U19ME204 FLUID MECHANICS AND MACHINERY

Unit 2 Fluid kinematics & Dynamics

Applications of Energy Equation
Venturimeter
 Problems on Venturimeter
 Venturimeter
 A device used for measuring the rate of change of flow of
fluid through a pipe.
 The basic principle of venturimeter is that by reducing the
cross sectional area along the pipe, a pressure difference is
created.
 From the pressure difference, the discharge through the
pipe is calculated.
 Venturimeter consists of three parts:
1. An inlet section followed by the convergent cone.
2. Throat
3. Divergent

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  The convergent cone is a short pipe which tapers from the original size
of the pipe similar to the throat of venturimeter.
 The throat of venturimeter is a short parallel tube having its cross
sectional area smaller than other section of the pipe.
 The divergent cone of the venturimeter is a gradually diverging pipe
with its cross section area increasing from the throat to original size of
the pipe.

D-diameter of inlet section

D-diameter of throat
The length of the throat is equal
to the diameter (d) of the throat.
Divergent cone angle is
between 5o to 15o

 At the inlet and throat section of the venturimeter, a manometer is

attached to measure the difference.
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  Convergent cone is smaller than divergent portion to avoid flow
separation and consequent energy loss.
 Since flow separation may occur in divergent section it is not used for
discharge measurement.
 In venturimeter cross sectional area at the throat < inlet section.
 Decrease in the cross sectional areas results in “decrease in pressure at
the throat section”.
 The pressure is measured using a manometer or a pressure gauge.
 Then by using Bernoulli’s equation, the discharge through the pipe will
be obtained.
 If the throat diameter is reduced toomuch, the pressure at this section
drops below the “vapour pressure of the flowing fluid”. This might
cause the vaporization and vapor pocket or bubbles formation in throat
section.
 The above phenomenon is called as “cavitation”, it should reduced to
avoid damage or corrosion of pipe wall.
 Therefore throat diameter can vary between 1/3 to ¾ of pipe diameter.

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 1. A mercury filled u-tube manometer connected across a venturimeter
records a difference of 30 mm. Diameters at the inlet and throat of
venturimeter are 100 mm and 50 mm respectively. If oil of specific gravity
0.85 flows through the horizontal pipe. Calculate the discharge. Take Cd = 0.9

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 Calculate the flow rate through a venturimeter placed at 30o to the
horizontal carrying gasoline of specific gravity 0.8. the diameter at
inlet and throat are 5 cm and 3 cm respectively. A mercury
manometer reads the level difference of 10cm.

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 Questions ?

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