VENTURI FLUME

Laboratory report

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

CIVM3024: BASIC HYDRAULICS
Tefo Masalesa 1629725
Contents
Abstract.................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Background Theory...............................................................................................................................2
Methodology.........................................................................................................................................2
Results...................................................................................................................................................3
Discussion.............................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................3
References.............................................................................................................................................3
Appendices............................................................................................................................................4
Hand calculations..................................................................................................................................8
Abstract
An experiment aiming to demonstrate and investigate the influence of a constriction on open-
channel flow was conducted, the experiment also aimed at developing an appreciation of the
concepts of specific and total energy. Energy loses for the tailgate scenarios were found to
vary from 53.70% to 0% from when the tailgate was raised to when the specific energy
stayed constant and producing a horizontal water surface.

Introduction
A Venture flume is a structure designed to achieve critical flow by constricting the width of
the channel. It is used in flow measurements of very large flow rates. At critical flow further
reduction in the width of the flume throat will not lower the depth of flow. Each channel has
a characteristic flow at which it can be said to exhibit minimum energy of flow. This type of
flow is referred to as critical flow. When flow is made to pass through the critical depth a
stable and reliable relationship exists which can be used to determine the flow in a channel.
Some of the structures constructed include broad crested weir, venture flume and simplified
crump weir etc.

Background Theory
Bernoulli’s theorem states the total mechanical energy of the moving fluid comprising the
gravitational potential energy of elevation, the energy associated with the fluid pressure and
the kinetic energy of the fluid motion, remains constant. For an open channel with a
horizontal bed, Bernoulli’s equation can be written as:
H = p/ρg + U^2 /2g + z
Where H is the total head or total energy per unit weight of the liquid; p is the pressure; ρ is
the density of the liquid; g is the gravitational acceleration; U is the mean velocity of the
flow; and z is the elevation above the datum.
E is the specific energy: E = h + U2 /2g
For a rectangular channel with a flow rate of Q and width B, the flow rate per unit width, q,is
q = Q/B
With the area A=hB, the specific energy may therefore be written as: E = h + q^2 /2gh^2

Methodology
1. The dimensions of the flume were measured.
2. The tailgate was dropped to the lowest position.
3. The control valve was then opened to establish the maximum discharge (q)
4. The depth at salient points along the length of the channel was measured such that the
general variation of depth with distance could be plotted.
5. The tailgate was raised to form a stable hydraulic jump at a point downstream of the
structure. The depths of the flow at salient points were then measured along the channel. The
depths downstream and immediately upstream of the hydraulic jump downstream of the
constriction were also measured.
6. The tailgate was raised to the point of control then the depths at salient points along the
channel were measured.
7. The tailgate was raised in 3 further stages to a point where the structure was effectively
drowned, the depths at salient points were measured for each stage increase
Results
The experiment was carried out for six different Tailgate scenarios, the computation of these
results is summarized in Table 2 (see appendices). The depth flow profile for the different
tailgate conditions is shown on figure 4 in the appendices. The energy loss percentage was
also evaluated, the comparison for different tailgate scenarios is tabulated in Table1. Hand
calculations were also carried out to confirm energy loss percentages as a way of assessing
the consistency of the results.

Discussion
The results from the experiment prove that the constrictor in the channel behaved as the
control system. A gradual rise in the tailgate introduced an obstruction in the flow which
represents the transition of flow from supercritical to subcritical and hence producing a
hydraulic jump. Raising the tailgate even further shifted this jump progressively upstream
until the structure had been drowned and the flow surface almost horizontal. The energy loss
percentage show that Tailgate down (lowest) had the highest of this value, which is 53.70%,
this also shows that it did not have a constant specific energy. Tailgate Raised S3 has the
lowest energy loss percentage as 0%, this null loss of energy is due to the downstream height
coinciding with the upstream height. A conclusion can be made that tailgate raised s3 is
streamlined and has complete energy recovery, with zero turbulence. The remaining tailgates
exhibit significant energy losses and thereby illustrating the presence of super critical and
subcritical flows. The presence of turbulence due to the other tailgate scenarios means that
friction is not negligible in all but one tailgate condition, Tailgate raised s3, which has no
turbulence and therefore no friction. The absence of friction in Tailgate raised S3 further
explains why the specific energy stays constant under this condition. In addition to proving a
constant specific energy, the 0% energy loss implies a 0% relative error which implies that
the flow velocity in the setup is constant

Conclusion
This experiment aimed at investigating and demonstrating the influence of a constriction on
the open channel flow. The flow parameter values were determined using the Bernoulli
equation and the collected data. When the tailgate was raised, a hydraulic jump was produced
which increased the total head and eventually producing a horizontal water surface. This was
also proved by a decrease in energy loss percentage from 53.70% to 0%. The scale of energy
losses proved that frictional forces are not negligible for the other tailgate conditions except
for the last tailgate scenario. In conclusion the experiment confirmed the assumption that
venture flumes are streamlined. The experiment provided a sound appreciation of the energy
concepts.

References
1. Janusz M. Gasiorek, FM Douglas, Fluid Mechanics, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2006
2. Chadwick et al., Hydraulics in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Spon.
3.  "Venturi flume: Definition from Answers.com". answers.com. Retrieved 2015-04-21
Appendices

Upstream tank

Water outlet Water inlet

Flume

Downstream tank

Figure 1 : a setup of the venturi flume

Figure 2: sketch of the venture flume with dimensions

TABLE 1: PERCENTAGE ENERGY LOSS IN EACH SCENARIO
  ENERGY LOSS (%)
TAILGATE LOWEST 53,719
TAILGATE UP: Hydraulic jump 32,037
TAILGATE RAISED: Point of control 10,343
TAILGATE RAISED: Drowning structure 1 8,893
TAILGATE RAISED: Drowning structure 2 5,611
TAILGATE RAISED: Drowning structure3 0,000

TABLE2: TABULATED RESULTS

q 0,01582
g 9,81
Channel width
(B) 0,079
Channel
Length(L) 4,874
Discharge(Q) 0,00125
Z(m) 0
TAILGATE LOWEST
xCHAINAGE DEPTH
POSITION (m) (h) U(m/s) H(m) E(m)
0,09544 0,09544
Upstream 0,364 0,094 0,1683 4 4
Before Throat 2,218 0,0882 0,1794 0,08984 0,08984
0,08168 0,08168
After throat 2,797 0,0137 1,1549 7 7
0,04417 0,04417
Downstream 4,507 0,029 0,5456 3 3
ENERGY LOSS 53,719

TAILGATE UP: Hydraulic jump

xCHAINAGE DEPTH
POSITION (m) (h) U(m/s) H(m) E(m)
0,08964 0,08964
Upstream 0,364 0,088 0,1798 8 8
0,08080 0,08080
Before Jump 2,218 0,0138 1,1466 5 5
0,05998 0,05998
After Jump 2,797 0,0559 0,2831 4 4
0,06092 0,06092
Downstream 4,507 0,057 0,2776 8 8
ENERGY LOSS 32,037

TAILGATE RAISED: Point of control

xCHAINAGE DEPTH
POSITION (m) (h) U(m/s) H(m) E(m)
 0,14550 0,14550
Upstream 0,364 0,1449 0,1092 8 8
0,14124 0,14124
Before Throat 2,218 0,1406 0,1125 5 5
0,13471 0,13471
After throat 2,797 0,134 0,1181 1 1
0,13045 0,13045
Downstream 4,507 0,1297 0,1220 9 9
ENERGY LOSS 10,343

TAILGATE RAISED: Drowning structure 1

xCHAINAGE DEPTH
POSITION (m) (h) U(m/s) H(m) E(m)
0,16646 0,16646
Upstream 0,364 0,166 0,0953 3 3
0,16069 0,16069
Before Throat 2,218 0,1602 0,0988 7 7
0,15483 0,15483
After throat 2,797 0,1543 0,1025 6 6
0,15165 0,15165
Downstream 4,507 0,1511 0,1047 9 9
ENERGY LOSS 8,893

TAILGATE RAISED: Drowning structure 2

xCHAINAGE DEPTH
POSITION (m) (h) U(m/s) H(m) E(m)
0,10420 0,10420
Upstream 0,364 0,103 0,1536 3 3
0,09903 0,09903
Before Throat 2,218 0,0977 0,1620 7 7
0,09022 0,09022
After throat 2,797 0,0886 0,1786 6 6
0,09835 0,09835
Downstream 4,507 0,097 0,1631 6 6
ENERGY LOSS 5,611

TAILGATE RAISED: Drowning structure3

xCHAINAGE DEPTH
POSITION (m) (h) U(m/s) H(m) E(m)
0,05738 0,05738
Upstream 0,364 0,018 0,8790 4 4
0,05738 0,05738
Before Throat 2,218 0,018 0,8790 4 4
0,05738 0,05738
After throat 2,797 0,018 0,8790 4 4
0,05738 0,05738
Downstream 4,507 0,018 0,8790 4 4
ENERGY LOSS 0,000
A Venture flume is a structure
designed to achieve critical flow
by constricting the width of the
channel. It
is used in flow measurements of
very large flow rates. At critical
flow further reduction in the
width of the
flume throat wouldn’t lower the
depth of flow.
Each channel has a characteristic
flow at which it can be said to
exhibit minimum energy of flow.
This
type of flow is referred to as
critical flow. When flow is made
to pass through the critical depth
a stable
and reliable relationship exists
which can be used to determine
the flow in a channel. Some of
the
structures constructed include
broad crested weir, venture flume
and simplified crump weir etc.
A Venture flume is a structure
designed to achieve critical flow
by constricting the width of the
channel. It
is used in flow measurements of
very large flow rates. At critical
flow further reduction in the
width of the
flume throat wouldn’t lower the
depth of flow.
Each channel has a characteristic
flow at which it can be said to
exhibit minimum energy of flow.
This
type of flow is referred to as
critical flow. When flow is made
to pass through the critical depth
a stable
and reliable relationship exists
which can be used to determine
the flow in a channel. Some of
the
structures constructed include
broad crested weir, venture flume
and simplified crump weir etc.
A Venture flume is a structure
designed to achieve critical flow
by constricting the width of the
channel. It
is used in flow measurements of
very large flow rates. At critical
flow further reduction in the
width of the
flume throat wouldn’t lower the
depth of flow.
Each channel has a characteristic
flow at which it can be said to
exhibit minimum energy of flow.
This
type of flow is referred to as
critical flow. When flow is made
to pass through the critical depth
a stable
and reliable relationship exists
which can be used to determine
the flow in a channel. Some of
the
structures constructed include
broad crested weir, venture flume
and simplified crump weir etc.
Flow Depth vs Discharge per unit width
0.18
0.16
0.14
Depth of flow (m)

Tailgate lowest
0.12
0.1 Tailgate up HJ
0.08 Tailgate raised POC
0.06 Tailgate Raised S1
0.04 Tailgate Raised S2
0.02 Tailgate Raised S3
0
4 6 8 2 2 4 6 8 3 2
01 .01 .01 0.0 .02 .02 .02 .02 0.0 .03
0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Discharge per unit width (m^2/s)

Figure 3: Discharge against flow depth plot

0.18 Flow Depth vs Length

0.16
0.14
ELEVATION (m)

0.12
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
LENGTH (m)

Figure 4 : Elevation against length for the tailgates