EXPERIMENT # 2

1 Objective:
To determine the volume flow rate of 2-stage air compressor

2 Equipment:
 2 stage air compressor unit
 Orifices meter
 Temperature scale
 Bourdon tube pressure gauge

3 Theory:

The Volume flow rate is the volume of fluid which passes per unit time .An orifice meter
is a device used for measuring flow rate, for reducing pressure or for restricting flow. Either
a volumetric or mass flow rate may be determined, depending on the calculation associated
with the orifice plate. As shown in figure .

2-stage air compressor

 Formula for calculating volume flow rate of a fluid is given below

𝟐𝜹𝑷 𝑨𝟐
𝑽̇ = 𝑪𝒅 √ ×
𝝆𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝟐
√𝟏 − (𝑨𝟐 )
𝑨 𝟏

𝑷 = 𝛒𝐠𝐡

Where
𝑽̇=volume flow rate of the fluid
𝑪𝒅 =coefficient of discharge = 𝟎. 𝟔𝟓
𝜹𝑷= differential pressure at discharge
𝒌𝒈
𝝆=density of fluid at inside manometer = 826 𝒎𝟑
𝒎
g=gravitational acceleration = 9.81 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝟐
𝒌𝒈
𝝆𝒂𝒊𝒓 =Density of air = 1.225 𝒎𝟑
𝑨𝟏 = Area of larger orifice
𝑨𝟐 =Area of smaller orifice

4 Prove :

By using Bernouli’s equation

1 1
p1 + 𝜌(𝑣1 )2 = 𝑝2 + 𝜌(𝑣2 )2
2 2
1 1
𝑝1 − 𝑝2 = 𝜌(𝑣2 )2 − 𝜌(𝑣1 )2 Equation no 1
2 2

We know that
𝑣 ′ = 𝐴1 𝑉1 = 𝐴2 𝑉2
𝑉′
𝑉1 = Equation no 2
𝐴1
𝑉′
𝑉2 = Equation no 3
𝐴2
 Put Eq .2 andEq. 3 in Eq.1
2 2
1 𝑣′ 1 𝑣′
𝑝1 − 𝑝2 = 𝜌 ( ) − 𝜌 ( )
2 𝐴2 2 𝐴1
2 2
1 𝑣′ 𝑣′
= 𝜌 (( ) − ( ) )
2 𝐴2 𝐴1
2 2
𝑝1 − 𝑝2 𝑣′ 𝑣′
2 =( ) −( )
𝜌 𝐴2 𝐴1

𝐴2 2𝛿𝑝
𝑣′ = ∗√
2 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟
√1 − (𝐴2 )
𝐴1

𝐶𝑑 = 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒

5 Experimental Procedure:
 Connect an electric supply to the compressor unit.
 Start the compressor by switching the button on panel.
 Open the discharge air valve to maintain pressure in the intake tank.
 Record the motor speed and compressor speed
 Fix no of revolution per minute and after 5 bar stop supplying pressure.
 Record the readings of pressures after stage 1 and stage 2 in the intake and discharge.
 Record the temperatures of ambient air, after stage 1, after stage 2, in the air receiver and
after the air receiver discharge valve.
 Adjust the pressure in the air receiver and again record the above data.
 Repeat experiment to record at least 3 readings
6 Safety precautions:
 Protective gloves must be used if handling toxic materials or where there is a high
temperature present.
 Always use ear muffs while working in noisy place.
 Safety goggles should always be used when there is a risk to the eyes
 Don’t drink water near any electrical instrument so that to prevent short circuit.

7 Table of Readings:

 Diameter of smaller orifice = 𝑑1 = 98.5 𝑚𝑚2

 Diameter of larger orifice = 𝑑2 = 25 𝑚𝑚2
𝟑.𝟏𝟒
 𝑨𝟏 = Area of larger orifice = × 𝒅𝟐𝟏 =
𝟒
𝟑.𝟏𝟒
 𝑨𝟐 =Area of smaller orifice = × 𝒅𝟐𝟐 =
𝟒
 𝑃1 = Pressure on the first air storage tank
 𝑃2 = Pressure on the second storage tank

Sr.# 𝑃𝑎𝑏𝑠 Monomeric Differential pressure Volume flow rate

𝑃2
fluid height 𝛿𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔ℎ 𝑉
𝑃1
( Pa ) h
( Pa ) 𝑚3
(m) ( Pa ) ( 𝑠𝑒𝑐 )
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Calculations:
9 Observations & Conclusions:

10 Applications: