Experiment 4: Flow through Orifices

Abstract
This experiment is measured in the reduction on contraction of fluids in a current
and its lost of energy when water is discharged through an orifice in the tanks base. A
series of procedures were taken in the laboratory, varying the flow of water some
elevations were maintained and measures were taken of the tank, the pilot tube and the
diameter of the water current. Also, the reason for flow using a hydraulic tank and taking
1

three measurements for no more than a certain amount of time was determined.
Comparing the data with different diameters orifices was determined as well. The
objective was to determine the coefficients of velocities, contraction and discharge since
the acceleration and the diameter of flow depends on such matter.

Table of Content
Abstract..1
List of Figures...3
List of Tables.4
Introduction...5
Theory...6-11
Equipment Description.12-15
Results16-29
Discussion...30
Conclusion...31
Recommendations.32
References..33
Appendix
Example of Calculus..35

List of Figure
Figure 4.1: Characteristics of Flow Through Hole...6
Figure 4.2: ideal and actual jet sketch...7
FIGURA

4.3:

EXAMPLES

OF

JET

FLOWS

FROM

NOZZLE

AND

ORIFICES..9

FIGURA 4.4:

TYPICAL FLOW PATTERN AND CONTRACTION COEFFICIENTS

.10
FIGURA 4.5:

ORIFICE

APPARATUS

DESCRITION ..

.11
FIGURA 4.6: GAVIMETRIC HYDRAULIC BENCH ..
..12
FIGURA 4.7: WATER VALVE .12
FIGURA 4.8: START PUMP BUTTOM .
13
FIGURA 4.9: WEIGHT
13
FIGURA

4.10: THERMOMETER

.14
FIGURA

4.11:

CHRONOMETER

.14
FIGURA 4.12: ORIFICE APPARATUS 15
FIGURA 4.13: PITOT TUBE .
..15

List of Table
ORIFICE 1:
Table 1
Table 2
Table 3
Table 4
Table 5

Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter

Actual Flow Rate Through Orifice
Ideal Flow Rate Through Orifice
Experimental Data of Orifice Measurement
Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

16
16
17
17
18

ORIFICE 2:
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8
Table 9
Table 10

Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter

Actual Flow Rate Through Orifice
Ideal Flow Rate Through Orifice
Experimental Data of Orifice Measurement
Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

20
21
21
21
22

ORIFICE 3:
Table 11
Table 12
Table 13
Table 14
Table 15

Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter

Actual Flow Rate Through Orifice
Ideal Flow Rate Through Orifice
Experimental Data of Orifice Measurement
Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

23
24
24
25
25

ORIFICE 4:
Table 16
Table 17
Table 18
Table 19
Table 20

Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter

Actual Flow Rate Through Orifice
Ideal Flow Rate Through Orifice
Experimental Data of Orifice Measurement
Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

27
27
28
28
29

Introduction
The reduction of flow is given by the currents concentration; this is one of the
experiments objectives. This occurs when a fluid passes through an orifice and the
current flows through it as well; the discharge is less than the amount calculated
assuming that the energy is conserved.
In this experiment, the student will measure the extent of the reduction in the flow
contraction of the stream and energy loss, as water discharges into the atmosphere
from an orifice in the base of tank. Furthermore, the student can compute coefficients of
velocity and contraction for set of five different orifices.

Theory
Theory of Flow through an Orifice

Figure 4.1 shows the essential characteristics of flow through the orifice or nozzle
in base of tank. Let the elevation of water surface above the plane of the orifice be

as indicated by the water level in the piezometer tube connected to the base of the tank.

A typical streamline of the flow runs from some point S in the surface to the point T of
the concentrated section. According to Bernoullis theorem, the total head is constant
from S to T, so
+

(4.1)

If the surface area of the tank is the large in comparison with that of the orifice, then
will be neglible. Also since the pressure is atmospheric at both S and T,

so,

noting that

or
-

By substituting in Bernoullis equation, we find the velocity

at T to be

=
This is the ideal velocity at T, based on constant total head along the streamline.
The same result applies to all streamlines of the flow, so choosing the symbol

to

denote this ideal velocity, we find

=

(4.2)

This result is often called Torricellis theorem.

Near the orifice, the fluid accelerates toward the center of the hole, so that as the
jet emerges it suffers a reduction of area due to the curvature of the streamlines. The
reduction of area due to this local curvature may be taken to be complete at about half
the orifice diameter downstream of the orifice; the reduced section is usually called the
vena contracta as shows in Figure 4.2.
The ideal velocity

the contracted section is seen to be that which is acquired

by a body falling from rest gravity through a height

Figure 4.2
Ideal and Vena Contracta Jet Flow through an Orifice
Because of the energy loss, which takes place as the water passes down the
tank and through the orifice, the actual velocity,
smaller than
value

the plan of the vena contracta is

. A pilot tube placed in the stream at the contracted section will record a

by
=

Clearly (
velocity

(4.3)

represent the energy loss. The ratio of actual velocity

is often called the velocity coefficient

of the orifice.

(4.4)

In similar since, the concentration coefficient

to orifice area

and ideal

is defined as the ratio of contracted area

(4.5)

Finally, the discharge coefficient

is defined as the ratio of the actual discharge to the

ideal discharge.
=

(4.6)

or
=

The actual discharge

is
=

and the ideal discharge

(4.7)

is given by
=

(4.8)

So the actual discharge may be written as

=

(4.9)

and by using equations (4.4) to (4.8)

=

( 4.10)

4.3 Contracted Coefficient in Flow through Orifice and Nozzle

Figure 4.3 shows fluid streaming through a smoothly contracting nozzle which
produces a parallel jet. The overall increase in speed through the concentration reduces
the effect of any non-uniformity which might exist in the approaching flow, so if is
reasonable to assume that the fluid velocity is sensibility uniform across the emerging
jet. Since the cross-sectional area of the jet is the same as that of the nozzle, the rate of
flow may be obtained simply by multiplying the nozzle area by the speed of the jet. In
Figure 4.3 (b) and Figure 4.3 (c) however, the fluid does not emerge in parallel fashion
but as a convergent stream, so that the cross-sectional area of the jet reduces to a socalled contracted section or vena contracta. Over this section the streamlines are
parallel. Moreover, the velocity is effectively uniform over the contracted section. The
flow rate may now be obtained by multiplying the area of the contracted section by the
fluid speed over it.

10

There are no theoretical values of the coefficient, as the amount of head loss
and the concentration of the stream may be found only by experiments. However, there
is a theoretical contraction coefficient for inviscid flow though a two-dimensional sharp
edged slit. The result is

= / ( + 2) 0.611

Concentration coefficient values for different exit geometries are shown below.

11

12

4.4 Description of the Orifice Apparatus

Figure 4.5 shows the arrangement of the apparatus which is designed to be used
with the Hydraulic Bench described in Unit 1. The water tank is fed from the bench
supply through an adjustable vertical pipe ended in a diffuser just below the water
surface. An overflow pipe directs the surplus water to the drain outlet in the bench top.
The orifice under tests is fitted into the base of the tank, and the emerging jet passes
through the bench top into the measuring tank of the bench. A top in the base of the
tank connects with a manometer tube. This manometer is mounted in front of a vertical
scale and shows level of water in the tank above the plane of orifice. A second
manometer tube is connected to a Pilot tube, which may be introduced into the
discharging jet to measure the total head. If may be traversed across the jet by
revolving a graduated nut which works along a lead screw of 1 mm. the diameter of the
jet may be measured by traversing a sharp blade, supported in the Pilot tube, from one
side of the jet to the other.

13

Equipment Description
1. Gravimetric Hydraulic Bench
It is used to for measuring the volumetric flow of water at a certain given time.

Figure 4.6: Gravimetric Hydraulic Bench

2. Water Valve
Used to control the flow of water being pumped into the tank.

Figure 4.7: Water Valve

14

3. Start Pump Button

Allow electric current to start the pump for the fluid transfer.

Figure 4.8: Start Pump Button

4. Weights
It is used to determine the weight of the water. The weight-beam has 1:3 ratio.

Figure 4.9: Weights

15

5. Thermometer
Used to measure the temperature of the water.

Figure 4.10: Thermometer

6. Chronometer
In this experiment its function is to measure the time that the weigh-beam takes to get to
its horizontal position, on the point of balance between the weights and the mass of the
liquid in the tank.

Figure 4.11: Chronometer

16

7. Orifice Apparatus
Apparatus designed to be used with hydraulic bench to create a flow contraction pattern,
of which a contraction coefficient will be determined.

Figure 4.12: Orifice Apparatus

8. Pitot Tube
The Pitot tube is a simple and convenient instrument to measure the difference between
static, dynamic and total pressure (or head). It can measure the fluid flow velocity by
converting the kinetic energy in the fluid flow into potential energy.

Water flow

Figure 4.13: Pitot Tube

17

Result
Orifice 1
Water Temperature:
Density:

22.5
997.47

C
kg/m3

Orifice Diameter (D0):

Cross Sectional Orifice area (A0):

0.013
0.000133

M
m2

TABLE 1:Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter for the Experimental Orifice
Orifice Measurement
Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Weight
Time
Time
Time
Obs.
H0
HC
DC
Mass
t1
t2
t3
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
(kg)
(s)
(s)
(s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

384
350
330
310
263
247
235
229
205
163

382
347
325
-

12.2
12.5
12.9
-

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

56.25
60.31
62.43
63
70.27
72.09
72.18
72.64
79.9
87.21

55.94
60
63
63.65
69.87
73.61
74.37
73.08
79.48
84.97

56.56
60.31
62.78
64.91
69.97
70.27
74.38
72.97
76.66
82.48

TABLE 2:Actual Flow Rate through Orifice

Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Water
Mass
(kg)

Time
t1
(s)

Time
t2
(s)

Time
t3
(s)

Time
tavg
(s)

Volume flow
rate Qcurrent
(m3/s)

18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18

56.25
60.31
62.43
63
70.27
72.09
72.18
72.64
79.9
87.21

55.94
60
63
63.65
69.87
73.61
74.37
73.08
79.48
84.97

56.56
60.31
62.78
64.91
69.97
70.27
74.38
72.97
76.66
82.48

56.25
60.21
62.74
63.85
70.04
71.99
73.64
72.90
78.68
84.89

0.000320699
0.000299623
0.000287540
0.000282512
0.000257570
0.000250581
0.000244955
0.000247464
0.000229275
0.000212511

18

TABLE 3:Ideal Flow Rate through

Orifice
Volume
H0
H1/2
Obs.
flow
rate
(m)
(m1/2)
(m3/s)
1
0.384
0.620
0.00037
2
0.350
0.592
0.00035
3
0.330
0.574
0.00034
4
0.310
0.557
0.00033
5
0.263
0.513
0.00030
6
0.247
0.497
0.00029
7
0.235
0.485
0.00029
8
0.229
0.479
0.00028
9
0.205
0.453
0.00027
10
0.163
0.404
0.00024

TABLE 4:Experimental Data of Orifice Measurements about Contracted Section

H0
HC
DC
Obs.
CV
CC
Cd
(m)
(m)
(m)
1
0.384
0.382
0.012
0.99739
0.88071
0.87841
2
0.350
0.347
0.013
0.99571
0.92456
0.92059
3
0.330
0.325
0.013
0.99240
0.98467
0.97719
4
0.310
5
0.263
6
0.247
7
0.235
8
0.229
9
0.205
10
0.163
-

19

TABLE 5:Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Volume
flow rate
(m3/s)

H1/2
(m1/2)

0.00037
0.61968
0.00035
0.59161
0.00034
0.57446
0.00033
0.55678
0.00030
0.51284
0.00029
0.49699
0.00029
0.48477
0.00028
0.47854
0.00027
0.45277
0.00024
0.40373
Overall Average =

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

Discharge
Coefficient
Cd

3.65E-04
3.49E-04
3.38E-04
3.28E-04
3.02E-04
2.93E-04
2.86E-04
2.82E-04
2.67E-04
2.38E-04
Cd =

0.98665
0.99579
0.99536
0.99396
1.01557
1.00961
0.98478
1.02258
0.98104
0.99102
0.9763

(slope) m =

0.0006

Normalized
value
Cd =

1.01847

20

21

ORIFICE 2

Water Temperature:
Density:

24.4
997.24

C
kg/m3

Orifice Diameter (D0):

Cross Sectional Orifice area (A0):

0.013
0.000133

m
m2

TABLE 6:Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter for the Experimental Orifice
Orifice Measurement
Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Weigh
Time
Time
Time
Obs.
H0
HC
DC
Mass
t1
t2
t3
(mm)
(mm)
(mm)
(kg)
(s)
(s)
(s)
1
381
380
9.975
4
53.30
55.46
55.86
2
348
335
10.975
4
55.31
55.62
55.90
3
338
347
9.975
4
57.30
57.40
57.00
4
277
4
59.30
59.31
59.46
5
270
4
63.00
64.10
63.05
6
260
4
65.00
63.00
64.00
7
241
4
66.00
65.00
66.00
8
225
4
68.00
66.00
67.00
9
200
4
72.00
73.00
72.00
10
166
4
78.00
78.00
79.00

22

TABLE 7:Actual Flow Rate through Orifice

Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Water
Mass
(kg)

Time
t1
(s)

Time
t2
(s)

Time
t3
(s)

Time
tavg
(s)

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12

53.30
55.31
57.30
59.30
63.00
65.00
66.00
68.00
72.00
78.00

55.46
55.62
57.40
59.31
64.10
63.00
65.00
66.00
73.00
78.00

55.86
55.90
57.00
59.46
63.05
64.00
66.00
67.00
72.00
79.00

54.87
55.61
57.23
59.36
63.38
64.00
65.67
67.00
72.33
78.33

2.19E-04
2.16E-04
2.10E-04
2.03E-04
1.90E-04
1.88E-04
1.83E-04
1.80E-04
1.66E-04
1.54E-04

TABLE 8:Ideal Flow Rate through

Orifice
Volume
H0
H1/2
Obs.
flow rate
1/2
(m)
(m )
(m3/s)
1
0.381
0.617
0.00036
2
0.348
0.590
0.00035
3
0.338
0.581
0.00034
4
0.277
0.526
0.00031
5
0.270
0.520
0.00031
6
0.260
0.510
0.00030
7
0.241
0.491
0.00029
8
0.225
0.474
0.00028
9
0.200
0.447
0.00026
10
0.166
0.407
0.00024
TABLE 9:Experimental Data of Orifice Measurements about Contracted Section
H0
HC
DC
Obs.
CV
CC
Cd
(m)
(m)
(m)
1
0.381
0.380
0.010
0.99869
0.58935
0.58858
2
0.348
0.335
0.011
0.98114
0.71338
0.69992
3
0.338
0.347
0.010
1.01323
0.58935
0.59715
4
0.277
5
0.270
6
0.260
7
0.241
8
0.225
9
0.200
10
0.166
TABLE 10:Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the

23

Orifice
Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Volume flow
rate
(m3/s)

H1/2
(m1/2)

0.00036
0.617
0.00035
0.590
0.00034
0.581
0.00031
0.526
0.00031
0.520
0.00030
0.510
0.00029
0.491
0.00028
0.474
0.00026
0.447
0.00024
0.407
Overall Average =

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

Discharge
Coefficient
Cd

3.64E-04
3.48E-04
3.42E-04
3.10E-04
3.06E-04
3.00E-04
2.89E-04
2.79E-04
2.63E-04
2.40E-04
Cd =

1.001315
0.992939
1.007350
1.000183
0.987464
1.001305
0.997267
0.998009
1.013311
1.000101
0.999925

(slope) m =

0.0006

Normalized
value
Cd =

1.01847

24

ORIFICE 3

Water Temperature:
Density:

25
997.046

C
kg/m3

Orifice Diameter (D0):

Cross Sectional Orifice area (A0):

0.013
0.000133

M
m2

TABLE 1:Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter for the Experimental Orifice
Orifice Measurement
Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Obs.

H0
(mm)

HC
(mm)

DC
(mm)

Weigh
Mass
(kg)

Time
t1
(s)

Time
t2
(s)

Time
t3
(s)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

369
343
315
284
253
215
188
177
168
144

365
341
305
-

13
13
13
-

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

44.56
44.35
44.28
45.82
48.53
52.35
57.06
56.5
57
61.03

44.63
43.88
44.5
45.72
48.66
52.63
57.15
56.25
58.72
60.56

43.89
44.25
44.6
45.78
49.22
51.95
57
56.25
59.6
59.12

25

TABLE 2:Actual Flow Rate through Orifice

Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Water
Mass
(kg)

Time
t1
(s)

Time
t2
(s)

Time
t3
(s)

Time
tavg
(s)

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12

44.56
44.35
44.28
45.82
48.53
52.35
57.06
56.5
57
61.03

44.63
43.88
44.5
45.72
48.66
52.63
57.15
56.25
58.72
60.56

43.89
44.25
44.6
45.78
49.22
51.95
57
56.25
59.6
59.12

44.36
44.16
44.46
45.77
48.80
52.31
57.07
56.33
58.44
60.24

0.000271315
0.000272544
0.000270705
0.000262938
0.000246613
0.000230081
0.000210891
0.000213649
0.000205947
0.000199804

TABLE 3:Ideal Flow Rate through

Orifice
Volume
H0
H1/2
Obs.
flow
rate
(m)
(m1/2)
(m3/s)
1
0.369
0.607
0.00036
2
0.343
0.586
0.00035
3
0.315
0.561
0.00033
4
0.284
0.533
0.00031
5
0.253
0.503
0.00030
6
0.215
0.464
0.00027
7
0.188
0.434
0.00026
8
0.177
0.421
0.00025
9
0.168
0.410
0.00024
10
0.144
0.379
0.00022

26

TABLE 4:Experimental Data of Orifice Measurements about Contracted Section

H0
HC
DC
Obs.
CV
CC
Cd
(m)
(m)
(m)
1
0.369
0.365
0.013
0.99457
1.00000
0.99457
2
0.343
0.341
0.013
0.99708
0.92456
0.92186
3
0.315
0.305
0.013
0.98400
0.98467
0.96892
4
0.284
5
0.253
6
0.215
7
0.188
8
0.177
9
0.168
10
0.144
-

TABLE 5:Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Volume
flow rate
(m3/s)

H1/2
(m1/2)

0.00036
0.60745
0.00035
0.58566
0.00033
0.56125
0.00031
0.53292
0.00030
0.50299
0.00027
0.46368
0.00026
0.43359
0.00025
0.42071
0.00024
0.40988
0.00022
0.37947
Overall Average =

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

Discharge
Coefficient
Cd

3.58E-04
3.45E-04
3.31E-04
3.14E-04
2.96E-04
2.73E-04
2.55E-04
2.48E-04
2.41E-04
2.24E-04
Cd =

0.99406
0.98578
1.00194
1.01274
0.99607
1.01171
0.98244
0.99140
1.00611
1.01615
0.99984

(slope) m =

0.0006

Normalized
value
Cd =

1.01847

27

28

ORIFICE 4

Water Temperature:
Density:

25
997.046

C
kg/m3

Orifice Diameter (D0):

Cross Sectional Orifice area (A0):

0.013
0.000133

M
m2

TABLE 1:Data of Flow Rate, Head, and Jet Diameter for the Experimental Orifice
Orifice Measurement
Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Obs.

H0
(mm)

HC
(mm)

DC
(mm)

Weigh
Mass
(kg)

Time
t1
(s)

Time
t2
(s)

Time
t3
(s)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

380
355
305
280
255
220
210
180
165
140

370
345
293
-

12
11
12
-

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

52.20
53.38
59.63
61.28
62.44
67.09
68.28
72.38
75.22
80.53

52.56
53.89
59.97
61.65
63.59
67.28
67.78
72.72
75.72
80.53

53.50
55.56
59.53
60.91
63.03
67.50
68.21
72.65
76.69
79.60

TABLE 2:Actual Flow Rate through Orifice

Gravimetric Flow Measurement
Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Water
Mass
(kg)

Time
t1
(s)

Time
t2
(s)

Time
t3
(s)

Time
tavg
(s)

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18

52.20
53.38
59.63
61.28
62.44
67.09
68.28
72.38
75.22
80.53

52.56
53.89
59.97
61.65
63.59
67.28
67.78
72.72
75.72
80.53

53.50
55.56
59.53
60.91
63.03
67.50
68.21
72.65
76.69
79.60

52.75
54.28
59.71
61.28
63.02
67.29
68.09
72.58
75.88
80.22

0.000342107
0.000332505
0.000302249
0.000294505
0.000286374
0.000268202
0.000265050
0.000248642
0.000237850
0.000224972

29

TABLE 3:Ideal Flow Rate through

Orifice
Volume
H0
H1/2
Obs.
flow rate
1/2
(m)
(m )
(m3/s)
1
0.380
0.616
0.00036
2
0.355
0.596
0.00035
3
0.305
0.552
0.00033
4
0.280
0.529
0.00031
5
0.255
0.505
0.00030
6
0.220
0.469
0.00028
7
0.210
0.458
0.00027
8
0.180
0.424
0.00025
9
0.165
0.406
0.00024
10
0.140
0.374
0.00022

TABLE 4:Experimental Data of Orifice Measurements about Contracted Section

H0
HC
DC
Obs.
CV
CC
Cd
(m)
(m)
(m)
1
0.380
370
0.012
31.20391
0.85207
26.58795
2
0.355
345
0.011
31.17420
0.71598
22.31999
3
0.305
293
0.012
30.99445
0.85207
26.40947
4
0.280
5
0.255
6
0.220
7
0.210
8
0.180
9
0.165
10
0.140
-

30

TABLE 5:Experimental Discharge Coefficient for the Orifice

Obs.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Volume
flow rate
(m3/s)

H1/2
(m1/2)

0.00036
0.616
0.00035
0.596
0.00033
0.552
0.00031
0.529
0.00030
0.505
0.00028
0.469
0.00027
0.458
0.00025
0.424
0.00024
0.406
0.00022
0.374
Overall Average =

Volume flow
rate Qactual
(m3/s)

Discharge
Coefficient
Cd

3.63E-04
3.51E-04
3.25E-04
3.12E-04
2.97E-04
2.76E-04
2.70E-04
2.50E-04
2.39E-04
2.20E-04
Cd =

1.000000
1.002876
0.985910
1.005584
0.991631
0.986858
0.999878
0.999764
0.997084
1.001942
0.997153

(slope) m =

0.0006

Normalized
value
Cd =

1.01847

31

Discussion
The result obtained can be said to be satisfactory according to the theory. The
flow of the fluid used in the experiment, when compared to the flow that was obtained
theoretically, is lower. This means that the amount that is leaving the tank is less than
what should be exiting according to the diameter of the orifice. In other words, the
diameter of the stream is smaller than the diameter of the orifice.
For the long orifice, the average coefficient of discharge gave an average of
0.997. This result, when compared to the equation used to calculate it and put into a
percentile form, states that the flow of the stream is only 99.7% of what the stream
should be with its constant orifice diameter of 13 mm. This high percentage could be
from the fact that the type of orifice provides a greater area of friction, causing the water
to maintain a greater flow and diameter.
For the short orifice the coefficient of discharge gave an average of 0.99.
Using the same method from the previous orifice, this gives a result of 99% of the
original (theoretical) flow. This is because, unlike the previous orifice, which has a
greater length, this orifice does not have the length that will provide the necessary
friction, allowing the fluid to obtain a greater flow. Once the fluid exits into the
atmosphere (leaves the tank and free-falls) the friction provides by the air is small
enough to be ignored and thus, the fluid experiences no friction and stays the same
diameter.

32

Conclusion
After the experiment of Flow through an Orifice was realized, it was concluded
that is was satisfactory success because if the fluid undergoes a change in evaluation
pressure at the bottom of the tube the pressure is greater than at the top and it will
determine the speed with which raises the fluid in the orifice. It was determine that the
velocity of the tanks phase was negligible and that the atmospheric pressure was
outstanding. Since the pressure decreases and the speed increases, that less energy is
lost and the values that obtained experimentally discharge coefficient and the values of
this did not fold 1, which shows the accuracy the taking of measures. Finally it is
concluded that were the speed increases the fluid will make greater flow volume.

33

Recommendation
In order to save time, coordinate the steps in the procedure with your group in
order to obtain the results from the experiment faster.
When moving the tool used to determine the diameter of the stream, be sure to
start measuring as soon as the tool touches the surface of the stream.

34

Reference

Blackboard

Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Manual, Department of Mechanical Engineering,

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico

Learning System, http://onlinecampus.pupr.edu/

35

Appendix

36

Examples of Calculus
1. Mass Flow
a.

2. Volumetric Flow
a.

Q0 = 0.000355
Q0 = 3.6x10-4
b.

3. Normalized Value
a.

37

38