Izabela Polikowska

B00880992
BEng/MEng Civil Engineering Hons

Engineering Mechanics BEN131

Sile Brennan

11/04/2023

Izabela Polikowska

B00880992

Engineering Mechanics BEN131

Izabela Polikowska- B00880992 BEng/MEng

 Lab Report on Determining the Coefficient of Discharge Using a Venturi
Meter and Orifice Plate Meter.
Introduction
An experiment was carried out using the venturi and orifice meter to determine the coefficient of
discharge (Cd). This was done by passing water through the systems with a volumetric value of 0.1m³, the
pressure differences were found using a manometer. The values can be plotted on a graph of discharge in
metres cubed per second (Q) against the change in pressure in metres (∆H). The gradient of both graphs is
equal to the coefficient of discharge (Cd).
Theory
In order to find out the coefficient of discharge (Cd), Bernoulli’s equation is used in order to derive
p1 v 21 p2 v 22
the equation of discharge. Starting with Bernoulli’s equation which states, + + z 1= + + z 2. The
ρg 2g ρg 2 g
letters in the equation stand for; p which is the pressure in the pipe, ρ which is the density, g which is gravity,
v as velocity, z as the different elevations, a as the cross sectional area of the pipe and d as the diameter. The
suffixes are to differentiate the two different points in the pipe, one at the throat and one at the full bore. As
the pipe is horizontal there is no difference in elevation on the pipe centreline, therefore; z 1=¿ z ¿, therefore
2

p v2 p v2
rearranging Bernoulli’s equation to be as follows; 1 + 1 = 2 + 2 , group velocity (v) together and
ρ g 2 g ρg 2 g
p − p2 v 2−¿ v 2 2

pressure (p) together which brings the equation to be, 1 = ¿. The right-hand side can be
1

ρg 2g
p − p2 v 2−¿ v
2 2

replaced using this equation 1 =hTherefore the equation now being, h= 1

¿ (equation 1). The
ρg 2g
( a2 v 2 )
continuity equation states that a 1 v 1 =a2 v 2, rearranging this to equal; v1 = . This can now be
a1
a1
substituted into equation 1 and once rearranged will look like this, v 2= 2 2 √2 gh. Rate of discharge ca
√a 1−a2
a1
be determined using Q= 2 √ 2 gh (Equation 2). This equation is known as the theoretical discharge,
√ a1−a22
actual discharge is lower due to loss of energy, therefore the equation is multiplied by the coefficient of
a1
discharge (Cd) to get the actual discharge. Q=Cd √ 2 gh .This can be simplified and written as
√ a −a
2
1
2
2
k

( )
a2 2 −0.5 Cd= .

( )
2 −0.5
Q=Cd a2 (1− ) √2 gh. This can therefore be rearranged to equal Cd, a2
a1 a2 [1− ] √2 g
a1
(Bansal, 2010).
Experimental Method
The experimental method starts off with fixing either the venturi metre (as seen in
image 1) or orifice plate (as seen in image 2). Then the flow control valve
is to be slowly opened (as seen in image 3), taking down the
measurements of the maximum/ minimum difference levels on the
manometers once they settle (as seen in image 4). The displacement tank
plug is closed and allowed to fill till point zero, time is taken by three
students, counting how long it takes for 10L, 0.1m³, to circulate through
the system. Then the valve is closed and once the levels are regulated

(Image 3 below)

Izabela Polikowska- B00880992 BEng/MEng

 then the levels of the manometer are taken down, and this is repeated to gain a set of 10 readings. This is
done for both the venturi metre and orifice plate.

Readings, Calculations and Graphs (Fig.1. below)

Graph of Discharge Against the Square Root To find a1 and a2, the areas of the throat
(Image 4 above)
and bore need to be taken, the area of a
of the Difference in Height for Venturi Meter
cylinder being A=π r 2 . A1 in the
0.0006 equation stands for the area of the full-
f(x) = 0.000634500085024218 x + 2.70065441220835E-05
0.0005 R² = 0.963790214507568 bore diameter, which was 0.024,
0.0004 changing that into the radius it becomes
Q/ m³/s

0.0003
0.012m, this substituted in the equation
gives an answer of 4.52 ×10−4 m 2 as a1.
(Image 1 above)
0.0002 (Image 2 above)
The same is done for a2 only this is the
0.0001 area for the throat, the diameter coming
0 to 0.014m and a radius of 0.007m. This
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
substituted into the equation gives an
Square Root of Difference of Height/ √m
area of 1.539 ×10−4 m2 .

Test No. Venturi Meter

Time 1 (s) Time 2 (s) Time 3 (s) Average Time (s) Discharge, Q. (m³/s)
1 2 3
1 18.77 20.17 17.11 18.68333333 0.000535236396074933
2 17.83 17.95 17.68 17.82 0.000561167227833895
3 16.55 17.77 17.93 17.41666667 0.000574162679425837
4 19.24 19.35 19.47 19.35333333 0.000516706854977609
5 20.67 20.43 20.45 20.51666667 0.000487408610885459
6 21.17 21.99 22.06 21.74 0.000459981600735971
7 23.17 23.97 23.65 23.59666667 0.000423788670716203
8 26.73 26.83 26.73 26.76333333 0.000373645534935857
9 33.39 33.84 34.12 33.78333333 0.00029600394671929
10 45.81 45.17 46.5 45.82666667 0.000218213558335758

2
Test No. (Tabulated results for timings as well as discharge displayed in spreadsheet above)
Venturi Meter
The R in both graphs,
Manometer Manometer Difference Difference Square Root of
depicts the straightness
Reading 1 (mm) Reading 2 (mm) in Height in Height Difference Height
of the line of best fit, the
(mm) (m) (√m)
closer the value of it is to
1 2
1 the straighter the line is
therefore it shows that Q 1 990 225 765 0.765 0.875
over the square root of 2 950 248 702 0.702 0.838
the difference in height is 3 912 270 642 0.642 0.801
directly proportional. 4 871 300 571 0.571 0.756
5 834 322 512 0.512 0.716
6 793 345 448 0.448 0.669
7 751 370 381 0.381 0.617
8 698 398 300 0.3 0.548
9 624 439 185 0.185 0.43
10 567 463 104 0.104 0.322

Izabela Polikowska- B00880992 BEng/MEng

 Test
Graph of Discharge Against the Square Root
Orifice Plate
To find a1 and a2, the areas of the throat
No. of the Difference in Height for Orifice Plate and bore need to be taken, the area of a
Calculation of Cd. cylinder being A=π r 2 . A1 in the
Time 1 (s)
Meter
Time 2 (s) Time 3 (s) Average Time (s) Discharge (m³/s)
k equation stands for the area of the full-
Cd= 0.001 1 . 2 3 bore diameter, which was 0.024,
( )
2 −0.5
1 a2 11.63 11.43 11.72 11.59333333 0.000862564692351926
a2 [1−
0.0008 ] f(x)√ =20.00122617479522318
g x − 4.66820398300722E-05 changing that into the radius it becomes
2 a1 11.78 11.18
R² = 0.99740898753246 12.14 11.7 0.000854700854700855
0.012m, this substituted in the equation
0.0006
Q/ m³/s

3 13.01 12.82 (Tabulated

13.27results for manometer readings
13.03333333 as answer
well as difference
0.000767263427109975
gives an of 4.52 ×10in −4
heights
m as displayed
2
a1. in
0.0004 0.000635 spreadsheet above)
Cd= 4 14.14 14.27 2 −0.5 14.04 . 14.15 0.000706713780918728
The same is done for a2 only this is the

( )
−4
5 × 10 [1−
0.0002 −4 15.08 1.539× 10
15.23 ] √15.34 area for the throat, the diameter coming
15.21666667 0.000657174151150055
1.539 −4
2 × 9.81
6 0 16.694.52 ×1016.2 16.6 to 0.020m and a radius of 0.010m. This
16.49666667 0.000606183067286321
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 substituted into the equation gives an
7 19.29 18.87 19.17 19.11 0.000523286237571952
8 Square Root20.71
20.68 of Difference of Height/ √m
20.56 area of 3.142 ×10− 4 m2 .
20.65 0.000484261501210654
9 24.25 24.63 24.13 24.33666667 0.000410902616079989
10 37.97 38.59 38.51 38.35666667 0.000260710871643348
(Tabulated results for timings as well as discharge displayed in spreadsheet above)

Test No. Orfice Plate

With both spreadsheets,
Manometer
the graphs can be plotted Manometer Difference Difference Square Root of
which help find the Reading 1 (mm) Reading 2 (mm) in Height in Height Difference
gradient needed to find (mm) (m) Height (√m)
the coefficient of 1 2 0.743
discharge, as the1 983 431 552 0.552 0.716
equipment measured2 in 949 437 512 0.512 0.674
millimetres, these3 then 902 448 454 0.454 0.625
had to be changed 4 to 853 462 391 0.391 0.576
metres for the calculation
5 809 477 332 0.332 0.527
to work out properly. The
6 761 483 278 0.278 0.473
reason for taking the
7
readings for the timings 3 710 486 224 0.224 0.428
times is to get as8 accurate 673 490 183 0.183 0.367
of an answer as 9possible. 629 494 135 0.135 0.251
10 558 495 63 0.063

Izabela Polikowska- B00880992 BEng/MEng

Discussion (Tabulated results for manometer readings as well as difference in heights displayed in
spreadsheet
Venturi meters/orifice above)
plate meters are used in flow measuring purposes, they’re gauges and have
been used in water as well as wastewater flow rate measurements. (M. Kemal Atesmen, 2018). Equation 2
shown above is the ideal equation when finding the discharge going through the pipes, neglecting all losses
that could happen. In the real-world energy cannot be preserved and is lost in many ways when the water
moves through the pipes, to account for this loss the coefficient of discharge is multiplied by Equation 2.
(Marriot, 2016). The coefficient of discharge values differ slightly between the orifice plate and venturi
meter. This is due the different throats both gauges have. In the venturi meter the throat is narrowed
gradually, which limits the amount of energy lost and therefore the coefficient of discharge is valued
between 0.99-0.96. Whereas in the orifice plate meter the narrowing is very sudden which leads to greater
energy loss, dropping the coefficient of discharge value down to between 0.63-0.6. (Marriot, 2016). The
Coefficient of Discharge can drop in a venturi meter due to the surface condition or the shape of the pipe,
therefore lowering the values from an estimated 0.99-0.96 to a lower value (Bruce Briggs, 2019). This is
proved in the results gained in this experiment where the Cd in a venturi meter is 0.876, this could also be
due to error with the timings or reading off the manometer as the liquid bobs in the manometer so it’s
taking down by eye. The orifice plate meter provides a realistic pressure drop which should account for all
accuracy which can get the readings as close as 1% accurate, yet if the orifice is damaged or there’s a
blockage it can lead to up to 15% flow rate errors. In this experiment the predicted Cd for an orifice was
between 0.63-0.6, the reading gotten for the orifice was 0.635, which shows that the orifice mustn’t have
had any faults with it, as an accurate result was obtained (Andrew Sloley, 2019).
Conclusion
From this experiment, it is shown that the coefficient of discharge when using a venturi meter stands
at 0.876 whilst when using an orifice plate meter, it drops to 0.635 and this due to the difference in how the
water is introduced to the narrowing in the pipes, one being gradually whilst the other being a lot more
sudden. Both values are in the range for the average readings gotten, which shows that the results are
reliable.

Izabela Polikowska- B00880992 BEng/MEng

References.
 Bansal, R.K. (2010). A Textbook of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines. [online] Google Books. Laxmi
Publications. Available at:
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Textbook_of_Fluid_Mechanics_and_Hydrau/0clZbfwgiyUC?
hl=en&gbpv=0 [Accessed 4 Apr. 2023]
 M. Kemal Atesmen. (2018). Case Studies in Fluid Mechanics with Sensitivities to Governing Variables, pp.
39-43. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/9781119524861.ch6
 Marriot, M. (2016). Nalluri And Featherstone’s Civil Engineering Hydraulics, pp. 88-89 John Wiley & Sons.
 Bruce Briggs. (2019). The Factors that Impact Venturi Meter Accuracy. [online] Available at:
https://www.primaryflowsignal.com/news-resources/the-factors-that-impact-venturi-meter-accuracy/
 Andrew Sloley. (2019). Identify Orifice Plate Issues, Various culprits can compromise flow measurements.
Chemical Processing. [online] Available at:
https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/automation/instrumentation/article/11307696/identify-orifice-
plate-issues

Izabela Polikowska- B00880992 BEng/MEng