTURI TUBE

Diameter
dn (mm)

d2/dn

a22/an

(a22/a1-a22/an)

26.00
23.20
18.40
16.00
16.80
18.47
20.16
21.84
23.53
25.24
26.00

0.615
0.690
0.869
1.00
0.953
0.867
0.787
0.730
0.680
0.633
0.615

0.144
0.226
0.575
1.000
0.830
0.565
0.400
0.289
0.215
0.168
0.144

0.000
0.082
0.431
0.856
0.686
0.421
0.256
0.145
0.071
0.024
0.000

TABLE 2
Qty
( kg )

.t
(s)

MEASUREMENTS OF (h1 h2) AND Q

h1
( mm)

Q x 10-4
(m3 / s)

h2
(mm)

.h1-h2
(m)

h1-h2
m

Avg C

TABLE 3.
Piezometer
tube No.

MEASUREMENT OF PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION ALONG VENTURI METER

.hn
(mm)
A (1)
B
C
D(2)
E
F
G
H
J
K
L

m3 / s
m

Q
=
U22/ 2g =
.hn-h1
(m)

.hn-h1
u22/2g

Q =
U22/ 2g
.hn
(mm)

m3 / s
m

=
.hn-h1
(m)

.hn-h1
u22/2g

h1-h2
Q x 104 (m3 / s)
VARITION OF h1-h2 WITH Q

VARITION OF C WITH Q

C
Q x 104 (m3 / s)
VARITION OF C WITH Q