CHAPTER 1

Flow through orifice and Mouth pieces

1. Flow through orifice and Mouth pieces
1.1 Classification of orifices,
1.2 Flow through an orifice,
1.3 Hydraulic coefficients,
1.4 Flow through large orifices
• discharge through a large rectangular orifice,
• discharge through fully submerged orifice
• discharge through partially submerged orifice,
1.5 time of emptying a tank through an orifice at its bottom
• time of emptying a hemispherical tank,
• time of emptying a circular horizontal tank,
1.6 classification of mouthpieces,
• discharge through an internal and external Mouthpieces,
1.7 mouthpieces running free and full.
Introduction
An orifice is:
• an opening in the wall or base of a vessel, tank or at a horizontal plate through
which the fluid flow.
• The thickness of the wall or plate is very small corresponding to the opening
volume,
• The liquid level on the upstream orifice side is above the top of the orifice,
• The flow discharge through the orifice can be calculated by using the energy
equation.
A mouthpiece is:
• an attachment in the form of a small tube or pipe fixed to the orifice
• (the length of the pipe extension is usually 2 or 3 times the orifice
diameter) and it is used to increase the amount of discharge

Orifice as well as mouthpiece are used to measure discharge

classification of orifices
Based on size,
➢An orifice is termed as small orifice,
• if its dimensions are small compared to the head causing flow.
• The velocity does not vary appreciably from top to the bottom edge of orifice and its
assumed to e uniform
➢An orifice is termed as small orifice,
• If the dimensions are comparable with the head causing flow
• The variation in velocity from top to the bottom edge is considerable

Based on shape,
Based on shape upstream edge

Based on discharge condition

Important Definitions Related to Orifices
Jet of water
• A stream of liquid flows out of an orifice,

Types of water jet

i. Submerged jet
➢Stream of fluid which is surrounded by the same fluid, so it is carried by the
surrounded fluid and not affected directly by the gravity
ii. Free jet
➢Stream of liquid which is surrounded by gas, so it is affected by the gravity
Vena Contracta
➢Vena contracta is the minimum diameter (maximum contraction) of jet occurs at
a section when water flows out from the orifice at which the streamlines starts
to become parallel (shown by section c-c).

Aact < Ath

Aact = Cc Ath
𝐴𝑎𝑐𝑡
Coefficient of Contraction (Cc) = <1
𝐴𝑡ℎ
Note that :

➢ Vena contracta is affected by the shape of orifice inlet.

➢ as if the orifice inlet has a curved shape, vena contracta will
not attain.
➢ Because the curved inlet allows the streamlines to gradually
close to the area of the orifice section.
➢ If the jet is vertically downwards, the gravity will increase the
velocity and consequently the area will decrease
continuously. So vena contracta will not appear clearly.
Flow through an orifice
• Applying energy equation between point 1 at water surface in the
tank and point 2 is at the center of the orifice.
Note that,
➢ Pressures are measured relative to atmospheric pressure is
zero point. Therefore, P1 is at water surface = 0, and the jet of
orifice flow out to atmospheric so P2 =0
➢ Further, if the area of the tank is very large, the liquid at point
1 is practically stand still and hence v1 =0

This equation is known as Torricelli's

Theorem
Hydraulic coefficients
• When flow takes place through an orifice from the supply tank, the water
jet leaving the orifice gets contracted at the downstream of the orifice
• The point where it gets the maximum contraction is called as vena-
contracta.

• The hydraulic co- efficient ( orifice co-efficient) are:

1.Coefficient of Contraction (Cc)
2.Coefficient of Velocity (Cv)
3.Coefficient of discharge (Cd)
4.Coefficient of Resistance (Cr)
 1.Coefficient of Contraction (Cc)
• The ratio between the area of jet at vena contracta and the area of
the orifice is called coefficient of contraction.

• The value of coefficient of contraction depends on liquid head, size,

and shape of the orifice.
• The value is between (0.60- 0.69).
 2. Coefficient of Velocity (Cv)
• By applying Bernoulli equation between 1 and 2

• Due to the orifice friction and energy loss, the differences in velocity
attain. The value of coefficient of velocity depends on liquid head, size,
and shape of the orifice.
• Therefore, the ratio between the actual velocity of jet and the
theoretical velocity of the jet is called coefficient of velocity.

3. Coefficient of Discharge (Cd)

• The ratio between the actual discharge through orifice and the
theoretical discharge called coefficient of discharge.
4. Coefficient of Resistance (Cr)
• The walls of the orifice produce some resistance to the flow when it flows out, so
this coefficient occurs.
• But it is neglected in numerical solving in hydraulics field.
• The ratio between the loss of head in the orifice to the water head at the exit of
the orifice.
Discharge computation through orifices in different condition
i. Discharge through a Small Rectangular Orifice
• The orifice is small if h < 5d
• In small orifice, the velocity of liquid in jet cross section is considered to be
constant.
• The discharge through a small orifice can be given by the relation;
ii. Discharge through a Large Rectangular Orifice
• The orifice is large if h > 5d
• In large orifice, the velocity is not considered to be constant because of the variation
in head along the orifice height.
• Let,

• So, the discharge through the strip,

dq= Cd x Area x theoretical velocity
dq= Cd x b x dh x
• By integrating the above equation between limits H1, H2, we can get the discharge
through the whole orifice.
iii. Discharge through Fully Submerged Orifice
• The outlet of the orifice is under a liquid.
• The orifice does not flow freely into the atmosphere.
• Let,
• Area of the orifice = b (H2-H1)
• Actual velocity through orifice = Cv
• In that case of orifice, contraction coefficient = 1, so Cd = Cv

• The discharge = Area of orifice x actual velocity

iv. Discharge through a Partially Submerged Orifice
• The orifice is partially submerged, if the orifice outlet side is partially under water.
• The lower portion of the orifice behaves as a drowned orifice, and the upper
portion behaves as an orifice flows out free.
• Therefore, the total discharge is the sum of discharge of drowned and free
portions of the orifice.
• Discharge through the free portion of the orifice (Q1)

• Discharge through the drowned portion of the orifice (Q2)

Time required for emptying through an orifice
• Let us consider we have one tank filled with a liquid up to a height of H1 and,
• Let us consider that one orifice is fixed at the bottom of the tank.
• We are interested here to determine the time taken in emptying the tank.

Let us consider the following data from the figure,

A = Area of the tank
a = Area of the orifice
H1= Initial height of the liquid in the tank a
H2= Final height of the liquid in the tank
T = Time taken in emptying the tank from H1 to H2.
• Time taken in emptying the tank from H1 to H2 will be given by following formula

• If the tank is to be emptied completely then H2 =0 and

 i. Time of emptying a hemispherical tank
• Let us consider one hemispherical tank filled with a liquid up to a
height of H1.
• Let us consider that one orifice is fixed at the bottom of the
hemispherical tank.
• To determine the time taken in emptying the hemispherical tank.

Let us consider the following data from above figure.

R = Radius of the hemispherical tank
A = Area of the tank
a = Area of the orifice
H1= Initial height of the liquid in the hemispherical tank
H2= Final height of the liquid in the hemispherical tank
T = Time taken in emptying the tank from H1 to H2.
• Time taken in emptying the hemispherical tank from H1 to H2 will be given by
following formula as mentioned here.

• Let us determine the time emptying the tank, H2 will be zero.

 ii. Time of emptying a circular horizontal tank
• Let us consider one circular horizontal tank filled with a liquid up to a height of H1.
• Let us consider that one orifice is fixed at the bottom of the circular horizontal.
• To determine the time taken in emptying the circular horizontal tank:

Let us consider the following data from above figure.

R = Radius of the circular horizontal tank
L = Length of the circular horizontal tank
a = Area of the orifice
H1= Initial height of the liquid in the circular horizontal tank
H2= Final height of the liquid in the circular horizontal tank
T = Time taken in emptying the tank from H1 to H2.
• Time taken in emptying the circular horizontal tank from H1 to H2 will be given by
following formula as mentioned here.

• If the tank is to be emptied completely then H2 =0 and

 Classification of mouthpieces
• Mouthpiece is basically a small length of pipe which will be installed with the tank or vessel
containing the fluid.
• Length of this small pipe will be approximate two to three times of its diameter
• Mouthpieces are classified on the basis of their position with respect to the tank, their shape
and nature of discharge
a. According to the position of the mouthpiece
i. External mouthpieces (Pipe is fixed and projected outside the tank walls)
ii. Internal mouthpieces (Pipe is fixed inside the tank/vessel)
b. According to the shape of the mouthpiece
i. Cylindrical mouthpieces
ii. Convergent mouthpieces
iii. Convergent-divergent mouthpieces
C. According to the nature of discharge/flow patern
i. Mouthpieces running free (Water jet after contraction in mouthpiece does not touches
pipe internal walls)
ii. Mouthpieces running fully (Water jet after contraction in mouthpiece touches pipe
internal walls.)
Classification of mouthpiece on basis of position
Classification of mouthpiece on basis of shape
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces

γ
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Example:
Find the discharge from a 80mm diameter external mouthpiece fitted
to a side of large vessel, if the head over the mouthpiece is 6m.
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces

= γah
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces
Discharge through an Internal and External Mouthpieces