Title :

Flow through an orifice meter.

Objective:
To calibrate the given orificemeter.
To determine the orifice coefficient and plot a graph between C o vs.
log NRe.
To determine/estimate the pressure distribution downstream,
through an orificemeter.

Theory:
An orifice plate or orificemeter is a device used for measuring
the volumetric flow rate. It uses the principle namely Bernoulli's
principle which states that there is a relationship between the pressure of
the fluid and the velocity of the fluid. When the velocity increases, the
pressure decreases and vice versa. It consists of an accurately machined
and drilled plate mounted between two flanges with the hole concentric
with the pipe in which it is mounted. Pressure taps, one above and one
below the orifice plate, are installed and are connected to a manometer,
and the coefficient of the meter depends upon the position of taps. The
orifice diameter is kept generally 0.5 times the diameter of the pipe. The
reduction of the cross section of the following stream in passing through
the orifice increases the velocity head at the expense of the pressure
head, and the reduction in pressure between the taps is measured by the
manometer. Due to the sudden contraction and enlargement of the
stream of fluids, there is a considerable head loss, in friction and
formation of eddy currents with the result that considerable energy is
used up when a fluid flows through an orifice.
Bernoullis equation at two points; a and o where,

a : is present at some part of the pipe

o : is the orifice

Let represent the density of the fluid and g represent the acceleration
due to gravity. Let Pa ,Va, Za represent the pressure head ,velocity head
and datum head respectively at a and let Po, Vo, Zo represent the same
for o.
According to the Bernoullis equation:
Pa
g

+ Za

v2a
2g

Po

+ zo +

v2o
2g

But, Za = Zo
Hence,

Pa
g

v2a
2g

Po
g

v2o
2g

P aPo V 2oV 2a
=

2
2
2
P V oV a
=

_____________eq. 1

According to the equation of continuity:

Va Aa= Vo Ao

Ao
Aa

Va = Vo x

____________ eq. 2

From eq. 1 and eq. 2,

Ao/ Aa

1( 2)

V 2o
P
=

Ao/ Aa

1( 2)

2P
2
V o=

Ao/ Aa

1( 2)

2P

V o=

_______________________________________eq. 3

Volumetric Flow rate = Qtheoretical = Ao x Vo

Also, P =

Rm
100

(m - f)

g
gc

where,
Rm = Manometer reading
m = Density of manometric fluid

___________________________eq. 4

From eq. 3 and eq. 4,

Aa Ao

Qtheoretical = A2a A2o

2 Rm m
1 g
100 f

Co = Orifice Coefficient =

Reynolds no. = NRe =

Qactual
Q theoretical

doV o f
f

Description of setup:
The setup consists of an orifice plate installed in the pipe which has
water flowing into it. A mercury manometer is installed just adjacent to
the orifice plate which measures the absolute pressure. The flow of the
liquid is regulated with the help of a valve. Also there are open
manometer tubes attached to the main pipe on either side of the orifice
plate at respective distances. Further to the left of orifice, there is an
open tube for measuring pressure head. Also at a significant to right side
of orifice there are 4 more open tubes for measuring pressure heads.
After this there is an outlet for discharging fluid and this discharge can
be collected in a bucket.

Schematic Diagram:

Procedure:
Note down the temperature of the water.
Take an empty bucket and weigh it, note down the zero error.
Note the zero error of the manometer if any. Check for any leaks in
the apparatus. The orifice must be installed in the right position so
that there is no disturbance to the flow by valves, fittings etc.
The main water valve is opened and water is made to flow through
the pipe.
The level of mercury in the orifice manometer and that of the
liquid in the open tubes are noted down for pressure distribution.
The water from the other end of the pipe is collected in the empty
bucket and weighed
The valve was opened a little more and same procedure is followed
to get the other recordings.
Take 8-10 set of readings.
Not the observations.

Recordings:

 Temperature of water, T = 28 C
Density of water = = 996.2 kg/m3
Viscosity of water = 0.000836 Pas
Manometric fluid = Mercury (Hg)
Density of manometric fluid = m = 13528.3 kg/ m3
Orifice diameter (do) = 0.5 inch or 0.0127m
Nominal Pipe size = 1 inch
Outer diameter of pipe = 1.315 inches
Schedule Number = 40
Wall thickness = 0.133 inch
Internal dia. of pipe = da = 1.315 - (0.133 x 2) = 1.049 inch or
0.0266m
Zero error in weighing machine = 600 g
Weight of empty bucket = 1200 g
Weight of empty bucket (corrected) = 600 g

Position of tap 1 from orifice = 14.4 cm (towards left)

Position of tap 2 from orifice = 7 cm (towards right)
Position of tap 3 from orifice = 12 cm (towards right)
Position of tap 4 from orifice = 17 cm (towards right)
Position of tap 5 from orifice = 37 cm (towards right)

Ao = area of the orifice =

D
4

= 0.00012661 m

Aa = area of the cross section of pipe = 0.000555 m

Observations:

Rm(
cm)
1.9
2
1.8
1.9
2.1
2.2
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.6

mas
s(kg time R1( R2( R3( R4( R5(c
)
(sec) cm) cm) cm) cm) m)
2.7
60 2.5 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4
2.5
50
3 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.6
2.7
45 3.8 1.6
2 1.9 1.9
3.1
40 5.8
2 2.5 2.5 2.6
4
40
9 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.5
3.4
30 10.6
3
4 3.9 3.9
7.9
60
14 3.2 4.7 4.5 4.5
4.2
30 15.7 3.5 5.3 5.2 5.1
3.7
25
17 3.8 5.5 5.4 5.4
3.1
20 18.6
4 5.9 5.7 5.7

For the mass of water collected = 3.1 kg

Manometer reading = 2.6 cm or 0.026 m
mass of water collected
time

Mass flow rate =

3.1
0.026

= 0.155 kg/s

Volumetric flow rate = Qactual =

mass flow rate

density of fluid

= 0.000155591 m3/s
Aa Ao

Mtheoretical = A A
2
a

2
o

2 Rm m
1 g
100 f

= 0.32906564m3/s

0.155
996.2

 Co = orifice coefficient =

mactual
mtheoretical

=0.471031
Vo = velocity at the orifice =

Aa

A A
2
a

2
o

2 Rm m
1 g
100 f

= 2.600952 m/s

NRe =

doV o f
f

0.0127 x 2.600952 x 996.2

0.000836

= 39361.92

ln NRe = 4.595076

Calculation table:
Rm( mas time m(exp)
cm) s(kg) (sec) (kg/sec)
1.9

2.7

60

0.045

2
1.8

2.5
2.7

50
45

0.05
0.06

q(exp)
(m3/sec
)
m(theo) Co
4.51717 0.2813 0.15
E-05
01898 997
5.01907 0.2886 0.17
E-05
09658 3244
6.02289 0.2737 0.21

velo
city
2.22
3425
2.28
1185
2.16

1.9

3.1

40

2.1

40

2.2

3.4

2.4

7.9

0.1
0.11333
30
3333
0.13166
60
6667

2.5

4.2

30

0.14

2.6

3.7

25

0.148

2.6

3.1

20

0.155

Re
336
48.5
5
345
22.6
9
327
51.1
336
48.5
5
353
75.2
3
362

log
Re
4.52
696
6
4.53
810
5
4.51
522
6
4.52
696
6
4.54
869
9
4.55

0.0775

E-05
7.77956
E-05
0.00010
0381
0.00011
3766
0.00013
2169
0.00014
0534
0.00014
8565
0.00015
5591

99162
0.2813
01898
0.2957
36896
0.3026
96363
0.3161
5604
0.3226
75407
0.3290
6564
0.3290
6564

9139
0.27
5505
0.33
8138
0.37
4413
0.41
6461
0.43
3873
0.44
9758
0.47
1031

4123
2.22
3425
2.33
752
2.39
2528
2.49
8914
2.55
0443
2.60
0952
2.60
0952

880
1
4.57
769
5

07.7
378
17.7
1
385
97.5 4.58
4 656
393 4.59
61.9 507
2
6
393 4.59
61.9 507
2
6

Graph between actual flow rate

and manometer reading

Graph between orifice

coefficient and log NRe

Discussion of the result:

Graph between actual flow rate and manometer readings gives us the
calibration curve. The pressure drop against the flow of liquid can also
be determined. The value of Co is always less than 1, that means
Qtheoretical is always greater than its actual value.