Experiment No.

3
Discharge Coefficient of Orifice Flow
1. Objective(s):

This activity aims to determine the hydraulic coefficients of water flow through various types of orifices and
investigate the discharge losses.

2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:

1. Determine the value of the discharge coefficient using the Orifice Discharge Apparatus.
2. Understand the discharges losses in orifice and apply in engineering practices.

3. Discussion:

Orifice is a small opening of any cross-section on the side or at the bottom of a tank through which a fluid flow. It is
used to determine the flow rates in pipes and reservoirs. However, it should also be considered that there are losses in
the flow as it goes through an orifice. These losses are caused by jet contraction and wall friction. Thus, the actual
flow in the orifice is smaller than the theoretical flow.
Losses Due to Jet Contraction
As the flow is constricted through an orifice, the narrowest point in the fluid stream is called the vena contracta.
This reduction of the flow cross-sectional area is defined by the contraction coefficient, 𝐶𝐶. It is given by the
formula:
𝑎𝐶
𝐶𝐶 = (3.1)
𝑎

where 𝑎𝐶 is the area of vena contracta and 𝑎 is the area of orifice.

Losses Due to Wall Friction

The mean velocity of the jet decreases due to the friction of the flow on the wall as it is deflected to the jet
direction causing kinetic energy loss. It can be computed using the velocity coefficient, 𝐶𝑣.
𝑣𝐶
𝐶𝑣 = (3.2)
𝑣

where 𝑣𝐶 is the actual velocity in the vena contracta and 𝑣 is the theoretical velocity. The usual values of
𝐶𝑣 ranges from 0.95 to 0.99 depending on the type of orifice used.

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Discharge Coefficient
The flow discharge through the orifice is less due to the jet contraction and wall friction which can be
determined using the discharge coefficient, 𝐶𝑑.
𝑄𝐶
𝐶𝑑 = (3.3)
𝑄

where 𝑣𝐶 is the actual discharge in the vena contracta and 𝑣 is the theoretical discharge. Its values range from 0.59 to
0.65.

The relationship of the hydraulic coefficients can be expressed mathematically which is shown in equation 3.4.
𝐶𝑑 = 𝐶𝑐 × 𝐶𝑣 (3.4)

4. Resources/Instruments Required:

 Hydraulic Bench (HM 150)

 Orifice Discharge Apparatus (HM 150.12)
 Adjusting Aid
 Different Types of Nozzles:
 Channel, ∅ = 12 mm
 Inlet – Cone, ∅ = 12 mm
 Inlet – Rounded ∅ = 12 mm

5. Experiment Procedures

Experimental Setup

1. Attach the adjusting aid in the base of the tank. Do not touch the spindle tip.
2. Adjust the height of the spindle so that it is at the same elevation as the adjusting aid. Make sure that
the spindle tip does not touch the adjusting aid.
3. Set the micrometer to 4.00mm.
4. Insert a paper between the spindle tip and the adjusting aid. Turn the spindle using the star screw
until it just touches the paper.
5. Tighten the knurled nut and turn back the spindle so it will no longer touch the adjusting aid.
6. Remove the adjusting aid.

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Experiment Procedure

1. Attach the selected nozzle and sealing ring in the base of the tank.
2. Make sure that the hose is connected to the Hydraulics Bench (HM 150) for the water supply and
that the drain and overflow are directed to the outlet of HM 150.
3. Open the drain and close the main valve of HM150.
4. Switch on the pump of HM150.
5. Gently open the main valve and adjust the discharge. The water level should be below the
overflow.
6. Adjust the inlet basket so that it is not submerged in water. (This is to avoid the effect of the applied
force due to the inflow)
7. Take the reading of the left pressure gauge and record it in your data sheet. This will be the theoretical
head, ℎ𝑡.
8. Position the pitot tube in the center of the jet and take the reading on the right pressure gauge. This will
be the actual head, ℎ𝑎.
9. Calculate the theoretical and actual value of velocity using Torricelli’s equation in 3.5.

𝑉 = √2𝑔ℎ (3.5)

10. Adjust the spindle tip until it touches the jet flow. Record the measurement on the micrometer.
11. Calculate the radius of the jet using equation 3.6. The result is in millimeters.

𝑟𝑗𝑒𝑡 = 10 − 𝑟𝑑𝑔. 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 (3.6)

12. Close the drain of HM 150.

13. Determine the discharge by assigning two values of water volume and measuring the time needed
to reach final volume from the initial volume.
14. Calculate for the contraction coefficient, 𝐶𝑐.

𝑎𝐶 𝑑2
𝑗𝑒 𝑡
𝐶𝐶 = = 2 (3.7)
𝑎 𝑑
𝑛𝑜𝑧𝑧𝑙𝑒

15. Calculate for the velocity coefficient, 𝐶𝑣 using eq 3.3.

16. Determine the discharge velocity using eq. 3.4.

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Data and Results
Course: CE 319 Section: S4-1
Experiment No.: 3 Date Performed: September 18 2023
Group No.: 1 Date Submitted: September 25 2023
Group Leader: Abrera, Kriezl Mae C. Instructor:
Group Members:
1. David, Cyrus C. 4. Sabrine, Rafael
2. Garcia, Sheen 5.
3. Jimenez, Jana Mari 6.

Velocity Coefficient

Theoretical Theoretical Actual Energy Actual

Energy Head, ht Velocity, vt Velocity, va Velocity
Trial No. head, ha
(mm) (mm/s) (mm/s) Coefficient
(mm)
1 325.0 2525.173 320 2505.674 0.992
2 225.0 2101.071 208 2020.139 0.961
3 245 2192.464 175 1852.971 0.845
4 338 2575.182 330 2544.524 0.988
5 280.0 2343.843 215.0 2053.850 0.876

Contraction Coefficient

Rdg. on Jet Diameter, Inlet Contraction

Jet Radius, rjet
Trial No. Micrometer djet Diameter Coefficient,
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) Cc
1 8.04 1.96 3.92 12 0.107
2 7.44 2.56 5.12 12 0.182
3 6.45 3.55 7.10 12 0.350
4 7.42 2.58 5.16 12 0.185
5 6.02 3.98 7.96 12 0.440

Discharge Coefficient

Contraction Velocity Discharge

Trial No.
Coefficient, Cc Coefficient, Cc Coefficient, Cc
1 0.108 0.992 0.106
2 0.182 0.961 0.175
3 0.350 0.845 0.296
4 0.185 0.998 0.183
5 0.440 0.876 0.386

Documentation:
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 Materials used for lab. Setting up equipment

Usage of mirror to get the values of measuring tool

Applying kinds of orifice to the tank’s jet

Flow of water through the jet

Sample Computations:
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 Observations:

When conducting this experiment the Discharge Coefficient of Orifice flow, one main
interesting observation of the group is that the discharge coefficient tends to vary with different
orifice sizes, shapes and other geometries and also varies with the fluid properties. This
observation means that the fluid flow behavior through an orifice is affected by the orifice
geometry, texture, shapes and as well as the fluid properties such as viscosity and density. Also
the group observed that in different orifice sizes and shapes the actual velocity head is not
constant or unstable this means that the fluid flow is also not constant.

This experiment is important to understand and identify the factors that are affecting the fluid
flow through an orifice so that the group will be able to consider these variables in the future
experiments and in designing fluid flow systems through an orifice.

Conclusions:

In summary, our experiment showed that the flow rate through an orifice is affected by factors
like its size, shape, and the properties of the fluid, such as thickness and weight. We also
noticed that the flow isn't constant; it varies in different orifice sizes and shapes.

Understanding these factors is crucial for future experiments and designing systems that use
orifices for fluid flow control.

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6. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT

CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members do not Members occasionally
Manipulative Members always demonstrate
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills needed skills.
skills. skills
Members are able to set- Members are able to set-up
Experimental Members are unable to
up the materials with the material with minimum
Set-up set-up the materials.
supervision. supervision.
Members do not Members occasionally
Members always demonstrate
Process Skills demonstrate targeted process demonstrate targeted process
targeted process skills.
skills. skills.
Members follow safety
Safety Members do not follow Members follow safety
precautions most of the time.
Precautions safety precautions. precautions at all times.
II. Work Habits
Timeliness of Work Members do not finish on Members finish ahead of time
Members finish on time with
time with incomplete with complete data and time to
data. incomplete data. revise data.
Members have defined
Members do not know Members are on tasks and
responsibilities most of the
their tasks and have no have defined responsibilities at
Cooperative and time. Group conflicts are
defined responsibilities. all times. Group conflicts are
Teamwork cooperatively managed
Group conflicts have to cooperatively managed at all
most of the
be settled by the teacher. time. times.
Clean and orderly
Clean and orderly workplace at
Neatness and Messy workplace during workplace with
all times during and after the
Orderliness and after the experiment. occasional mess during
and after the experiment. experiment.
Members require Members require
Members do not need to be
Responsibility supervision by the occasional supervision by
supervised by the teacher.
teacher. the teacher.
Other Comments/Observations: Total Score

(𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒)
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 = × 100
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