Discharge coefficient

Objective
To determine the discharge coefficient of the venturi meter and us it to measure flow rate.

Introduction
In industrial practice one of the problems most frequently encountered by engineers is the measurement
of fluid properties, such as density, viscosity, pressure, velocity, flow rate. This apparatus is designed to
obtain the flow rate by using a venturi meter. It consists of a venturi tube and differential pressure gauge.
The venturi tube has a converging portion, a throat and a diverging portion as shown.

The converging portion increases the velocity of the fluid and lowers
its static pressure. A pressure difference between inlet and throat
develops, which is related to the rate of discharge. The diverging
cone changes the area of the stream back to the entrance area and
converts velocity head into pressure head.

Assuming incompressible flow and no frictional losses, and using the continuity Equation (Q = A1V1 = A2V2)
with Bernoulli’s Equation, we get:

p1 V21g2 Z1 p 2 V22g2 Z2 p1 p2 Z1 Z2 V2g2 1 AA12

2 V22 2g p 11 pAA212 Z21 Z2

Ideally, Qi A2V2 A2 1 AA12 2 1/2 2g p1 p2 Z1 Z2 1/2 (1)

However, in the case of real fluid flow, the flow rate will be expected to be less than that given by equation (1) because of
frictional effects and consequent head loss between inlet and throat. Therefore,

A12 2 12 p1 p2 12

g
Qa Cd A2 1 A 2 Z1 Z2 (2)
In practice, this non-ideality is accounted by insertion of an experimentally determined discharge coefficient, C d that is
termed as the coefficient of discharge. With Z1 = Z2 in this apparatus, the discharge coefficient is:

Cd Qa Qi (3)

Apparatus
The apaprtus consists of a classical Venturi made of transparent acrylic. A series of wall tappings allow
measurement of the static pressure distribution along the converging duct. These tappings are connected
to a manometer bank incorporating with air bleed screw.

1. Staddle Valve
2. Manometer Tubes
3. Manometer Board
4. Control Valve
5. Venturi Outlet Connection
6. Baseboard
7. Unions
8. Venturi Inlet Connection
9. Venturi Meter
10. Adjustable Feet

Procedure
Discharge coefficient determination
1. Connect the venture meter apparatus to the hydraulic bench and turn on the water supply pump
with the inlet valve fully closed and the outlet valve fully open.
2. Slowly open the inlet valve and allow the water to fill the venture meter, make sure that the
manometer tubes are properly connected and free of air-bubbles.
3. Adjust the discharge valve to a high measurable flow rate and after the level stabilizes, measure
the water flow rate using volumetric method and record the manometers reading.
4. Repeat step 1 to 3 with at least three decreasing flow rates by regulating the venturi control valve.
5. Obtain the actual flow rate, Qa from the volumetric flow measurement method.
6. Calculate the ideal flow rate, Qi from the head difference between hA and hC using Equation 1.
7. Plot Qa Vs Qi and finally obtain the discharge coefficient, Cd which is the slope.

Flow rate measurement

 1. Connect the venture meter apparatus to the hydraulic bench and turn on the water supply pump
with the inlet valve fully closed and the outlet valve fully open.
2. Slowly open the inlet valve and allow the water to fill the venture meter, make sure that the
manometer tubes are properly connected and free of air-bubbles.
3. After the level stabilizes, measure the water flow rate using volumetric method and record the
manometers reading.
4. Repeat step 1 to 3 with three other decreasing flow rates by regulating the venturi control valve.
5. Calculate the venturi meter flow rate (Equation 2) of each data by applying the discharge
coefficient obtained.
6. Compare the volumetric flow rate with venturi meter flow rate.

Result and Calculation

➢ Data
Inlet Diameter = D1 = 26mm
Throat Diameter = D2 = 16mm
Inlet Area = A1 = 5.309 × 10−4 m2
Throat Area = A2 = 2.011 × 10−4 m2
g = 9.81ms −2
p = 1000kgm−3

Qa Water Head (mm)

(LPM) hA hB hC hD hE hF
26.62 270 230 20 159 195 231
23.08 256 222 49 161 190 221
20.51 228 203 78 158 180 202
15.09 196 181 111 155 167 180
11.62 176 169 129 154 160 167
9.34 159 158 133 154 155 156

➢ Discharge Coefficient CD

Qa (LPM) ha-hc (m) Q1 (LPM) Cd

26.62 0.241 28.97 0.938
23.08 0.207 26.29 0.878
20.51 0.15 22.38 0.916
15.09 0.085 16.85 0.896
11.62 0.047 12.53 0.927
9.34 0.026 9.32 1.002
 𝑄𝑎
𝐶𝑑 =
𝑄1
1
2
2𝑔(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
𝑄1 = 𝐴2 ( )
𝐴2 2
1−( )
𝐴1
1
2(9.81)(0.241) 2
= (2.011 × 10−4 ) ( )
1 − (0.38)2
𝑄1 = 473 × 10−4 𝑚2 𝑠 −1
𝑄1 = 28.37 𝐿𝑃𝑀
26.62
𝐶𝐷 =
28.37
𝐶𝐷 = 0.9383

Qa vs Q1
30

25

20
Qa

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Q1

𝑄𝑎
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ = = 0.926
𝑄1
➢ Flowrate
𝐶𝐷 = 𝐶𝐷 𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 0.926
𝑄𝑎𝐷(𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐) = 𝐶𝐷 × 𝑄1
𝐶𝑎(𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐) = 2(0.938)(28.37) = 266 𝐿𝑃𝑀
𝑄𝑎(𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐) − 𝑄𝑎
% 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =
100
26.61 − 26.62
= × 100
26.61
% 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 0.00376 %
 Qa (LPM) ha-hc (m) Qa(calc) (LPM) % Error
26.62 0.241 26.61 0.0376
23.08 0.207 23.09 0.0433
20.51 0.15 20.50 0.0488
15.09 0.085 15.10 0.0662
11.62 0.047 11.61 0.0861
9.34 0.026 9.33 0.107

➢ Comments
From graphical analysis, it is clearly evident that a linear relation does not exist, accounting
for the difference between actual and theoretical values. These erroneous readings can be
considered an outcome of parallax error or frictional losses due to fluid flow. The slope
allowed us to evaluate the average value of discharge coefficient which is as follows.
𝐶𝐷(𝑎𝑣𝑔) = 0.926
➢ Conclusion
This experiment enabled us to practically experience the operation of a venturi meter. We utilized the
reading obtained through this experiment to evaluate the flow rate and discharge coefficient of the fluid
flowing inside the venture meter.