EXPERIMENT # 2

DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT OF VENTURI METER

AND
FLOW COEFFICIENT OR ORIFICE FLOWMETER

I. OBJECTIVE

To determine the coefficient of discharge of the venturi meter, the flow

coefficient of orifice, and their relationships with the Reynolds number.

II. PRINCIPLES INVOVLED

The discharge coefficient of the venturi and the flow coefficient of the orifice
flow meter may be determined by calibrating their heads against the pitot-static tube
over a wide range of flows. Treating Q as the actual discharge volume, the coefficient
of discharge for venturi meter is

And the coefficient of flow for orifice flow meter is

The quantity o discharge for venturi meter has to be corrected for velocity of approach
designated by M, where it is

With A1 = the cross sectional area of pipe at station 1 and

A2 = the cross sectional area of throat of venturi meter
W = specific weight of the liquid in the manometer
If the gas vapor is flowing in a pipe and the average velocity of the stream is increased
from zero to maximum three or more types of flow may actually be involved:
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1. Viscous, laminar, or streamline flow, in which the liquid particles move in
parallel paths with decreasing velocity as the solid boundary as the pipe wall is
approach. This type occurs with any fluid when the Reynolds number is below a
certain critical range, (see fluid mechanics book for the formula).
2. Turbulent flow which the fluid particles move not only parallel with the stream
but also in random turbulent paths across the stream. This type occurs with any
fluid when the Reynolds number exceeds an upper critical value of about 2,000
to 3,000 in ordinary pipes and ducts.

3. Supersonic flow, or flow in which the acoustic velocity or velocity of sound in

the fluid is exceeded. Subsonic flow is a term applied to the flow of a gas or vapor
in the moderately high turbulent range when the effects of compressibility begin to
assume importance. The transonic range is a range of velocity needs the sonic
velocity in which certain instabilities and disturbances appear.

III. PROCEDURE

The procedure in this experiment is the same as the procedure in experiment #

1. However, use equation 11.1 and equation 11.2 for the coefficient of discharge for the
venturi meter and the flow coefficient of the orifice flow meter. Note that the volume
flow rate of the pitot is treated as the Q or actual discharge volume since the two-head
meter are calibrated against the pitot.
To determine the Reynolds number of approach, calculate the density of the
fluid and look for the appropriate value of the dynamic viscosity of the fluid based on
the measured air temperature from charts or tables. Although the dynamic viscosity is
also a function of temperature, the value of viscosity at standard atmospheric pressure
may be used since the effect of small pressure change on the dynamic viscosity of the
fluid is usually considered negligible.

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 IV. DATA SHEET

Pitot Tube
Inlet Opening (encircle one):

Fully Closed ¼ ½ ¾ Fully Open

Temperature °K Barometric Pressure: kPaa

Damper Setting (No. of Turns)

Duct 2 4 6 8 16
Transverse
P8 Pt ΔP P8 Pt ΔP P8 Pt ΔP P8 Pt ΔP P8 Pt ΔP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Average

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 C. Venturi Tube and Orifice

Inlet Opening Damper Venturi Orifice

Setting P1 Total Pt Total Delta P P1 Total Delta
2
4
Fully Closed 6
8
10
20
2
4
6
1/4 8
10
20
2
4
6
1/2 8
10
20
2
4
6
3/4 8
10
20
2
4
Fully Open 6
8
10
20

V. RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Plot the values of the discharge coefficient c and flow rate coefficient K against
the Reynolds number of approach. Use the left-hand ordinate for C, the right hand
ordinate of for K, and the abscissa for Re. Discuss the significance of the graph.

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VI. ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION:

VII. QUESTIONS:

1. What is the importance of the Reynolds Number?

2. The characteristics of Reynolds number equation in pipe flow is the pipe

diameter. How is the characteristics length defined in noncircular conduits?

3. Define dynamic viscosity and kinematic viscosity. Dynamic viscosity is

usually expressed in terms of centipoises (cP) while kinematic viscosity is
centistokes (cSt). Express cP and cSt in terms of the basic SI units.

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