1 INTRODUCTION:

The Flow Meter Demonstration Unit is designed to operate together with a basic
hydraulic bench or any water supply. It is to familiarize the students with typical
methods of flow measurement of an incompressible fluid.

The apparatus can demonstrate the flow measurement comparison by using a

venture device, orifice device, and rotameter. The flow comparison can be further
used to compare against the flow measurement of the hydraulics bench which
can be done by Volumetric Method.

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2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

i) Venturi meter

Specification of the Venturi Meter

Tapping A = 26 mm
Tapping B = 24.5 mm
Tapping C = 16 mm
Tapping D = 23 mm
Tapping E = 24.5 mm
Tapping F = 26 mm

ii) Orifice

Specification of the Orifice Plate

Orifice upstream diameter (G) = Ø26 mm

Orifice diameter (H) = Ø16 mm

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 Unit Assembly:

9 8

1. De-airing valve 2. Manometer bank

3. Scale for measurement 4. Water inlet
5. Flow control valve 6. Rotameter
7. Water Outlet 8. Orifice Tube
9. Venturi meter

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3 SUMMARY OF THEORY:

Rotameter:

The rotameter is a flow meter in which a rotating free float is the indicating
element. A rotameter consists of a transparent tapered vertical tube
through which fluid flows upward. Within the tube is placed a freely
suspended “float” of pump-bob shape. When there is no flow, the float
rests on a stop at the bottom end. As flow commences, the float rises
upward and buoyancy forces on it are balanced by its weight. The float
rises only a short distance if the rate of flow is small, and vice versa. The
points of equilibrium can be noted as a function of flow rate. With a well-
calibrated marked glass tube, the level of the float becomes a direct
measure of the flow rate.

The Rotameter

Venturi Meter:

The venturi meter consists of a venturi tube and a suitable differential

pressure gauge. The venturi tube has a converging portion, a throat and a
diverging portion as shown in the figure below. The function of the
converging portion is to increase the velocity of the fluid and lower its
static pressure. A pressure difference between inlet and throat is thus
developed, which pressure difference is correlated with the rate of
discharge. The diverging cone serves to change the area of the stream
back to the entrance area and convert velocity head into pressure head.

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 Venturi Meter
Assume incompressible flow and no frictional losses, from Bernoulli’s
Equation.

(1)

Use of the continuity Equation Q = A1V1 = A2V2, equation (1) becomes

(2)

Ideal

(3)

However, in the case of real fluid flow, the flow rate will be expected to be
less than that given by equation (2) because of frictional effects and
consequent head loss between inlet and throat. In metering practice, this
non-ideality is accounted by insertion of an experimentally determined
coefficient, Cd that is termed as the coefficient of discharge. With Z1 = Z2
in this apparatus, equation (3) becomes

(4)

Hence,

(5)

Where,

Cd = Coefficient of discharge (0.99)

D2 = Throat diameter = 16 mm
D1 = Inlet diameter = 26 mm
At = Throat area = 2.0096 x 10-4 m2
A = Inlet area = 5.306 x 10-4 m2
g = 9.81 m/s2
 = Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
P1 = Inlet pressure (Pa)
P2 = Throat pressure (Pa)

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Orifice Meter:

The orifice for use as a metering device in a pipeline consists of a

concentric square-edged circular hole in a thin plate, which is clamped
between the flanges of the pipe as shown in the figure below.

Orifice Meter

Pressure connections for attaching separate pressure gauges are made at

holes in the pipe walls on both side of the orifice plate. The downstream
pressure tap is placed at the minimum pressure position, which is
assumed to be at the vena contracta. The centre of the inlet pressure tap
is located between one-half and two pipe diameters from the upstream
side of the orifice plate; usually a distance of one pipe diameter is
employed. Equation (4) for the venturi meter can also be applied to the
orifice meter where

(6)

The coefficient of discharge, Cd in the case of the orifice meter will be

different from that for the case of a venturi meter.

(7)

Where,

Cd = Coefficient of discharge (0.7)

D7 = Orifice diameter = 20 mm
D8 = Orifice upstream diameter = 26 mm
At = Orifice area = 2.0096 x 10-4 m2
A = Orifice upstream area = 5.306 x 10-4 m2
(h7 – h8) = Pressure difference across orifice (m)

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4 EXPERIMENTS:

Objective:

To determine the discharge coefficient of the venturi meter.

Procedures:

1. Place the apparatus on the bench, and connect the inlet pipe to the
bench supply and outlet pipe into the volumetric tank.
2. With the bench valve fully closed and the discharge valve fully opened,
start up the pump supply from the hydraulic bench.
3. Slowly open the bench valve until it is fully opened.
4. When the flow in the pipe is steady and there is no trapped bubble,
start to close the bench valve to reduce the flow to the maximum
measurable flow rate.
5. By using the air bleed screw, adjust the water level in the manometer
board. Retain maximum readings on manometers with the maximum
measurable flow rate.
6. Note readings on manometers, rotameters, and measured flow rate.
7. Repeat the same procedure for different flow rates. The flow rates can
be adjusted by utilizing both the bench valve and the discharge valve.
8. To demonstrate similar flow rates at different system static pressures,
adjust the bench and flow control valve together. Adjusting manometer
levels as required.

Observations:

Manometer reading (mm) Rotameter Vol Time Flowrate, Flowrate calculated

A B C D E F G H (l/min) (l) (min) Q (l/min) Venturi Orifice