Faculty of Science and

Engineering

School of Engineering & Physical

Sciences

ME2512: Thermofluid mechanics

Practical 1 Calibration of Venturi and orifice meters

Name:

Aaron Riches

Student Number: 12845817

Introduction
There are different methods to calculate flow rate Q [m/s], three of these
methods, Bulk Measurement, venturi and orifice will be used in this experiment,
where the bulk measurement is used to develop calibration curves for the two
other methods.
In this experiment we determine the coefficients of calibration for the venturi
meter and orifice meter by means of calculation the flow rate via bulk
measurement and with

Theory
Bulk measurement can be used where a linear flow is present, can be used to
calculate the flow rate. When linear flow is established, for a set period of time,
the volume of liquid is then collected and the volume of fluid is then measured.

Flow Rate=

Volume
Time measured

In general, it is usually easier to weigh the fluid and using the specific weight,
convert the weight to volume, than it is to measure the volume.
Venturi meter and an orifice plate meter are two devices that are used to
measure flow rate of fluid in pipes. These two devices work on a technique based
on the Bernoulli equation.

P1 u21
P2 u22
+ +z = + + z
2g 1 2g 2

(1)

P [Pa] = pressure,

N
m3

[ ]

= Specific weight

[ ]

= velocity of fluid

[ ]

= acceleration due to gravity

[ m ] = vertical distance from a datum

m
s

m
2
s

*Subscript indicates a particular position along the stream line.

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Flow is often distinguished by an average velocity in a pipe. If flow rate Q

and the cross sectional area of the pipe is A

[ m2 ]

[ ]
m
s

, then the average velocity of

the cross section can be calculated as:

u=

Q
A

(2)

Substituting equation (2) into (1), solving for Q, we get:

Q=

A2

A
1 2
A1

)
2

2g

P1
P
+ z 1 2 z2

(3)

Venturi

A venturi meter (Figure 1) is made up of a chamber of same size as attached

pipe, a smooth entrance cone, a neck or throat, and a gradual gradient exit cone,
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which again connects to the pipe. Taps are located in the entrance chamber and
throat to enable pressure measurement.
If the cross sectional areas and pressures of both the entrance chamber and the
throat are known, the equation (3) can be used to calculate the flow rate Q.
However due to some energy being dissipated due to turbulence between the
pressure taps, equation (3) will over predict the flow rate.
Equation (3) is altered and a coefficient of calibration

Cv

is added to account

for the over prediction, giving:

Q=

C v A2

A
1 2
A1

)
2

2g

P1
P
+ z 1 2 z2

(4)

Orifice

An Orifice Meter (Figure 2) Consists pf a plate with a sharp edged concentric

circular hole about the centerline of the pipe, which creates a partial blockage of
the pipe. Characteristics of the orifice is different than that of the venture in that
the minimum cross section of the streamline occurs downstream from the orifice
instead of at the orifice, is called vena contracta (the narrowest point of the
flow). Its exact position depends on the fluid velocity, but the pressure tap

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C c , and the area of the

position is fixed therefore a coefficient of contraction

orifice is used to specify the cross sectional area of the vena contracta.

A 2=C c A

(5)

Substituting (5) into (4),

Q=

C c C v A2

1C

2
c

A2
A1

)
2

2g

( P + z P z )
1

(6)

Which is often written as:

Q=CA 2 g

P1
P
+ z 1 2 z 2

(7)

Coefficients for both the orifice and venturi will vary with fluid flow velocity.
Common variations of this type are expressed as functions of Reynolds number
R:

4Q
d

(8)

Where d is the diameter of the throat, and is the kinematic viscosity of the
fluid.

Aims
This experiment aims to determine the calibration coefficients for a venturi
meter, and an orifice meter.

Methodology
Apparatus

Venturi Meter
Orifice meter
Drum and Scales
Manometers
Water Supply, and valve
Stopwatch

The venturi meter and the orifice meter is connected in series to a pipeline of
laboratory water supply. As seen in (figure 3), A valve is connected at the
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beginning of the pipe to control the flow, and the downstream end flows out into
the atmosphere, and into the drum for collection.

Figure 3. Apparatus Diagram

Procedures
1. We first determined the mass of the drum, using the scales, then added
30kg to the scales
2. The valve was then turned to an arbitrary position, the manometers at the
orifice was read, and the same with the orifice manometers. At the same
time the drum was put under the end stream, and was timed to when
30kg of water had filled it, we promptly emptied it and repeated two more
times.
3. Step 2 was repeated 10 times, with all measurements recorded.

Results & Discussion

Results & Analysis

Measurement
1

Raw data
Venturi
Orifice
lef righ lef righ
t
t
t
t
30

z, average
time
2

64
24

z, average
time

34

28
52

60

59

119
50

47
97

Bulk
14.62
14.5
14.41
14.51
16.44
16.13
16.4
16.323333
33
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3
19
z, average
time

18

29

37

27
56

8
z, average
time
5

15

21
15

z, average
time
6

19

27

32

z, average
time
8

30

56
29

z, average
time
9

33
62

30
z, average
time
10

36
66

21

24

30
62

47

50
26

14
29

34
23

z, average
time
7

13

47
94

55

52

107
62

59

121
63

60

123
41

39

21.97
21.85
21.85
21.89
30.32
30.36
30.61
30.43
20.53
20.44
20.69
20.553333
33
16.74
16.66
16.7
16.7
15.26
15.46
15.38
15.366666
67
14.5
14.63
14.38
14.503333
33
14.3
14.26
14.35
14.303333
33
17.7
17.68
17.75

z, average
45
80
time
17.71
Table 1.1 Raw Data Obtained, and average time, and change in
manometer height z.
flow
[Q]
Re
Cv
C
0.0020 125355.
1.732941 1.3805
68
87
845
53
0.0018 111430.
1.708955 1.3592
38
28
944
5
0.0013 83093.3
1.510757 1.3339
7
6
519
95
0.0009 59773.7
1.442546 1.3335
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86
0.0014
6
0.0017
96
0.0019
52
0.0020
68
0.0020
97
0.0016
94
Table 1.2 Calculated

0
88497.2
6
108916.
98
118367.
48
125413.
49
127167.
12
102705.
46
flow, and

39
1.678493 1.3502
5
55
1.703491 1.3496
28
27
1.749313 1.3747
726
46
1.761479 1.3697
992
26
1.731139 1.3775
877
4
1.693232 1.3795
399
28
orifice & Venturi coefficients

Calibration coefficients for venturi [Cv] and orifice [C] meters

1.8
1.7
1.6
Cv, C

1.5
1.4
1.3
1.2
50,000.00

500,000.00
Re
Cv

Graph1.1

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To find the coefficients, the following Equations used:

Q=

C v A2

A
1 2
A1

P1
P
+z 1 2 z 2

Q=CA 2 g

)
2

2g

( P + z P z )
1

4Q
d

m
V

D4
A=
4
Example Calculations
Flow rate 1

0. 002068=C (0.0002761) 2(9.81)(0. 0119)

0. 002068=

C v 0.0002761

0.0002761
0.0007069

)
2

1)
( 13600
1000

2( 9.81)(0. 064)

1 )
( 13600
1000

4 (0.002068)
(.00000112)(0.01875)

1000=

A 2=

30
V

(0.01875)4
4

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Graph 1.1 was produced, from the calculated Reynolds Number and the
coefficients for the venturi and the orifice meters.

Error Analysis
Quantitate and Non-Quantitative errors were evident in this experiment.
Non-Quantitative errors
Non-Quantitative errors, are that which effect the results of the experiment
through issues at the time of the experiment.
1. Flow rate measurement via the bulk measurement method may not have
been accurate due to the inadequately slow speed in which the bucket
was put under the stream and removed to collect 30kg. Timing of this
procedure may also be inaccurate as it is up to the reaction time of the
person timing to start/stop the timer.
2. Manometer readings could be miss read due to parallax error, and the
mercury oxide deposits within the manometer at the instance where water
meets the mercury.
3. We took assumption in the fact that the water supplied was at a steady
constant flow. Without a flow gauge we were unable to confirm this.
Therefore there is a potential inaccuracy if the flow was not steady.
4. The scale used to weigh the bucket and the water, is of an outdated
system, which with the pace of the experiment would have been highly
inaccurate.
Quantitate errors
Quantitative errors are that which arise from calculations, and measurements
gathered.
Weight scale error: minimum measure 0.2kg, therefore error: 0.1kg
Time error: minimum measure 1s, therefore error: .05s
Error in manometer: H= 64mm 0.5mm

Discussion
After completing the equations for the coefficients of calibration of the orifice and
venturi, and plotting them on the graph 1.1, both devices seem to have
converged to similar constant values when graphed against Reynolds Number.
The max Cv = 1.76,
The max C = 1.38
Whereas the supplied graph is approximately:
Max Cv = 0.91
Max C = 0.69
Showing a considerable margin of error:
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 48.29% for Cv
50% for C
The coefficients of calibrations experimental values were decisively inaccurate,
although the orifice meter coefficient being significantly further out than that of
the venturi meter. Hypothetically this may have been a resultant from turbulence
caused by the venturi meter being in close proximity upstream of the orifice,
creating a pulsating effect on the manometer gauge, making it even more
difficult to read.
I do believe, if the two meters were run separately on their own pipeline instead
if in series, would determine a better outcome, as the flow rate would be of the
single meter not being effected on by the other.

Conclusions
The values of the coefficient of calibration for the venturi meter was found to be
1.76, while the coefficient of calibration for the orifice was found to be 1.38.
These values are unrealistic as they need to be less than 1 to have affected the
flow rate and lowered this value. Accuracy in this experiment was particularly
poor reaching an error of 50% for the orifice meter. In saying that, this
experiment was successful to its aim, as we were able to replicate the process of
determining the coefficient of calibration, and have a similar graph as supplied.
There are some improvements that could be made, where the resultant error
would be significantly less:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Digital scales for the weighing of the drum and fluid,

Separate the venturi, and orifice, or increase the distance between them,
Flow meter to ensure the flow is steady,
Instead of measuring to a particular weight I water, measure water to a
fixed time that way the flow rate could be measured much more
accurately.

Practical Questions
1.

2.

What are the units for Bernoullis equation?

The units are in meters.
Can you hypothesise a limit for the value C v?
The value for Cv cannot exceed that of Q and also cannot be less than 0,
as if more than Q then there is a blockage, and less than zero cannot
happen as it would then seem to reverse the flow rate. Ideally the value
should be between 0 and 1 in an idealistic situation.

References
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ME2512 Practical 1 Handout, JCU Douglas campus Semester 1 2015

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