EXPERIMENT NO.

5
FLOW THROUGH AN ORIFICE

I. INTRODUCTION
An Orifice is an opening in the side or base of tank or
reservoir through which fluid is discharge in the form of a jet. The
discharge will depend up on the head of the fluid (H) above the
level of the orifice. The term small orifice means that the
diameter of the orifice is small compared with the head producing
flow.
The analysis of the quantity of water which can be
discharged

through an orifice is arrived at in a simple,

straightforward manner by the application of Bernoulli's equation.

However, experimental tests typically produce a result which is
only some 65% of the solution indicated by the simple analysis.
The study of water flow through an orifice is therefore a classic
topic to illustrate the need for a semi-empirical approach which is
so often required in Mechanics of Fluids.
II. OBJECTIVES
To determine the coefficient of discharge, velocity and contraction of a
small orifice.

III.

SKETCH OF APPARATUS

STOP WATCH

ORIFICE APPARATUS

IV.

LABORATORY PROCEDURE
(EQUIPMENT SET-UP)

1. Position the apparatus across the channel on top of the hydraulic bench
and level it using the adjustable feet and the spirit level on the base.
Connect the flexible inlet pipe to the hydraulic bench snap connector in
the top channel. Place the end of the overflow tube directly into the
hydraulics bench overflow (located in the side wall of the volumetric
tank), and adjust the inlet pipe to the approximate level of the head
required for the experiment.
2. Remove the orifice plate from the recess in the cylinder base, by
releasing the two screws (take care not to lose the O ring seal).
Check the orifice profile.
3. Replace the required orifice. The sharp-edged orifice (if Used) should
be installed with the sharp edge uppermost.
4. Turn on the pump and open the bench valve gradually. As the water
level rises in the reservoir towards the top of the overflow tube, adjust
the bench valve to give a water level of 2 to 3mm above the overflow
level, with the end of the inlet tube fully submerged. This will ensure a
constant head and produce a steady flow through the orifice.
(TAKING A SET OF RESULTS)
In the first part of the experiment, adjust the overflow pipe and inlet
pipe as described above, to obtain a constant head height.
DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE
To measure Cd, the discharge is obtained by collection of a known
quantity of water from the orifice in the volumetric tank, and recording
the value of the head ho on the orifice.
DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF VELOCITY
To measure Cv. the pivot is inserted into the emerging jet close to the
underside of the tank, and the values of the pitot head h c and head ho
on the orifice are noted.
DETERMINATION OF THE COEFFICIENT OF CONTRACTION (SHARPEDGED ORIFICE)

This should be done using the sharp-edged orifice, as there is likely to

be insufficient contraction to obtain a reliable value for the other
orifices.
1. Measure Cc it is necessary to find the diameter of the jet at the vena
contracta. This is done by utilizing the fine wire attached to the head
of the Pitot tube, the plane of the wire being normal to the direction
of traverse of the tube. The wire is brought to each edge of the jet in
turn, just below the tank, and the position of the tube as read on the
lead screws and graduated nut read in each case. The difference of
the readings represents the diameter of the jet.
2. The second part of the experiment the inflow to the tank is reduced
to lower the level in the tank in stages, the discharge from the
orifice being measured at each stage. Care should be taken to allow
the level to settle to a steady value after the inflow to the tank has
been changed, and it is advisable to read this level several times
while the discharge is being collected and to record the mean value
over the timed interval. About eight different flow rates should be
sufficient to establish the relationship between discharge and head
on the orifice.

0.785
0.990

0.631

1.069
0.817

0.609

0.922
0.792

0.630

RESULTS

Velocity OfCoeff.
ContractionCoeff. Of k

V.

VI.
SAMPLE COMPUTATION

Trial 1:

Given:

do=0.01354 m

dc=0.013 m

V =0.005 m

Solution

Qt =

v
t

Qt =

0.005
20.54

Qt =0.000243 m3/ s
11

10

0.01354

0.012

0.014
0.367

0.367
0.360

0.245
0.005

0.005

0.01354

0.230

0.005

0.367

0.01354

0.013

Volume(s)t

3
DiameterDiameter
Orifice ContractaVena
HeadOrifice HeadPitot
(m ) V

20.52

21.25

20.54

0.730
0.873
0.777

0.000243
0.000235
0.000244

3
DischargeCoeff. Of
/ s)QtrateFlow
Time

(m

C v=

t=20.54 sec

hc
0.230
=
ho
0.367

C v =0.792

cd = cc x cv
2

dc
0.013
=
do
0.01354

( ) (

C c=

cd = 0.922 x 0.792
cd = 0.730

C c =0.922
v 0.005
Q a= =
t 9.81
Qa=5.0968 x 104

v
v
T
T
k=
=
A T V T d o2
4

k=
h 0=0.367 m

hc=0.230 m

2 g ho
0.005
20.54
2

0.01354
2 x 9.81 x 0.367
4

K = 0.630

VII. CONCLUSION
Based from the measured and computed data, I conclude that the
experiment met its main objective. In this experiment, we were able to
investigate the validity of the Bernoulli equation when applied to the
steady flow of water in a tampered duct. It is valid because the data,
which was analyzed, support the principle of Bernoulli equation. It
shows that the area and static head are directly proportional with each
other, and the velocity is inversely proportional to them. In addition, the
other data just like time, can be measured manually.
The sources of errors include the friction in the tubes. Its reaction
creates a bubble particle in a tube which can affect the height or static
head. Another source of error is in the use of decimal points. The
rounding off part may affect the data of the experiment.
To minimize the errors in this experiment, we should carefully follow
the manipulation of the Bernoulli apparatus. We should set the perfect
timing so that the bubbles will pop out and the fluid will successfully
form a parabolic path. As for the data measured, we should be accurate
and precise in getting it.

VIII. APPLICATION TO ENGINEERING

Resistance Coefficients is used for accelerated flow through
orifices. The problem was to separate the components of
frictional and inertial components of the total resistance
measure with accelerated flow through a length of pipe with
the orifice in it.
It can also be used as a sanitary flow orifice which is used to
adjust the process flow rate, making the pressure equal and
balancing the backflow. They are traditionally used as a flow
meter.

IX.

REFERENCE

(2002). Haestad Methods Inc, 37 Brookside Rd, Waterbury, CT 06708.

Brocchini, M., and peregrine, D.H. (2001). The Dynamics of Strong
Turbulence. JI Fluid Mech., Vol.448, pp. 225-254.
Chanson, Hubert (2008). Fluid Mechanics of Environmental Interfaces.
Pp. 163 196.
Uy, F. A., Tan, F., & Monjardin, C. E. (2015). Laboratory Manual in Fluid
Mechanics.