DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY – DASMARINAS

Dasmariñas, Cavite
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, AND
TECHNOLOGY

CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

NAME: ROBERTO, EXERCISE NO. 5 DATE: MAY 14, 2024

JOHN PAUL B.

GROUP NO.: 2 (PET01) GRAVIMETRIC- RATING:

VOLUMETRIC METHOD
OF FLOW RATE
DETERMINATION

I. OBJECTIVE:
1. To establish a simple and direct method of flow rating
2. To determine the flow rate of intake and discharge of fluids in the different points
of hydraulic machine

II. EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS:
 Hydraulic laboratory setup
 Stop watch
 Beaker or 1 liter can
 Graduated cylinder
 Ruler or meter stick

III. PROCEDURES:
A. Flow rate in Orifice in the tank
1. Fill the reservoir (tank) with water by pumping, from the lower reservoir and
until it reach a stationary head (level) approximately 1/3 of the depth by
regulating the gate valves.
2. Collect an amount of water in the discharge end of the orifice and timing it
using the beaker of 1 liter of can.
𝑣
3. Compute the average flow rate in 𝑚3/𝑠 or lit/s 𝑄 =
𝑡
4. Repeat collection and timing operation for at least 4 trials.

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 Note: The collection of water in the discharge end of the orifice and timing it.

B. Flow rate in Open Channel

1. Direct the flow of water to be open channel by pumping into the tank
(reservoir).
2. With no load on the right end side of the lever, adjust the pointer indicator
to zero.
3. Load the dead weight to the lever.
4. Close the quick vale of the weight tank and set to start the stop watch.
5. Collect and amount of water and record temperature.
6. Record the time elapse and the weight of water when the lever moved
to equilibrium.
7. Compute the flow rate and make at least 4 trials. Volume is computed using
the weight volume relationship
𝑉 𝑊
𝑄= 𝑉=
𝑡 𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 (𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟)

Notes:
 Weight tank shall be open full
 Lever is equilibrium when the two pointer coincides, or lever is
horizontal

C. Flow rate in pipe discharging in air

1. Fill the reservoir (tank) with water by pumping from the lower reservoir until
it reaches a stationary head (level)
2. Collect an amount of water in the discharge and of the pipe and timing it using
beaker or a liter of can.
3. Compute the average flow rate in lit/s and 𝑚3/𝑠.

𝑉
𝑄=
𝑡

4. Repeat all collection and timing operation for at least 4 trials.

IV. DATA AND TABULATION

Table 1. Flow Rate on Orifice in the Tank

TRIAL VOLUME TIME Q (𝒎𝟑/𝒔) AVERAGE
COLLECTED ELAPSE (s) FLOW RATE
(L) (𝒎𝟑/𝒔)
1 0.33 32.93 1.0021x10−5 1.0015x10−5
2 0.36 35.97 1.0008x10−5

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 Table 2. Flow Rate on Weir

TRIAL VOLUME TIME Q (𝒎𝟑/𝒔) AVERAGE

COLLECTED ELAPSE (s) FLOW RATE
(L) (𝒎𝟑/𝒔)
1 0.945 6.09 1.5517x10−4 1.5354x10−4
2 1.05 6.68 1.5719x10−4

Table 3. Flow Rate on Venturi Meter

TRIAL VOLUME TIME Q (𝒎𝟑/𝒔) AVERAGE

COLLECTED ELAPSE (s) FLOW RATE
(L) (𝒎𝟑/𝒔)
1 1.095 26.71 4.0996x10−5 5.3211x10−5
2 1.44 22.01 6.5425x10−5

V. COMPUTATIONS

Flow Rate on Orifice in the Tank

0.001𝑚 3 3
0.33𝐿 𝑥 = 0.00033𝑚 𝑄𝐴𝑉𝐸
1𝐿 𝑄1 = =
32.93 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠.
0.00033𝑚3 1.0021x10 −5
1.0021x10−5 + 1.0008x10−5
0.001𝑚 3 3 =
0.36𝐿 𝑥 = 0.00036𝑚 2
1𝐿 𝑄2 = 35.97 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠. = =1.0015x10−5
0.00036𝑚3 1.0008x10−5

Flow Rate on Weir

0.001𝑚 3 3
0.945𝐿 𝑥 = 0.000945𝑚
𝑄𝐴𝑉𝐸
1𝐿 𝑄1 = =
6.09 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠.
0.000945𝑚3 1.5517x10 −4
1.5517x10−4 + 1.5719x10−4
0.001𝑚 3 3
=
1.05𝐿 𝑥 = 0.00105𝑚 2
1𝐿 𝑄2 = 6.68 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠. =
3 =1.5354x10−4
0.00105𝑚 1.5719x10−4

Flow Rate on Venturi Meter

0.001𝑚 3 3
1.095𝐿 𝑥 = 0.001095𝑚 𝑄𝐴𝑉𝐸
1𝐿 𝑄1 = =
26.71 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠.
0.001095𝑚3 4.0996x10 −5
4.0996x10−5 + 6.5425x10−5
0.001𝑚 3 3
=
1.44𝐿 𝑥 = 0.00144𝑚 2
1𝐿 𝑄2 = 22.01 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠. =
=5.3211x10−5
0.00144𝑚3 6.5425x10−5

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 VI. FIGURE

Figure 1. Orifice in the Figure 2. Weir Figure 3. Venturi Meter

Tank

VII. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Determining the flow rate of a fluid in a pipe or channel is a crucial process called
volumetric flow rate determination. This process involves measuring the volume of fluid
flowing through a specific point at a given time. Volumetric flow rate is commonly used in
various applications, such as industrial operations, water treatment facilities, and irrigation
systems. Different instruments are used in the laboratory to measure the flow rate, such as an
orifice, weir, and venturi meter. The orifice plate is used in an orifice to measure the flow rate
of a fluid. The weir uses a barrier to block the channel or stream, and the flow rate is
determined by measuring the fluid height over the weir. In a venturi meter, the fluid goes
through three sections: the converging part, where its velocity increases; the throat, where its
velocity is maximum; and the diverging section, where its velocity decreases. To ensure
accuracy, two trials are conducted on each instrument, and any inaccuracies can be reduced
by taking multiple measurements and averaging the results. The significant processes
involved in this experiment are filling, collecting, measuring, and computing. By successfully
following these steps, volume and time-lapse can be obtained, and the flow rate can be
calculated using these values.
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
The formulation for flow rate is stated as the quotient of volume over time (𝑄 = ). The
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
equation reveals that the flow rate is directly proportional to the area and velocity and
inversely proportional to the time. This means that increasing the area of the pipe or channel
will lead to an increase in the flow rate. If the fluid is incompressible, the volume of fluid that
passes through a given point in a specific amount of time remains constant. Therefore, the
flow rate is directly proportional to the area.

VIII. CONCLUSIONS

The objective of the experiment was to establish a simple and direct method of flow rating
and to determine the flow rate of intake and discharge of fluids at different points of the
Hydraulic Machine. The laboratory focused on determining the volumetric flow rate using
hydraulic instruments like a venturi meter, an orifice in the tank, and a weir. The experiment
proved that
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the flow rate decreases when the area is reduced, too, as there is a direct proportional
relationship. Therefore, the volumetric flow rate increases as volume increases and time
decreases. The experiment results showed that the venturi meter had the most significant flow
rate, while the orifice had the smallest flow rate. These results were evident because of the
parameters measured, such as volume and time. Moreover, the volumetric flow rate is crucial
in many industrial and technical environments. Knowing the flow rate helps build and size
new systems and equipment like pipelines, pumps, and valves. It also aids in assessing the
efficiency of a process or system and monitoring and managing fluid flow. It is crucial for
safety and environmental concerns in certain circumstances. Therefore, engineers, operators,
and researchers should understand, optimize, and manage the performance of systems and
processes using this critical tool.

IX. RECOMMENDATION

The instruments such as the venti meter, orifice, and weirs work on the principle of
constriction, restriction, and barrier, respectively, to measure fluid flow rate. Hence, the
association between flow rate, volume, and time may be coupled with other factors such as
pressure and density. Therefore, monitoring and regulating these factors is critical to
guarantee precise and dependable outcomes. Numerous observations based on experience and
inspection would be strongly advised after experimenting. Before beginning the experiment,
it is essential to calibrate the instruments to guarantee that the devices are working correctly
and that the measurements are accurate. It is also critical to regulate as many factors as
possible, including fluid temperature, pressure, viscosity, measurement location, time, and
sample rate. It is also desirable to repeat the experiment multiple times to achieve an average
volumetric flow rate and improve the accuracy of the data. Recording the data accurately and
systematically is essential to avoid confusion and misanalysis. Ultimately, comparing the data
acquired with different methods and equipment is advised to confirm the results and discover
any errors or inconsistencies.

X. DOCUMENTATION