School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
Laboratory Activity #2:
Flow velocity in a Venturi Tube
Context
Venturi tubes are a commonly used method for flow rate measurement in fluid pipe flow systems. By
measuring the difference in pressure between the upstream conditions and the throat, and knowing the
area ratio, it is possible to measure volumetric flow rates. Pitot (stagnation/static pressure) tubes are a
second, commonly used tool for measuring velocity. Knowing the cross-sectional area and velocity can
give another estimate of flow rate. This lab evaluates the use of the Bernoulli equation to evaluate flow
rates and velocities through a venturi using pressure measurements.
Reference
White, Fluid Mechanics, 9th ed. Section 3.5.
Scope and Objectives
The objectives of the exercise are:
1. To calculate the velocity of the fluid as it flows through a venturi tube from measured pressure
differences;
2. To calculate the velocity at different points within the venturi through the use of stagnation
pressure measurements;
3. To determine the volumetric and mass flow rates for the fluid as it flows through the system
Apparatus
The test system includes a water tank, a pump, the flow test section, and a manometer board for pressure
measurement. Figure 1 shows the flow section and manometer board. The flow test section is a 2-D
venturi tube, which is a combination of a converging and a diverging nozzle, as shown in Figure 2. The
test section is provided with six wall pressure taps that can measure the static pressure in the fluid stream
at each position, and a longitudinally movable pitot tube to measure the stagnation pressure in the center
of the flow stream. The relevant dimensions of the test section are shown in Fig. 2. The drain reservoir
also includes a sight glass, where the cumulative volume of flow through the venturi over a fixed time
period can be assessed.
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School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
12
11
1 Assembly board 7 Pitot tube
2 Stagnation pressure manometer 8 Hose connection, water supply
3 Discharge pipe 9 Inlet valve
4 Outlet valve 10 Manometer (static pressure) board
5 Venturi tube 11 Manometer board vent valve
6 Compression gland 12 Stagnation pressure vent valve
Figure 1- Components of experimental apparatus
Figure 2- Cross-sections of the venturi tube.
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School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
Figure 3 – pressure tap locations on venturi tube
Theory
Bernoulli’s equation is derived from Newton’s 2nd law (F=ma) and is used, under restricted conditions,
to represent the relationship between pressure, kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy of a
flowing fluid. Along a streamline, Bernoulli’s equation can be written as:
𝑃 𝑉2
+ + 𝑔𝑧 = 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 (1)
𝜌 2
Where P is pressure (in Pa); is density, V is the velocity, g is the acceleration of gravity, and z is the
height of the measurement point relative to a defined reference. The Constant in equation (1) is the same
along a streamline, although it can vary between different streamlines.
In this lab exercise, pressures at various points along the venturi are sampled using pressure taps, with
locations shown in Figure 2. The pressure taps are connected through pipes to a manometer board (Figure
1). The height of fluid in each column can be used to calculate the static pressure at each point in the
stream, using equation 2:
Pi = g(hi) (2)
Where hi is the height of the water column for tap (i) as shown in Figure 1. Note that the measurement
board scale of 0 needs to be corrected to the centerline of the fluid stream, by adding 4.5 cm for each of
the pressure taps.
For this experiment, not only the pressures but also the velocities are of interest. This can be assessed by
comparing the static and stagnation pressures. (Recall: static pressure is the pressure in the flowing fluid;
stagnation pressure is the pressure in the fluid after it has been brought to rest.) In this lab, the location
of the tip of the pitot tube can be adjusted to align with each of the pressure taps.
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School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
The pitot tube is connected to a further vertical manometer tube: the 0 value on the scale for this tube is
offset by 3.5 cm from the centerline of the venturi. The measurement of the pressure in the pitot tube is
used to provide the stagnation pressure; the static pressure is measured at the corresponding pressure tap.
From Bernoulli’s equation, we can use the pitot tube measurement to determine the velocity from the
relation:
𝑉2
𝑃𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 + 𝜌 = 𝑃𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (3)
2
Knowing the cross-sectional area and the velocity at each element, it is possible to estimate the volumetric
flow rate, assuming that the velocity profile is 1-D (i.e. that the velocity does not vary across the cross-
section of the tube).
Qvel = 𝑉. 𝐴 (4)
To function as a flow meter, a standard venturi tube does not use a central pitot tube measurement.
Instead, the flow rate (Q) can be estimated by comparing the pressures and cross-sectional areas (A)
upstream (Pup, Aup) and at the throat (Pt, At) of the venturi, using the formula:
2(𝑃𝑢𝑝 −𝑃𝑡 )
Qbernoulli = At √ 2 (5)
𝜌[1−(𝐴𝑡 ⁄𝐴𝑢𝑝 ) ]
It should be noted that venturis used for flow measurement also use a correction factor, Cd, to correct for
frictional losses in the system; this is not included in eqn. (5).
To get the correction factor (Cd), the actual flow rate (Qmeasured) needs to be known and compared to that
calculated using the pressures (Qbernoulli). For this laboratory exercise the test system is configured so that
the total volume can be collected in a reservoir and measured. This will provide an accurate measurement
of the total fluid that has flowed through the system over the time period. Assuming that the flow is
steady, the volumetric flow rate can easily be calculated (i.e. Qmeasured = Vol/t). From this, we can
calculate the correction factor, Cd for the Venturi flow meter using the equation:
𝑄𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑
Cd = (6)
𝑄𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖
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School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
Experimental Procedure Overview
The general process of this experiment is shown in Figure 4. The collected data can be written in the
tables in the data collection worksheet at the end of this lab handout.
Figure 4 - Laboratory exercise sequence
The two flow rates to be targeted are:
Flow 1: Manometer tube height range – 270 mm (max) -> 50 mm (min) +/- ~30 mm
Flow 2: Manometer tube height range – 120 mm (max) -> 50 mm (min) +/- ~15 mm
Detailed procedure (note: numbers refer to legend in Figure 1):
Setup
1. Inspect rig to ensure that there are no hazards
2. Ensure that the supply reservoir is full of water
3. Fully open the supply and drain valves on the tank assembly
4. Set the cap nut on the pitot tube compression gland (#6) so that a slight resistance is felt when
moving the probe.
5. Move the probe so that the tip is aligned with the last (right-most) tap in the venturi tube.
Experiment
6. Switch on the pump and slowly open the intake valve (#9) on the pump; wait until any air bubbles
have been purged from the manometer columns.
7. Gradually open the outlet valve (#4) to see flow through the system. Ensure that water levels
remain observable in all tubes.
8. Adjust the inlet and outlet valves until the first column on the manometer board is at ~270 mm
(+/- 20 mm) and the lowest column (3) is around 50 mm (+/- 30 mm).
9. Allow the system to stabilize (leave for ~30 s). Then record the heights of all the columns on the
manometer board.
10. Record the stagnation pressure height (pitot tube water column).
11. Move the probe to the pressure tap in the venturi throat (#3 in Figure 3) and record the stagnation
pressure.
12. Repeat (step 11) for several other pressure taps.
13. Close the reservoir drain (gate) valve and measure the change in reservoir volume over a 60 s
interval.
14. Slowly close the inlet valve and adjust the outlet valve until the first column on the manometer
board is at ~120 mm and the third column is at about 50 mm.
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School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
15. Repeat steps 9 - 15 for this new configuration.
Shut-down / Clean up
16. Turn off pump
17. Fully open inlet and outlet valves
18. Ensure work area is clean and tidy; clean up any spilled water
Analysis
1) For each flow setting:
a. Calculate the static pressure at each pressure tap location. Note that you need to add 4.5 cm to the height
measurement for each static pressure tap.
b. Calculate the fluid velocity using the stagnation pressure at each measured pressure tap location. Note that
you need to add 3.5 cm to the height measurement for the pitot tube measurement.
c. Using the known cross-sectional area of the venturi at each pressure tap, calculate the velocity-based
volumetric flow rate (Qvel) at each point.
d. Using equation (4), calculate the volumetric flow rate based on pressure measurements (QBernoulli)
e. Using the measured rate of change of fluid in the reservoir, calculate the actual volumetric flow rate
(Qmeasured)
f. Calculate Cd from Qmeasured and QBernoulli
2) From the collected data for each flow setting, plot the static pressure distribution through the length of the
venturi for both flow cases (i.e. P as f (tap #); show the 2 pressure distributions on a single plot)
3) From the calculated data, plot Velocity as a function of location in the venturi tube.
Submission and Assessment
Individual report to be submitted, through Canvas on the assigned date. The report should be in the lab
report template posted on Canvas, completing all the sections.
The report shall comprise:
1. A copy of the data table with the calculated results for both flow settings.
2. A sample of the calculations, clearly showing all steps taken, including:
a. Calculations for one pressure tap in the first flow case,
b. Calculation of Qmeasured, Qbernoulli, and Cd for the first flow case.
3. A worksheet with the two requested plots, with professional quality formatting (i.e. NOT the default MS-
Excel or equivalent format: appropriate graph type; axis labels; appropriate units; legend)
4. Brief answers to the following questions:
a. Was use of the Bernoulli equation for flow measurement justified? Why or why not?
b. For the three methods of measuring volumetric flow rate, which was the most accurate? Why?
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School of Sustainable Energy Engineering
SEE225 – Spring 2025
Data collection worksheet
Flow setting 1 (High flow):
Pressure Static P Stag. P Static P Stag. P Velocity Qvel (m3/s)
tap height (mm) height (mm) (kPa) (kPa) (m/s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
∆t (s) Res. Vol. at start Res. Vol. at end Qmeasured Qbernoulli Cd
(m3) (m3) (m3/s) (m3/s)
Flow setting 2 (Low flow):
Pressure Static P Stag. P Static P Stag. P Velocity Qvel (m3/s)
tap height (mm) height (mm) (kPa) (kPa) (m/s)
1
2
3
4
5
6
∆t (s) Res. Vol. at start Res. Vol. at end Qmeasured Qbernoulli Cd
(m3) (m3) (m3/s) (m3/s)
