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Bsc(Honours) Civil Engineering
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TITLE:

HORIZONTAL JET DISCHARGE THROUGH A SHARP EDGED

ORIFICE.

Introduction
An orifice meter is a type if flow measurement and it consists of a flat orifice plate. This
orifice plate has a hole in the middle where fluid flows through. As the fluid flows through
the opening in the middle of the orifice plate, there is a change in the velocity and pressure
of the fluid. The vena contracta is created as the fluid flows through the hole and it is the
narrowest
point of the flow of fluid. After the fluid flows past the vena contracta point, the fluid begins
to expand and the velocity and pressure of the fluid changes again. The vena contracta
produces losses in the orifice.
In determining the performance of water through a jet and the effect of friction on
performance, the coefficient of discharge (Cd), coefficient of velocity (Cv) and coefficient of
contraction (Cc) are needed. These three coefficients allow us to understand the effect of the
friction on water flow more clearly. Each of these coefficients is a ratio of the actual
performance to ideal performance as related to discharge, velocity and contraction.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the coefficients of velocity (Cv), contraction (Cc) and discharge (Cd) for sharp
edged circular orifice by passing a horizontal jet of water through the orifice.

APPARATUS
a) Header tank with sharp-edged orifice installed in the vertical plane of the tank side.
b) A steady water supply with means of varying the flow rate.
c) A vertical sight glass to record the water level in the tank.
d) A travelling distance gauge to facilitate the accurate measurement of x and y.
e) A device for measuring the diameter of the jet at the vena contracta.

Theory
Vcc is the true horizontal velocity at the vena contracta, then the properties of the et
trajectory give the following relationship:
y = g/2v2vc
Vvc = (gx2/2y)1/2
Coefficient of velocity CV
CV

= actual velocity
theoretical velocity
=

CV =
Also

vVC
(2gH)1/2
( g(x)2 )1/2
4ygH

C d = C V * Cc

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. Level the tank so that the plane of the orifice is vertical and the diameter of the orifice
is vertical and the diameter of the orifice is noted.
2. Supply with water from the tap and allow for steady conditions and constant value of
H.
3. Establish a horizontal centre line through the orifice and use it as the datum for the
measurement of H and y.
4. Record the value of H was recorded.
5. Measure the diameter of the jet at the vena contracta was accurately measured. Take a
series of readings of dimensions x and y was taken along the trajectory of the jets.
6. Experimental procedure was repeated for three different flow rates, by means of
varying the head H.
Observations:
Diameter of orifice
Cross-sectional area of orifice
Head above orifice centreline
Diameter of at the vena contracta

d = 3mm
A = 7.07mm2
H = 380
=2.76mm

FLOW RATE 1
Head= 380mm
Volume (cm3)

Time(s)

Q1(cm3/s)

128

10

12.8

196

15.3

12.8

130

10

13

Average Q1= (12.8+12.8+13)

3
= 12.87 cm3/s

FLOW RATE 2
Head = 340mm
Volume (cm3)

Time(s)

Q2(cm3/s)

124

10.4

11.92

126

10.4

12.12

128

10.5

12.19

Average Q2= (11.92+12.12+12.19)

3
= 12.08 cm3/s
FLOW RATE 3
Head = 310mm
Volume (cm3)

Time(s)

Q3(cm3/s)

118

10.3

11.46

120

10.4

11.50

123

10.7

11.50

Average Q2= (11.46+11.5+11.50)

3
= 11.49 cm3/s

TABLE OF RESULTS
Head = 380mm
Q1=12.87cm3/s

Head = 320mm
Q2=12.08cm3/s

Head =310 mm
Q3=11.49cm3/s

x(m)

y(m)

y1/2(m)

x(m)

y(m)

y1/2(m)

x(m)

y(m)

y1/2(m)

0.006

0.001

0.03

0.006

0.001

0.03

0.006

0.002

0.04

0.055

0.005

0.071

0.055

0.007

0.08

0.055

0.009

0.09

0.115

0.015

0.12

0.115

0.017

0.13

0.115

0.020

0.14

0.151

0.029

0.17

0.151

0.032

0.18

0.151

0.035

0.19

0.206

0.046

0.21

0.206

0.051

0.23

0.206

0.056

0.24

0.256

0.067

0.26

0.256

0.073

0.27

0.256

0.082

0.29

0.306

0.089

0.30

0.306

0.100

0.32

0.306

0.109

0.33

0.356

0.118

0.34

0.356

0.133

0.36

0.356

0.144

0.38

The value of y1/2 and x were plotted as shown on the graph:

Graph of (y)1/2 against x

0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
y(m(1/2))

0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

x(m)

1)The line of best fit shows the y1/2 varies linearly with x.

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
Cv = x
*1
1/2
y
(4H)1/2
=

x
* k; k =
1/2
y

= 1
slope from graph

1
(4H)1/2

*k

Cc = a
A
Where a is the cross-sectional area of jet at vena contracta and A cross-sectional area of the
orifice
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Cv1 =

x
*1
y1/2 (4H)1/2
= 1
(0.21-0.17)
(0.151-0.115)

* 1
( 4*0.38)1/2

1 * 0.811
0.817

= 0.993
Cc = a
A
= 5.98
7.07
= 0.846

Cd = Cc1 * Cv1
= 0.846 *0.993
=0.840
Table 2
Cc ( a )
A
Cc1 0.846
Cc 20.846
Cc3 0.846

Cv( from graph)

Cd(Cc*Cv)

Cv1 0.993
Cv2 0.909
Cv3 0.98

Cd1 0.840
Cd2 0.769
Cd 30.880

Discussion
The experimental values obtained in the experiment vary slightly with those of the theoretical
values. For example, the values of the coefficient of velocity C v2 (0.909) and Cv3 (0.98) are in
the range of known preferences 0.95-0.99. Actual velocity affected the coefficients of
velocity; as the actual head value decreased after each reading, the coefficients of velocity
value decreased as well. Actual flow rate affected the coefficient of discharge; as time
increased after each reading, the actual flow rate together with the coefficient of discharge
decreased.
Errors occurred in this experiment resulted in these differences:
1) Timing taken could have been inaccurate, readings were not taken at eye level.
2) The diameter of the vena contracta could have been measured incorrectly using
calliper and external forces surrounding this experiment could have affected
readings recorded. These errors are evident in the equations to calculate
coefficient of discharge (Cd=Cc x Cv) which should have been identical but
different.
3) Parallax error
1. When taking the reading of head above orifice centre line (H)
2. When taking the reading of water collected in the measuring cylinder
3. When measuring the diameter of the jet at vena contracta.
4. When determining y using the needles

the
the
the
are

5) There is possible change of H during the course of the experiment.

Conclusion
1) The values obtained correspond to the ones obtained from literature preferences as shown
by the values of the coefficient of velocity following within the known range of coefficients
of velocity of the range 0.95-0.99.
2) The values of the flow rate obtained vary with the coefficients of discharge and velocity,
As the values of the flow rate decreases, the values of the coefficient of velocity Cv, decreases
as well and the values of the coefficient of discharge decrease.

REFERENCES
Meyer C.F. (1995)Principles of Fluid Mechanics.Pretoria: CFM Publications
R. L. Daugherty and J. B. Franzini,(1965) Fluid Mechanics, 6th ed.,New York,McGraw-Hill,
pp. 338-349
Douglas, J. A., J. M. Gasiorek, et al. (2005). Fluid Mechanics.