FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMME (HK03)

LAB REPORT
KC 21101 LABORATORY III
SEMESTER I, SESSION 2017/2018

EXPERIMENT 5 : DETERMINATION OF COEFFICIENT OF ORIFICE METER

LECTURER : MISS ZYKAMILIA BINTI KAMIN

LAB ASSISTANTS : MR. FREDDY DISUK, MR. SAIYFUL

GROUP MEMBERS:
NO. NAME MATRIC NO.

1. MOHD FAHIM INTESER ALAM BK16170315

2. DECKLARY JAWING BK16110257

3. THIVIYA A/P DEVARAJU BK16110271

4. VERLON VINCENT LEE BK16110034

GROUP : 10
VENUE : MAKMAL SAINS BLOCK C
DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 25th SEPTEMBER 2017
DATE OF SUBMISSION : 10th DECEMBER 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

1.0 Introduction 4-7

1.1 Objective
1.2 Background Material
1.3 Description of Specialized Equipment
1.4 Justification of Experiment’s Importance
1.5 Theories and Explanation

2.0 Methodology 8-9

2.1 Experimental Apparatus & Materials
2.2 Equipment Preparation
2.3 Experimental Procedures

3.0 Results and Analysis 9-12

3.1 Data Results
3.2 Observations
3.3 Calculations / Graph Analysis

4.0 Discussions 12-16

5.0 Conclusion 16

6.0 References 16-17

7.0 Appendices 17

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this experiment is to study the flow through orifice meter. From this experiment
we know how to read the data from the orifice meter where we use it to measure how fast a
fluid is flowing.

There’s a few advantages by using the orifice plate flow meter which is it has a simple
construction, inexpensive and have no moving parts. Apart from that, we also used our
knowledge in applying the Bernoulli’s equation in this experiment. Orifice meter also often used
in daily life for example to measure the peed of aero plane and to measure the rate of flow
chemicals through pipe in industries.

An orifice plate is inserted in the pipeline and the differential pressure across it is measured.
The Orifice plate inserted in the pipeline causes an increase in flow velocity and a corresponding
decrease in pressure at the contraction. From the flow pattern, fluid discharge velocities and
corresponding coefficients can be estimated. The coefficient of velocity, , is the ratio of the
actual velocity to the theoretical velocity. The coefficient of discharge, , is the ratio of the
actual flow rate to the theoretical flow rate.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

An orifice flow meter is the most common head type flow measuring device. An orifice plate is
inserted in the pipeline and the differential pressure across it is measured. The orifice plate
inserted in the pipeline causes an increase in flow velocity and a corresponding decrease in
pressure at the venacontracta. From the flow pattern, fluid discharge velocities and
corresponding coefficients can be estimated. The coefficient of velocity, Cv, is the ratio of the
actual velocity to the theoretical velocity. The coefficient of discharge, Cd, is the ratio of the
actual flow rate to the theoretical flow rate.

1.1 OBJECTIVE

To study the flow through orifice I.e. velocity coefficient and discharge coefficient and actual jet
profile may be compared with that of theory.

1.2 BACKGROUND MATERIALS AND THEORY

Figure 1.1
Measurement of jet trajectory using orifice

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 At a level H above the orifice, velocity of water discharge through the orifice is V  2 gH .

This velocity consists of horizontal and vertical components. As air resistance is negligible,
velocity V can be considered as constant.

At the same time the jet path is dropping due to gravity starting from zero velocity at the
orifice.

Vertical velocity, U (m/sec) = gt (5.1)

Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81 m/ sec 2 (5.2)

1 2
Vertical distance, Y(m) = 1/2 Ut = gt (5.3)
2
y=0 when the bottom end of the needle is as at the same level of the orifice. The y=0 mark is
made on the panel behind the needle near the top end of the first needle. For this experiment,
we assume the jet path touch at point 1, 2, 3…8 respectively, Y1 , Y2 can be measured from the

graph (tips of probe 1 and 2).

This actual velocity at point 1( V1 ) can be found. Similarly, V2 ,V3 may be found.

Coefficient of velocity, = Actual velocity/Theoretical velocity


Thus, Cv1  V1 / V2 X 1 / 2Y1 2gH  / g   X1 / 2 Y1H ; CV2  X 2 / 2 YH 2 (5.4)

Various Cv may be found by varying water level in the tank as well as changing the orifice size.

Water is directed to the bench measuring tank or a measuring cup. Thus, flowrate can be
determined by timing.

Theoretical flow rate, Q = VA (5.5)

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Theoretical velocity, V= 2 gH m/sec (5.6)

Orifice cross section area = D 2 / 4 m 2 (5.7)

Diameter of the orifice, D = 4 mm or 8 mm (5.8)

Let actual flow rate from measurement =


The coefficient of discharge, Cd  QA / Q  QA / d 2 / 4, 2 gH  (5.9)

It will be found from the experiment that QA is less than Q. this is because of the contraction

of the diameter of the jet after passing through the orifice. This is known as VENA CONTRACTA
which will be found at distance of one half the orifice diameters onward. By varying water level
in the tank or changing orifice size various Cd may be found.

1.3 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT

Figure 1.2 Orifice meter

An orifice plate is a device used for measuring flow rate, for reducing or for restricting flow.
Either a volumetric or mass flow rate may be determined, depending on the calculation
associated with the orifice plate. It uses the same principle as a venturi nozzle, namely
Bernoulli’s principle which states that there is a relationship between the pressures of the fluid.
When the velocity increases, the pressure decreases and vice versa.

6
 This equipment is different with venturi meter where venturi meter is a flow measuring
instrument which uses a converging section of pipe to give an increase in the flow velocity and
a corresponding pressure drop from which the flow rate can be deduced.

There are a few main parts in orifice meter. Firstly, a stainless steel orifice plate which is
held between flanges of the pipe carrying the fluid whose flow rate is being measured. It should
be noted that for a certain distance before and after the orifice plate fitted between the flanges,
the pipe carrying the fluid should be straight in order to maintain laminar flow conditions.
Openings are provided at 2 places 1 and 2 for attaching a differential pressure sensor (U-tube
manometer, differential pressure gauge etc) as shown in the diagram.

Orifice plates are most commonly used to measure flow rates in pipes, when the fluid is
single-phase and well-mixed, the flow is continuous rather than pulsating. An orifice plate is
called a calibrated-orifice if it has been calibrated with an appropriate fluid flow and traceable
flow measurement device.

1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF EXPERIMENT IMPORTANCE

In this experiment, we know the velocity coefficient and discharge coefficient and actual jet
profile which compared to the theory. Throughout this experiment, undergraduate able to
understand what is the purpose of this equipment what is the application of this equipment in
daily life. In addition, we also know what is the different between the orifice meter and venturi
meter.

Furthermore, an accurate measurement is required and need to maintain the flows

throughout the experiment. The pressure recovery at downstream is poor, that is, overall loss
varies 40% to 90% of the differential pressure. Hence, we need to know how to maintain the
flows so that we can obtained an accurate measurement.

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2.0 METHODOLOGY

2.1 EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS

I. Equipment
1. Clear acrylic tank 20 cm diameter x 48 cm high.
2. Stilling materials.
3. Over flow pipe.
4. Two orifices of 3 mm and 6 mm in diameter.
5. White board.
6. 7 probes.
7. A graph paper.
8. Hydraulic Bench.
9. Stop watch.
10. Bench measuring tank.
11. Measuring cup.
II. Material
1. Water.

2.2 EQUIPMENT PREPARATION

Clear acrylic tank 20 cm diameter x 48 cm high. Water inlet is at the bottom of the tank
which has stilling materials to smoothen the flow. Level scale is attached to the side of
the tank.

An over flow pipe can adjust water level in the tank to as high as 42 cm from the center of
the orifice. Water from overflow should be directed to the storage tank.

The sharp edged orifice is attached to the flushing either side of the tank. Two orifices
are provided 3 mm and 6 mm diameter.

A white board with 7 probes is attached next and vertically parallel to the tank wall and
perpendicular to the jet path. The probes are at a distance of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and
40 cm from the orifice. A graph paper can be attached to the top of the board to record
the level of tip of the probes (all probe length are equal). Hence tip of probes at top or
bottom provide the same projectile.

This equipment is used in conjunction with the Hydraulic bench for measurement of the
flow rate.

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 2.3 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. The required orifice with 3 mm in diameter was installed.

2. The over flow pipe valve was adjusted to obtain a required level in the tank.
3. The water level in the tank and the jet profile were waited until it was stable before the
probes tips were adjusted to be in line with the center of the jet and the probe tips
profile (upper tips) was recorded as well as Y = 0 mark.
4. The flow volume was recorded by using a stop watch and the bench measuring tank or
a measuring cup.
5. The experiment was repeated with orifice of 6 mm in diameter.

3.0 RESULT

3.1 DATA RESULT

Diameter of orifice, d Experiment number

= 3 mm 1 2 3
Water level, H (mm) 400 350 300
Volume, V (L) 5 5 5
Time, t (s) 1.11 1.136 1.145
Flow rate, QA ( L/s) 4.505 4.401 4.367
Distance from graph (mm)

X1 = 50 Y1 = 250 250 250

X2 = 100 Y2 = 245 245 243.5
X3 = 150 Y3 = 235 235 231
X4 = 200 Y4 = 225 220 215
X5 = 250 Y5 = 210 204 195
X6 = 300 Y6 = 192 184 174
X7 = 350 Y7 = 170 159 141
X8 = 400 Y8 = 146 129 110
Coefficient of velocity, Cv

Cv1 0.074 0.0805 0.091

Cv2 0.160 0.171 0.185
Cv3 0.245 0.262 0.285
Cv4 0.333 0.360 0.344
Cv5 0.431 0.467 0.517

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 Cv6 0.541 0.5 0.657
Cv7 0.671 0.742 0.851
Cv8 0.828 0.941 0.101
Coefficient of 227.53 237.63 254.64
discharge, Cd

3.2 OBSERVATION

1.When the water level in the acrylic tank was above the overflow pipe, a stable water level can
be obtained easily.

2.When the water level in the acrylic tank was below the overflow pipe, the water level drops
constantly.

3.As the water in the acrylic tank decreased, the distance of the jet trajectory traveled also
decreased.

3.3 CALCULATION

Formula of Calculation

Diameter of orifice = d mm

Water level = H mm

Volume = V L

Time = T sec

X
Coefficient of velocity, CV =
2 YH

Theoretical flow rate, Q = VA

Where

V =the velocity of the liquid = 2 gH

A =the area of the orifice =  d2 / 4

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Coefficient of Discharge, Cd = Actual flow rate / Theoretical flow rate

= QA / Q

For diameter orifice meter = 3mm (0.003m)

I. Coefficient of velocity, CV2 at water level 400mm

Water level H = 400 mm

X2 = 100 mm

Y2 = 245 mm

Coefficient of velocity,

x
cv 2 
(2 y  H )

100
cv 2 
(2 245  400 )

= 0.160

II. Coefficient of Discharge at water level 400mm

At water level = 400 mm

Theoretical flow rate, Q = VA

v  2 gH
v  2(9.81)(0.40)
v  2.801m / sec

11
 d 2
A
4
22
( )(0.003) 2
A 7
4
 7.069  10  6 m 2

Q  (2.801m / sec)(7.069 106 m 2 )

 1.980 105 m3 / sec

 1.980 102 lit / sec

Actual flow rate

Actual flow rate, Q A1 
Theoretical flow rate
5
 lit / sec
1.11
 4.505 lit/sec

Actual flow rate

Coefficien t of discharge, Cd 
Theoretical flow rate
QA

Q
4.505

1.980 10-2
 227.53

4.0 DISCUSSION

An orifice meter is a simple device used to measure flow rate. The area of the orifice is the
opening in which the fluid flows. The liquid issues from the orifice as a free jet, a jet
unrestricted by other liquid and therefore under the influence of gravity (Massey, 1989). The
fluid jet approaching an orifice will converges or contract because an instantaneous change in
direction is impossible; cannot make a right-angled turn, therefore the streamlines continue to
converge beyond orifice until they become parallel at the section c-c (point 2) as in Figure 1

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(Massey, 1989; Streeter & Wylie, 1981; Evett & Liu, 1987). Then, the jet may diverge after
section c-c and so this is the section of minimum area which is called vena contracta; a section
where contraction caused by the orifice ceases as shown in Figure 2 (Massey, 1989; Evett &
Liu, 1987).

Then, the actual velocity, Va can be determined by measuring the position of a point on
the trajectory of the downstream free jet from the vena contracta, under the influence of
gravity. If air resistance is negligible, the horizontal component ( -axis) of the jet velocity
remains unchanged. Then, since the trajectory is under the action of gravity, and the vertical
component of velocity is initially zero for horizontal discharge, the vertical distance ( -axis)
travelled for a point in the trajectory and horizontal distance ( -axis), as in figure 3 can be
Figure 1: Flow of fluid from orifice Figure 2: Vena contracta of orifice
determined from(Massey)
the coordinates of graph (Massey, 1989; Streeter & Wylie, 1981).
(Evett & Liu)

Figure 3: Horizontal and vertical

components of vena contracta.
(Massey)

Thus, based from the experiment, by observing the free jets profile and the distance of
-axis and -axis from the graph, there are two matters that can be deduced. First of all, the
higher the water level, the further the jets profile travelled (based from the arc of the jets).
Even though the diameter of the orifice is different, but the patterns for the jet profile are
similar. This was because in an incompressible fluid at rest, the pressure varies linearly with

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depth of the water level (Munson et al., 2013; Evett & Liu, 1987). Apart from that, this also can
be proved by an experiment as shown in figure below (Figure 6), whereby the smaller the
elevation between surface areas and the centreline of the jet of the tank, the weaker the jet
produced from the holes.

Figure 4: Effect of elevation to the profile of free jets. (Source: Wikipedia)

Secondly, by comparing the free jets profile based on the diameter of orifice,
theoretically the trajectory of jet in orifice with diameter 3 mm will travel further as the height
increases. However, the data obtained was inconsistent. This is beacause of the inaccuracy in
determining the jet profiler.

Nevertheless, despite that, according to Saleta et al. (2004), the actual flow of free jets
is not similar to the theoretical trajectory of the jets because of the energy losses experienced
by the jets during the whole path taken. These matters can be illustrated as in figure below
(Figure 5). In addition, Saleta et al. also states that liquid particles follow the same trajectory as
solid particles, since they obey the same physical laws.

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 Figure 7: A graph which illustrates the actual and theoretical trajectory of free jets from an
orifice. (Source: http://www.solution.com.my/pdf/FM25(A4).pdf)

Apart from that, from the analysis of flow rate across the water level, the pattern of flow
rate for 3mm diameter is taken into record and it seems to be inconsistent and non-linear. This
is opposite to the theory or previous research whereby according to Ega Yohanda Putra (n.d.),
the rate of flow or discharge increased when the height or water level increased. Thus, the
graph of flow rate (Q) against height (H) should be increasing. Not only is that, the value for
actual flowrate are higher than the theoretical flowrate when calculated. These problems occur
due to the time taken to collect an amount volume of water was only done once per water level
(H) thus no average or mean time was taken which might leads to error and inaccuracy.

Furthermore, basically the value of coefficients are determined experimentally and thus
hypothetically it varies from 0.95 to 0.99 for coefficient of velocity and as for the coefficient of
discharge, Cd it varies from 0.60 to 0.65 (Massey, 1989; Streeter & Wylie, 1981). Yet, based
from the result of the experiment, the coefficient value does not meet the theoretical value
whereby value of Cv for 3mm diameter are extravagantly bigger the theoretical value meanwhile
the value of Cd for 3mm diameter are also bigger or higher than the typical values. This error
occurs mainly due to the readings of the probes as well as no average time taken was taken
which affects the results of the coefficients.

Hence primarily, sources of error or inaccuracy for the whole experiment are, it was
difficult to accurately measure the vertical fall as the vena contracta of the jet are not well
defined whereby the water jet are constantly moving upwards and downwards or inconsistent
especially at the end of the jet. Next, adjusting the flow for a constant head resulted in the

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head being an estimation of the true value due to the readings on the tank not being accurate
enough (Mondatta, n.d.). Thirdly, the meniscus was difficult to be located due to lack of light or
misjudged (Mondatta, n.d.). Last but not least, the orifice may not be vertical to tank and does
not have a smooth surface due to rust, which can increase the value of coefficient of discharge
(Mondatta, n.d.; Spencer, 2013).

Therefore, some precautions that should be considered and taken when conducting the
experiment are, avoid parallax errors when taking the readings of data especially readings from
the graph. Next, wait until the flow of free jets are stable before adjusting the probes or before
taking any reading. In addition, evades or reduces the misjudged when locating the vena
contracta of the jet. Lastly, an average value must be taken when taking the data particularly
the data for time taken to reduce or end errors.

5.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the determination of coefficient of orifice meter can be parts into coefficient of
velocity, Cv and coefficient of discharge, Cd. Both of these coefficients are ratio of the actual
velocity to the theoretical velocity and actual flow rate to the theoretical flow rate respectively.
To study these coefficients an actual jet profile is used to compare with theoretical value.

From this experiment, the coefficient of velocity for 3 mm diameter of orifice has a range of
0.074 to 0.941 and has an average coefficient of discharge of 239.93. As a result, the smaller
diameter of the orifice meter used, the smaller the coefficient of velocity and coefficient of
discharge. Due to experimental error and unwanted condition such as friction and more, the
actual value was hugely deviate from the theoretical. Moreover, the behavior of fluid also can
affect the actual value and data.

6.0 REFERENCES

1. Evett, J. B. and Cheng Liu. (1987). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. United States of
America: McGraw-Hill, Inc.
2. Massey, B. S. (1989). Mechanics of Fluids Sixth Edition. London: Chapman & Hall.

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 3. Saleta, M. E., Tobia, D. and Gil, S. (2005). Experimental study of Bernoulli’s equation
with losses. American Association of Physics Teachers. Retrieved from
http://www1.union.edu/vineyarm/teaching/phy110lab/sample_report_3.pdf on 3rd
December 2017
4. Munson, B. R., Okiishi, T. H., Huebsch, W. W. and Rothmayer, A. P. (2013).
Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics 7th edition. United States of America: John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.
5. Mondatta, R. (n.d). Flow through an Orifice. University of Mauritius. Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/8952330/Flow_through_an_orifice on 3rd December 2017.

7.0 APPENDICES

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