Experiment No.
6
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Manual
Calibration of Orifice Meter
Name of the Student:
Roll No:
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women
Calibration of Orifice Meter Page No.
Figure 1: Orifice Meter
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering
Calibration of Orifice Meter Page No.
Title of the Experiment: Calibration of Orifice Meter
Aim: To calibrate the given orifice meter and to determine the variation of coefficient
of discharge over Reynolds number.
Introduction
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Flow meters are used in the industry to measure the volumetric flow rate of fluids. Differential
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pressure type flow meters (Head flow meters) measure flow rate by introducing a constriction
in the flow. The pressure difference caused by the constriction is correlated to the flow rate
using Bernoullis theorem.
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An orifice meter is a differential pressure flow meter which reduces the flow area using
an orifice plate.An orifice is a flat plate with a centrally drilled hole machined to a sharp
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edge. The orifice plate is inserted between two flanges perpendicularly to the flow, so that
the flow passes through the hole with the sharp edge of the orifice pointing to the upstream.
The relationship between flow rate and pressure drop can be determined using Bernoullis
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equation as in eq:2
m
√
A1 A2 2gH
Q= p
A1 2 − A2 2
m
Where
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Q = Actual discharge m3 /s
A1 = Area of the pipe m2
A2 = Area of the throat m2
H = Differential pressure head of liquid m
The fluid contracts and then expands as it moves through the orifice and this results in a
pressure drop across the orifice, which can be measured. The magnitude of the pressure drop
can be related to the volumetric flow rate. An orifice in a pipeline is shown in figure 1 with a
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering
Calibration of Orifice Meter Page No.
manometer for measuring the drop in pressure (differential) as the fluid passes through the
orifice. The minimum cross sectional area of the jet is known as the vena contracta.
As the fluid flows through the orifice plate the velocity increases, at the expense of
pressure head. The pressure drops suddenly as the orifice is passed. It continues to drop
until the vena contracta is reached and then gradually increases until at approximately 5 to
8 diameters downstream a maximum pressure point is reached that will be lower than the
pressure upstream of the orifice. The decrease in pressure as the fluid passes thru the orifice
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is a result of the increased velocity of the fluid passing through the reduced area of the orifice.
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When the velocity decreases as the fluid leaves the orifice the pressure increases and tends
to return to its original level. All of the pressure loss is not recovered because of friction and
turbulence losses in the stream. The pressure drop across the orifice increases when the rate
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of flow increases. When there is no flow there is no differential. The differential pressure is
proportional to the square of the velocity, it therefore follows that if all other factors remain
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constant, then the differential pressure is proportional to the square of the rate of flow.
Bernoullis equation is applied to a streamline down the centre of the pipe from a point
1 well upstream of the restriction to point 2 in the vena contracta of the jet immediately
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downstream of the restriction where the streamlines are parallel and the pressure across
the duct may therefore be taken to be uniform. For a real flow through a restriction, the
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assumptions above do not hold completely.
We cannot easily measure the cross-sectional area of the jet at the vena contracta at cross-
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section 2 where the streamlines are parallel. These errors in the idealized analysis are ac-
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counted for by introducing a single, cover all correction factor, the discharge coefficient, Cd.
So he flow rate through orifice meter can be given by the eq:2
√
A1 A2 2gh
Q = Cd p
A1 2 − A2 2
Coefficient of discharge for a given orifice type is a function of the Reynolds number (N Reo)based
on orifice diameter and velocity, and diameter ratio . At Reynolds number greater than
about 30000,the coefficients are substantially constant and independent of diameter ratio
and Reynolds number.
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering
Calibration of Orifice Meter Page No.
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Figure 2: Variation of Cd with Reynolds number for different diameter ratio
Credit: Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook, Robert Perry, Eighth Edition
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Experimental Setup
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Experimental setup consist of a main tank, a pump, bypass valve, a collecting tank and the
venturimeter. Venturimeter is installed in the pipe connecting to pump and the collecting
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tank. A manometer is installed between the pipe and throat of the venturimeter. Mercury
is used as manometric fluid.
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Specifications
Area of the collecting tank = 0.41 × 0.33 m2
Diameter of the pipe = 28 mm
Diameter of the throat = 14 mm
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering
Calibration of Orifice Meter Page No.
Experimental Procedure
1. Open the bypass valve fully
2. Start the pump.
3. Adjust the inlet gate valve and bypass valve to get the steady flow across the venturi
meter
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4. Close the discharge valve of the collection tank and measure the time for rise of 10 cm
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of water column.
5. Record the pressure difference in the manometer connected between the upstream side
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and the throat of the venturi meter.
6. Increase the flow rate by adjusting the gate valve and bypass valve.
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7. Repeat the procedure for 5 times.
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Observations
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Table 1: Observation Table
m
Sr. No. Differential Head (Hg) Time for rise in water level of 10 cm
1
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2
3
4
5
Calculations
At × R
Actual Discharge Qa = (1)
t
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering
Calibration of Orifice Meter Page No.
SHg
Differential head in water column = H = HHg −1 (2)
Sw
√
A1 A2 2gH
Theoretical Discharge Qt = p (3)
A1 2 − A2 2
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Qt
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Discharge Coefficient Cd = (4)
Qa
Results
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Table 2: Results
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Sr. No. Theoretical Discharge Actual Discharge Reynolds Cd
number
in
1
..
.
m
6
m
Conclusion
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Plot
1. The variation of Cd with Reynolds number
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory Cummins College of Engineering
