Fluid Mechanics

Flow Measurement: Venturimeter, Orifices and

Mouthpieces, Pitot tube, Pitot static tube, Weirs and
notches.

Ahmed Abdelhakam

1
Flow Measurement
Pipes (pressure conduits) Open channel (flumes,canals and
rivers etc)

1. Venturimeter 1. Notches (Rectangular notch,V

2. Orifices notch)
3. Orifice meter 2. Weirs
4. Mouth pieces/tubes
5. Nozzle
6. Pitot static tube

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Flow Measurement in Pipes
➢ Venturimeter

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 Flow Measurements in Pipes
➢ Venturimeter

Figure shows a venturimeter in which

discharge Q isflowing, D1,A1, D2,A2,
Let, D 1 is diameter, A1 is cross-section P1,Z1,V1 P2,Z2,V2
area, P1 is pressure, z1 is elevation head V1
is velocity at section 1. Similarly D 2 ,A2, P2,
z2 & V2 are corresponding values at
section 2
According to Bernoulli's Equation
between section 1 and 2 we can write;
Datum

Direction of flow

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 Flow Measurements in Pipes
➢ Venturimeter

D1,A1, D2,A2,
P1,Z1,V1 P2,Z2,V2

D atum

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 Flow Measurements in Pipes
> Venturimeter

Since D1,A1, D2,A2,

P1,Z1,V1 P2,Z2,V2
Qact = cd Qth

2g P1 − P2  + 2g(z1 − z 2)
A1 A2
Qact = Cd
A2 − A2
1 2
  

Datum

Where Cd is coefficient of discharge and is defined as ratio ofactual

discharge to theoretical discharge .

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 Flow Measurements in Pipes
➢ Types ofVenturimeter
➢ a. HorizontalVenturimeter
➢ b.VerticalVenturimeter

➢ a. Horizontal Venturimeter h

▪ Figure shows a venturimeter x

y

connected with a differential

manometer.
▪ At section 1, diameter of pipe is 1
2

D1, and pressure is P1 and similar

D 2 and P2 are respective values at
section 2. According to gauge pressure equation
P1 P2
− x − Smh + y =
 
P1 P2
7 − = Sm h − ( y − x) = Sm h − (h)
 
 Flow Measurements in Pipes
➢ Types ofVenturimeter
➢ a. HorizontalVenturimeter
➢ b.VerticalVenturimeter

➢ a. Horizontal Venturimeter h
y
x

Qact = Cd
A1A2 2g P1 − P2 + 2g(z1 − z 2)
A12 − A22   
2
For horizontal venturimeter, (z1 − z 2 )= 0 1

A1A2 P P 
Qact = C d 2g 1 − 2  According to gauge pressure equation
A −A
1
2 2
2    P1 P2
− x − Smh + y =
P1
−
P2
= S m h − ( y − x) = S m h − (h)  
  P1
−
P2
= S m h − ( y − x) = S m h − (h)
8  
 Flow Measurements in Pipes
➢ Types ofVenturimeter
➢ a. HorizontalVenturimeter
➢ b.VerticalVenturimeter

➢ b.VerticalVenturimeter
➢ Figure shows a venturimeter
connected with a differential
manometer.
According to gauge pressure equation
y ∆z
P1 P2
+ x − Smh − y =
  1 D atum
h x
P1 P2
− = S m h + y −x
 
P1 P2
9 − = S m h + z − h x + z = h + y
 
 Flow Measurements in Pipes
➢ Types ofVenturimeter
➢ a. HorizontalVenturimeter
➢ b.VerticalVenturimeter

➢ b.VerticalVenturimeter

P P
2g 1 − 2  + 2g(z1 − z 2)
A1A2
Qact = Cd
A12 − A22   

P1 P2
− = S m h + z − h y ∆z
 
1 Datum
(z1 − z 2 )= z h x

10 x + z = h + y
 Numerical Problem
➢ Find the flow rate in venturimeter as shown in
figure if the mercury manometer reads h=10cm.
The pipe diameter is 20cm and throat diameter is
10 cm and ∆z =0.45m. Assume Cd=0.98 and
direction of flow is downward.

P P
2g 1 − 2  + 2g(z1 − z 2)
A1A2
Qact = Cd
A12 − A22    y ∆z
P1 P2
− = Sm h + z − h 1
  h
D atum
x

x + z = h + y

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Orifice
➢ An orifice is an opening (usually circular) in wall of a tank or in plate
normal to the axis of pipe, the plate being either at the end of the pipe or
in some intermediate location.
➢ An orifice is characterized by the fact that the thickness of the wall or plate
is very small relative to the size of opening.

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Orifice
➢ A standard orifice is one with a sharp edge as in Fig (a) or an absolutely
square shoulder (Fig. b) so that there in only aline contact with the fluid

➢ Those shown in Fig. c and d are not standard because the flow through
them is affected by the thickness of plate, the roughness of surface and
radius of curvature (Fig. d).
➢ Hence such orifices should be calibrated if high accuracy is desired.

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Classification of Orifice
➢ According to size According to shape
➢ 1. Small orifice
1. Circular orifice
➢ 2. Large orifice
2. Rectangular orifice
3. Square orifice
➢ An orifice is termed as small
when its size is small compared 4.Triangular orifice
to head causing flow.The velocity
does not vary appreciably from According to shape of
top to bottom edge of the orifice
upstream edge
and is assumed to be uniform.
1. Sharp-edged orifice
➢ The orifice is large if the 2. bell-mouthed orifice
dimensions are comparable with According to discharge
the head causing flow.The variation condition
in the velocity from top to bottom
1. Free discharge orifice
edge is considerable.
2. Submerged orifice
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Coefficients
➢ Coefficient of contraction: It is the
ratio of area Ac of jet, to the area Ao of
the orifice or other opening.
Cc = Ac / Ao

➢ Coefficient of velocity: It is ratio

of actual velocity to ideal velocity
Vena-Contracta is section of
V jet of minimum area.This section
Cv = act
Vth is about 0.5Do from upstream
edge of the opening, where Do is
➢ Coefficient of discharge: It is the ratio diameter of orifice
of actual discharge to ideal discharge.
Qact Vact Aact
Cd = = = CvC c
Qth Vth Ath
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Orifice
➢ Small orifice
Figure shows a tank having small orifice inflow
at it bottom. Let the flow in tanks is 1
steady.
Let’s take section 1 (at the surface) and
2 just outside of tank near orifice. H
Z1 O utflow

➢ According to Bernoulli’s equation

2
P1 v12 P2 v2
+ z1 + = + z2 + 2
Z2
 2g  2g D atum
2
v
0 + z1 + 0 = 0 + z 2 + 2
2g
2
v2
= z 1 − z2 = H
2g
Cross-
vth = 2gH sectional area

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Where, H is depth of water above orifice
Orifice
➢ Small orifice
inflow
Qth = Avth = A 2gH 1
vth = 2gH
Qact = Cd Avth = Cd A 2gH

Where, A is cross-sectional are of orifice H

and C d is coefficient of discharge. Z1 O utflow

2
Z2 D atum

C ross-sectional
area,A

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Mouthpieces/tubes
➢ A tube/mouth piece is a short pipe whose length is not more than
two or three diameters.
➢ There is no sharp distinction between a tube and a thick walled
orifices.
➢ A tube may be uniform diameter or it may diverge.

Figure: types and coefficients of tubes/mouthpieces

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 Nozzle
➢ A nozzle is a tube of changing diameter, usually converging
as shown in figure if used for liquids.

Figure shows a nozzle. At section 1,

diameter of pipe is D1, and pressure
is P1 and similar D 2 and P2 are
respective values at section 2.

1 2

According to continuity eq.

Q = Q1 = Q2
Q = A1V1= A2V2

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Nozzle
Jet: It is a stream issuing from a orifice, nozzle, or tube.

Jet

1 2

According to continuity eq.

Q = Q1 = Q2
Q = A1V1= A2V2

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Nozzle
Vena-contracta is section of jet of
minimum area.This section is about
0.5Do from upstream edge of the
opening, where Do is diameter of orifice

1 2
A2 = Cc Ao
Ao= cross-section area at nozzle

Where, K is coefficient ofnozzle

21 Pressure, P1 is then measured with the help of piezometer or manometer

Nozzle
According to gauge pressure equation
h
P1
− x − Smh = 0

P1
= x + Smh
 1 2

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 Calibration and Calibration Curves
➢ Calibration :Determine coefficients of flow
measuring devices,e.g.,
▪ Cd, Cc, Cv, etc

➢ Calibration curve: Plotting calibrationcurve

▪ e.g., h1/2 Vs Qact
▪ h3/2 Vs Qact

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 Numerical Problems
➢ Discharge and headloss in nozzle are
h
20L/s and 0.5m respectively. If dia of
pipe is 10cm and dia of nozzle is 4cm, 5cm
determine the manometric reading.
Manometric fluid is mercury.
1 2
Solution:

P1
= x + Smh


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 Numerical Problem
➢ A jet discharges from an orifice in a vertical plane under ahead of 3.65m.
The diameter of orifice is 3.75 cm and measured discharge is 6m3/s.The co-
ordinates of centerline of jet are 3.46m horizontally from the vena-
contracta and 0.9m below the center of orifice.
➢ Find the coefficient of discharge, velocity and contraction.

Qact = Cd Av th = C d A 2gH inflow

(
Cd = Qact / A 2gH ) 1

H O utflow
gx 2
vact 2y
Cv = = x=3.46m
vth 2gH
y=0.9m
2
Cc = Cd /C v
x = vactt
1 Vact = gx2 / 2y
25 y = gt 2
2
Bernoulli’s Equation
P V2
+z+ =H
 2g
Pressure head + Elevation head + Velocity head = Total Head
Multiplying with unit weight,γ,
V2
P + gz +  = contt
2
➢ Static Pressure : P
➢ Dynamic pressure : V 2 / 2
➢ Hydrostatic Pressure: gZ
➢ Stagnation Pressure: Static pressure + dynamic Pressure
V2
P + = Pstag
2

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Pitot Tube and Pitot Static Tube
➢ Pitot Tube: It measures sum of velocity
head and pressure head

➢ Piezoemeter: It measures pressure

head

➢ Pitot-Static tube: It is combination of

piezometer and pitot tube. It can
measure velocity head.

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 Pitot Tube and Pitot Static Tube
Consider the following closed channel flow (neglect friction):
open Pitot tube Pitot static
open tube

piezometer V2
tube
2g
Uniform P V2
velocity profile P +
 2g
V 

1 2 z

Stagnation point
V2 V 2 P  P
= + − Remember !!
2g  2g   
V2
P + = Pstag
 Pstag P  Theoretical/ideal flow velocity 2
Vth = 2g − 
   at elevation z in pipe. P V 2 stag
=
P
+
28  2g 
Pitot Static Tube
➢ In reality, directional velocity
fluctuations increase pitot-tube
readings so that we must multiply
Vth with factor C varying from
0.98 to 0.995 to give true (actual)
velocity

P P
Vact = C 2g stag − 
  

➢ However, piezometer holes are rarely located in precisely correct

position to indicate true value of P/γ, we modify above equation as;

 Pstag P 
Vact =C1 2g − 
  

➢ Where C1 is coefficient of instrument to account fordiscrepancy.

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Notches and Weirs

30
Notches and Weirs

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Notches and Weirs
➢ Notch. A notch may be defined as an opening in the side of a tank or
vessel such that the liquid surface in the tank is below the top edge of the
opening.
➢ A notch may be regarded as an orifice with the water surface below its
upper edge. It is generally made of metallic plate. It is used for measuring
the rate of flow of a liquid through a small channel of tank.
➢ Weir: It may be defined as any regular obstruction in an open stream over
which the flow takes place. It is made of masonry or concrete.The
condition of flow, in the case of a weir are practically same as those of a
rectangular notch.

➢ Nappe: The sheet of water flowing through a notch or over a weir

➢ Sill or crest. The top of the weir over which the water flows is known
as sill or crest.

➢ Note:The main difference between notch and weir is that the notch is
smaller in size compared to weir.
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Classification of Notches/Weirs
➢ Classification of Notches ➢ Classification ofWeirs
1. Rectangular notch ▪ According to shape
2.Triangular notch 1. Rectangular weir
3.Trapezoidal Notch 2. Cippoletti weir
4. Stepped notch ▪ According to nature of
discharge
1. Ordinary weir
2. Submerged weir
▪ According to width of weir
1. Narrow crested weir
2. Broad crested weir
▪ According to nature ofcrest
1. Sharp crested weir
2. Ogee weir
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Discharge over Rectangular Notch/Weir
➢ Consider a rectangular notch or weir provided in channel carrying water as shown in
figure. In order to obtain discharge over whole area we must integrate above equation
from h=0 to h=H, therefore;

Figure: Flow over rectangular notch/weir

2
Qact = C d 2g LH 3/ 2
3
Note:The expression of discharge (Q) for rectangular weir and sharp crested
34 weirs are same.
 Numerical Problems
➢ A rectangular notch 2m wide has a constant head of 500mm. Find
the discharge over the notch if coefficient of discharge for the notch
is 0.62.

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Numerical Problems
➢ A rectangular notch has a discharge of 0.24m3/s, when head of water
is 800mm. Find the length of notch.Assume Cd=0.6

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Discharge over Triangular Notch (V-Notch)
➢ In order to obtain discharge over
whole area we must integrate above
equation from h=0 to h=H,
therefore;

Qact =
8
15
 
C d 2g tan( / 2) H 5/ 2

37
 Numerical Problems
➢ Find the discharge over a triangular notch of angle 60o, when head
over triangular notch is 0.2m. Assume Cd=0.6

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 Numerical Problems
➢ During an experiment in a laboratory, 0.05m3 of water flowing over a right
angled notch was collected in one minute. If the head over sill is 50mm
calculate the coefficient of discharge of notch.
Solution:
▪ Discharge=0.05m3/min=0.000833m3/s
▪ Angle of notch, θ=90o
▪ Head of water=H=50mm=0.05m
▪ Cd=?

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 Numerical Problems
➢ A rectangular channel 1.5m wide has a discharge of 0.2m3/s, which is
measured in right-angled V notch, Find position of the apex of the notch
from the bed of the channel. Maximum depth of water is not to exceed 1m.
Assume Cd=0.62
Width of rectangular channel, L=1.5m Coefficient of discharge=0.62
Discharge=Q=0.2m3/s Angle of notch= 90o
Depth of water in channel=1m

Height of apex of notch from bed=Depth of water in channel-height of

water over V-notch
=1-0.45= 0.55m
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 Thank you
➢ Questions….

Feel free to contact:

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Discharge over Rectangular Notch/Weir
➢ Consider a rectangular notch or weir provided in channel carrying
water as shown in figure.

Figure: flow over rectangular notch/weir

H=height of water above crest of Vo = Approachvelocity
notch/weir Theoretical velocity of strip neglecting
P =height of notch/weir approach velocity = 2gh
L =length of notch/weir
dh=height of strip Thus,
h= height of liquid above strip discharge passing through strips
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L(dh)=area of strip = Area velocity
Discharge over Rectangular Notch/Weir
➢ Therefore, discharge of strip
(
dQ = Ldh 2gh ) vstrip = 2gh
Astrip = Ldh

➢ In order to obtain discharge over

whole area we must integrate above
eq. from h=0 to h=H,therefore;
H
Q = 2g L  hdh
0
2
Q= 2g LH 3/ 2
3
2
Qact =Cd 2g LH 3/ 2
3
Where, Cd = Coefficient ofdischarge

Note:The expression of discharge (Q) for rectangular weir and sharp crested
43 weirs are same.
Discharge over Triangular Notch (V-Notch)
➢ In order to obtain discharge over
whole area we must integrate above
equation from h=0 to h=H, therefore;

( )
H
Q =  dh(2(H − h)tan( / 2)) 2gh
0
H

Q = 2 2g tan( / 2) (H − h) hdh

0

Q = 2 2g tan ( / 2 ) (Hh1/ 2 − h3/ 2 )dh

H

8
 
C d 2g tan( / 2) H 5/ 2
0
Qact =
Q = 2 2g tan( / 2) H 5 / 2 
4 15
15 

Q=
8
15
2g tan( /2) H5 / 2 
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Discharge over Trapezoidal Notch
➢ Assignment for you.

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