INTRODUCTION

Fluid mechanics has developed an analytical discipline from the application of the classical
laws of static, dynamics and thermodynamics, to situation in which fluids can be treated as
continuous media. The particular laws involved are those of conservation of mass; these laws may
be simplified in an attempt to describe quantitatively the behavior of the fluids.
The hydraulic bench service module, F1-10, provides the necessary facilities to support a
comprehensive range of hydraulic models each of which is designed to demonstrate a particular
aspect of hydraulic theory.
The specific hydraulic model that is concerned for this experiment is the flow meter test
rig (F1-21). This consists of venture meter, variable area meter, and orifice plate installed in a
series of configurations to allow for direct comparisons.

Orifice

Nozzles

Venturi

Venturi meter
Venturi meter is a tube with constricted throat that increase velocity and decrease pressure.
Venturi meter is used to measure the flowrate of compressible and incompressible fluid in a
pipeline. When a fluid flows through a throat section, which has a smaller cross sectional area than
in a pipe, the velocity of the fluid through a throat is higher than in the pipe. If velocity higher,
pressure will drop. By measuring pressure drop, discharge may be calculated. Beyond the throat
the fluid is decelerated in a pipe of slowly diverging section (sometimes referred to as a diffuser)
in order to recover as much of the kinetic energy as possible. We must know the principle of
Bernoullies equation to understand the principles of venturi meter.

Orifice plate
The orifice meter is also used in measuring the flow rate of a reservoir or through a pipe.
The orifice meter consists of a flat plate with a circular hole drilled in it. There is pressure tap
upstream from the orifice plate and another just downstream.

Variable area meter.

The variable area flowmeter is a simple, reliable, inexpensive, and easy-to-install
flowmeter with low pressure drop and no electrical connection that givesa direct reading of flow
rate for a wide range of liquids and gases.

THEORY
Applications of the Bernoulli equation yield the following result, which applies for both the
Venturi meter and the Orifice plate.

Bernoulli equation:
P1 + V12 + Z1 = P2 + V22 + Z2
g
2g
g 2g
Z1=Z2
P1 + V12 = P2 + V22
g 2g g 2g
P1-P2 = V22-V12 ------------(1)
g
2g
from: Q1=Q2
A1V1=A2V2
V1=A2V2 ------------(2)
A1

(2) in (1) :
PI-P2 = V22-(A2V2/A1)2
g
2g
so;
V22[1-(A2/A1)2] = P
2g
g
V2=

1
. ( 2P) ---------------(3)
[1-(A2/A1)]

Q=CdA2V2 ---------------------(4)

(3) in (4) ;
flow rate, Qv =

CdA2
. ( 2P)
[1-(A2/A1)]
p

where (2p) = (2gh)

p
where;
h : head difference in meter (m) from the manometer readings for the appropriate meter
g : acceleration due to gravity (m/s2)
Cd: discharge coefficient for meter
A1 : area of the test pipe upstream of the meter (m

A2 : throat area of the meter (m2)

Use of discharge coefficient, Cd is necessary because of the simplifying assumptions made

when applying the Bernoulli equations. Values of this coefficient are determined by experiment;
the assumed values used in the software are:
Venturi meter Cd = 0.98
Orifice plate Cd =0.63

The energy loss that occurs in a pipe fitting (so-called secondary loss) is commonly
expressed in term of e head loss (h, meters), and can be determined from the manometer
readings. For this experiment, head losses will be compared against the square of the flow rate
used. In addition, pressure loss for venturi and variable area flowmeter are low and for orifice
meter is medium.