ORIFICE DISCHARGE

APPARATUS
 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

NOTE:

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this manual is accurate;
however no labiality is accepted for errors. Should an error be discovered please inform the
company in writing, giving full details. Any experimental results given are for guidance only and
are not guaranteed as exact answers that can be obtained for a given apparatus; due to the
complex variables applicable to most experiments.

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

Table of Contents
Page
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................... 1

2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 2

2.1 Nozzles........................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Technical Data ............................................................................................................ 3

3. SUMMARY OF THEORY ............................................................................................ 4

4. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES ............................................................................ 6

5. EXPERIMENT ............................................................................................................... 7
5.1 Aim ............................................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Procedure .................................................................................................................... 7
5.3 Observations ............................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX A Sample Calculations

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

1 INTRODUCTION:

The EES® Orifice Discharge Apparatus allows measurement of contraction and

velocity coefficients as well as discharge coefficient for an orifice discharge. It is to be
used with EES Hydraulics Bench (separately supplied). It consists of a removable clear
cylinder with adjustable constant head. Water is admitted to the cylinder via a stainless
steel wire mesh discharge head. An adjustable overflow allows various constant heads for
the test. An orifice is fitted at the bottom of the cylinder flush with the base plate. A Pitot
tube and micrometer is provided below the cylinder with a small disc integrated to
micrometer .The disc is to measure the jet diameter hence the Vena Contracta diameter
and the Pitot tube is to measure the jet velocity. The velocity head on Pitot tube and total
head due to tank water level are indicated on manometer tubes. The apparatus rests on
adjustable footings. The apparatus has a hose with a quick male coupling for connection
to the Hydraulics Bench.

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Figure 1 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

1. Inlet water 5. Micrometer with disc

2. Cylindrical tank 6. Support
3. Water discharge into cylinder (mesh type) 7. Pitot tube
4. Manometer 8. Water outlet (discharge of jet)

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2.1 Nozzles:

Figure 2 Different schemes of discharge (Shapes)

2.2 Technical Data:

Standard orifice: 8 mm diameter, sharp edge.

Traverse mechanism: Micrometer with 0.01 mm division.
Pitot tube diameter: 4.5mm

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3 SUMMARY OF THEORY:

Figure 3 Discharge through the orifice

As the tank size is much larger than the orifice diameter the velocity of the water in the
tank in the direction of the orifice flow is very low and can be neglected.
The velocity of water slowly increases as it approaches the orifice. The streamline of the
flow is shown in Fig.1, from point 1 on the water surface of the tank to point 2 which is at the
smallest area of the jet. The water jet will reduce its diameter after passing through the
orifice. This is known as Vena Contracta.
Pitot head level can be adjusted to measure the velocity of the jet at the Vena Contracta.
Apply Bernoulli’s equation.

Where:
p = Pressure [N/m2]
V = Velocity [m/s]
Z = Elevation [m]
γ = Specific weight of water [N/m3]
g = Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 [m/s2]

Subscript 1 and 2 refer to point 1 and point 2 respectively.

Since p1 and p2 are equal to the atmospheric pressure the theoretical velocity of jet at
Vena Contracta from equation (1) give us:

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

The actual velocity V2, act of the jet at Vena Contracta can be measured directly by a Pitot
tube. The velocity head from the Pitot tube is equal to the height H of water in the Pitot tube,
therefore,

The ratio of V2, act to V2, th is called Velocity Coefficient Cv of the orifice, then

The ratio of the cross section area Ac of the jet at Vena Contracta to the cross-sectional
area Ao of the orifice is called the Coefficient of Contraction Cc, then

do = Orifice diameter = 8mm

Ao = Orifice cross-sectional area
dc = Diameter of jet at Vena Contracta
Ac = Cross-sectional area of jet at Vena Contracta

Theoretical discharge through the orifice

Qth = Ao V2,th = Ao√2gH

Actual discharge through the orifice

Qact = AcV2, act = Ac√2gHc

The ratio of actual discharge of orifice to theoretical discharge is called the Coefficient of
Discharge Cd then:

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

4 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES:

The objective of the experiment is to determine Cv, Cc and Cd at various heads “H”

1. Place the apparatus on the Hydraulics Bench and connect the water supply from the
Hydraulics Bench to the apparatus.
2. Adjust the apparatus so that the tank is vertical.
3. Adjust the over flow tube to the required level by first loosening the screws
underneath the tank bottom in order to move the tube up or down to the required level
and tighten the screw.
4. Start the pump and slowly open the discharge valve to admit water to the tank until a
small and steady over flow is observed.
5. Record HO and the flow rate by using the Hydraulics Bench measuring tank and stop
watch.
6. Swing the micrometer so that the Pitot tube is in line with the jet and at a distance
below the orifice approximately equal to the diameter of the orifice.
7. Slowly turn the micrometer knob until the wire starts touching the jet and record the
micrometer reading.
8. Turn the micrometer knob further and record the Pitot tube reading Hc.
9. Turn the micrometer knob until the wire start leaving the jet and again record the
micrometer reading. Diameter of the Vena Contracta is the difference between 3.7
and 3.9 readings.
10. Repeat steps 3.3 to 3.9 at other overflow tube positions (different values of H).

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5 EXPERIMENT:

5.1 Aim:
To find coefficient of velocity, coefficient of contraction and coefficient of
discharge of the given discharge shape.

5.2 Procedure:

1. Fill up the tank with water up to required head by adjusting valve of hydraulic
bench.
2. To measure the diameter of vena contracta lose the micrometer assembly
screw and bring micrometer disc near to jet.
3. Move the micrometer disc in such a way that it touches the first edge of water
jet and measure the reading on micrometer main scale. (Position 1).
4. Move the micrometer disc in such a way that it touches the other edge of
water jet along the diameter and measure the reading on micrometer main
scale. (Position 2).
5. Difference of reading will provide the diameter of vena contracta.

Figure 4 Measurement of Vena Contractra

6. Now move the Pitot tube beneath the water discharging from orifice as shown
in the figure and calculate Hc. Head H can be measured directly on the tube.
7. To measure the flow rate calculate the water in liters in hydraulic bench and
the time taken with a stopwatch.
Note: Move the degaussing value to its outer extent

Figure 5 Pitot tube orientations

Discussions:
Discuss the effect of different approaching shapes on
1. Cv
2. Cc
3. Cd

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

5.3 Observations:

Sample: ________________
Flow Rate: ______________

Diameter of jet Coefficient of Coefficient of Coefficient of

Static head Velocity Head
Sr. # at vena contract velocity contraction discharge
H(mm) Hc(mm)
Dc(mm) Cv Cc Cd

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

APPENDIX A

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Sample 1:

Diameter of jet at vena contra = Value on micrometer – diameter of Pitot tube

= 12.15mm – 4.5
dc = 7.65mm

Diameter of Orifice:
do = 8mm

Head:
H = 271mm

Velocity Head:
Hc = 268mm

Flow Rate:
Q = 30 ltr in 2mm 14.47sec
Q = 0.223 ltr/sec

Calculations Sample 1

Cv = V2act = √gHc = √ Hc
V2th √2gh √ H
Cv = √ 268 = 0.995
√ 271
Cc = Ac = ( dc )2 = ( 7.65 )2
Ao ( do ) = ( 8 )
Cc = 0.9144
Cd = Qact = Ac V2act
Qth = Ao V2th
= Cc x Cv
= 0.9144 x 0.995
Cd = 0.90828

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

Sample 2:

Diameter of Jet at Vena Contract:

dc = 12.25 – 4.5 = 7.75mm

Diameter of Orifice:
do = 8mm

Head:
H = 185mm

Velocity Head:
Hc = 183mm

Flow Rate:
Q = 30 ltr in 2mm 20.28sec
Q = 30/140.28 = 0.214 ltr/sec

Calculations Sample 2

Cv = √ Hc = √ 183 = 0.995
√H √ 185

Cc = ( dc )2 = ( 7.75 )2 = 0.9385
( do ) = ( 8 )

Cd = Cc x Cv = 0.9338

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

Sample 3:

Head:
H = 186mm

Velocity Head:
Hc = 184mm

Diameter of Jet at Vena Contract:

dc = 11.02 – 4.5 = 6.52mm

Diameter of Orifice:
do = 8mm

Flow Rate:
Q = 30 ltr in 3mm 1.94sec
Q = 30/181.94 = 0.1649 ltr/sec

Calculations Sample 3

Cv = √Hc = √184 = 0.989

√H √ 186

Cc = ( dc )2 = ( 6.52 )2 = 0.664225
( do ) = ( 8 )

Cd = Cc x Cv = 0.657

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

Sample 4:

Head:
H = 213mm

Velocity Head:
Hc = 211mm

Diameter of Jet at Vena Contract:

dc = 11.03 – 4.5 = 6.53mm

Diameter of Orifice:
do = 8mm

Discharge:
Q = 30 ltr in 2mm 55.87sec
Q = 30/175.87 = 0.1706 ltr/sec

Calculations Sample 4

Cv = √ Hc = √ 211 = 0.9953
√H √ 213

Cc = ( dc )2 = ( 6.53 )2 = 0.666
( do ) = ( 8 )

Cd = Cc x Cv = 0.9953 x 0.666 = 0.6631

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 Orifice Discharge Apparatus

Sample 5:

Head:
H = 219mm

Velocity Head:
Hc = 217mm

Diameter of Jet at Vena Contract:

dc = 11.27 – 4.5 = 6.77mm

Diameter of Orifice:
do = 8mm

Discharge:
Q = 30 ltr in 2mm 24.57sec
Q = 30/144.57 = 0.2075 ltr/sec

Calculations Sample 5

Cv = √Hc = √217 = 0.9954

√H √ 219

Cc = ( dc )2 = ( 6.77 )2 = 0.716
( do ) = ( 8 )

Cd = Cc x Cv = 0.713

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