Flow Measurement

Objective:
The flow measurement experiment
familiarizes students with the typical methods
of measuring the discharge of an essentially
incompressible fluid, whilst giving
applications of the Steady-Flow Energy
Equation and Bernoulli's equation. The
discharge is determined using a Venturi meter,
an orifice plate meter and
a Rotameter
Theory:
Bernoullis Equation Demonstration
Bernoullis theorem states that: The
total head of flowing liquid between two
points remains constant assuming there are no
loss due to friction and no gain due to
application of external work between the two
points. The total head (Ht) of a flowing
liquid is made up of Elevation head (Hz),
pressure head (Hs)
and velocity head (Hv) and according to
Bernoullis theorem the total head is
constant between any two points along the

streamline of a flowing fluid.

Venturi )between points B and C(

Orifice (between points E and F)

Rotameter
For Rotameter use the calibration curve shown
in Figure 1 to find flow rate through the
Rotameter.

Fig-1
Typical Rotameter Calibration Curve

Apparatus:
Figure 2 shows the Flow Measurement
apparatus. Water from the Hydraulic Bench
enters the equipment through a venturi meter,
which consists of a gradually converging
section, followed by a throat, and a long
gradually diverging section. After a change in
cross-section through a rapidly diverging
section, the flow continues along a settling
length and through an orifice plate meter. This
is manufactured in accordance with BS1042,
from a plate with a hole of reduced diameter
through which the fluid flows[Figure 3]. The
H10 has eleven manometers, nine are
connected to tapping's in the pipework and two
are left free for other measurements.

fig-2
Flow Measurement Apparatus

fig-3
Explanatory Diagram of the Flow
Measurement Apparatus

Procedure:
1- Connect Power supply of the hydraulic
Bench.
2- Check that the valve on hydraulic bench is
open and the control valve on the apparatus
are closed.
3- Operate the pump, then open the control
valve on the apparatus to give a Rotameter
reading of 25 mm.
4- Check that all pipes and manometers are
empty from air bubbles.
5- Record all manometer readings
6- Record the time taken to collect a
given amount of water in the volumetric tank
(with the drain valve in place). For improved
accuracy at greater flow rates, measure a larger
volume. Ensure the water level is at 0 before
readings are taken.
7- Drain the water collected in the volumetric
tank, simply by lifting the drain valve,
allowing water to return to the sump tank.
8- Repeat the experiment for rotameter
readings of 50 mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm,
and 150mm.

Results
Test Number
1

Rotameter (mm) 25 50 75 100 125 150

A

256 268 287 318 355 400

242 239 240 236 232 222

250 259 274 297 325 355

260 264 275 298 327 356

Manome
ter Level E
(mm)
F

250 260 278 301 333 367

240 240 232 220 205 171

242 238 233 226 220 200

242 235 231 225 217 198

131 128 126 121 112 93

Water collected
5
(kg)
Time (s)

Mass
Flow
Rate
(kg/s)

59.53 31.75 24.97 18.12

5
15

11.66

Venturi

0.0860 0.1360 0.1774 0.2376 0.2934 0.3509

67
84
32
61
51
29

Orifice

0.0845
0.1813 0.2406 0.3025 0.3744
0.1196
7
82
9
67
07

Rotame
ter

0.0583 0.1166
0.2333 0.2916
0.175
0.35
33
67
33
67

Weigh
Tank

0.0839 0.1574 0.2002 0.2759 0.3333 0.4288

91
8
4
38
33
16

the difference between the flow rate of each

meter and the weigh tank flow rate
Venturi
Orifice
Rotamete
r

0.0020
76
0.0005
79
0.0256
58

0.0213
96
0.0378
8
0.0408
14

0.0228
08
0.0188
58
0.0252
4

0.0382
77
0.0352
48
0.0426
05

0.0398
83
0.0307
67
0.0416
67

0.0778
87
0.0544
09
0.0788
16

Sample calculation
for the Venturi

for the orifice

The water Tank

Wighet Tank=

Mass of collected water

Time

Plot the difference of each meter against the

flow rate of weigh tank.

Water Tank vs Venturi

Water Tank
Venturi

chart-1
Water Tank vs Orifice

Water Tank
Orifice

chart-2
water Tank vs Rotameter

0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
Water Tank

0.3

Rotameter 0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0

chart-3
Discussion and Conclusions
Compare between the three methods of flow
rate measurement in terms of accuracy, head
loss, and ease of use.
for the Venturi and the Orifrce
they both give a very good accuracy they
might had some error because or the head
losses and friction
Rotameter had medium accuracy , the cause of
the error is vibration of the device due to the
water injection into the pipes and the air .

Conclusion
we can say , the results of all method was good
although the Rotameter has the biggest error
because of the water injection and the air .