CHAPTER 5
Fluid Flow Measurement
There are numerous number of devices used to measure the flow
of fluids. Some of these are:
a. Orifice
b. Venturi meter
c. Gates
d. Weirs
In any of these devices, Bernoulli’s Energy Theorem is greatly
utilized and additional knowledge of the characteristics and
coefficients of each device is important.
Each of the devices has “coefficients”
𝑋 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Coefficient = ;𝑋𝑎 < 𝑋𝑡
𝑋 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Actual Values Theoretical Values
Mostly calculated using Bernoulli’s Energy
Values are directly measured
Equation.
Values are not calculated from/using Values calculated from/using theoretical
theoretical formulas formulas
Values that considers losses in the system Losses are not considered in the system
1. DEVICE COEFFICIENTS
3 Coefficients for Flow Measuring Devices
a. Coefficient of Discharge, 𝑪 or 𝑪 𝑑
b. Coefficient of Velocity, 𝑪 𝑣
c. Coefficient of Contraction, 𝑪 𝑐
a. Coefficient of Discharge, 𝑪 or 𝑪 𝑑
The coefficient of discharge is the ratio of the actual discharge
through the device to the theoretical discharge that occur
without losses.
𝑄𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙
𝑪 or 𝑪𝑑 = 𝑄𝐴 < 𝑄𝑇
𝑄𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑄𝐴
𝑪 or 𝑪𝑑 =
𝑄𝑇
b. Coefficient of Velocity, 𝑪 𝑣
The coefficient of velocity is the ratio of the actual velocity to
the theoretical velocity that occur without losses.
𝑣𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙
𝑪𝑣 = ; 𝑣𝐴 < 𝑣𝑇
𝑣𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙
𝑣𝐴
𝑪𝑣 =
𝑣𝑇
c. Coefficient of Contraction, 𝑪 𝑐
The coefficient of contraction is the ratio of the actual area of
the contracted section of the stream or jet to the area of the
opening through which the fluid flows.
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑗𝑒𝑡
𝑪𝑐 = ; 𝑎<𝐴
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔
𝑎
𝑪𝑐 =
𝐴
Relationship between the 3 Coefficients
𝐶 = 𝐶𝐶 𝑥 𝐶𝑣
2. ORIFICE
An orifice is an opening (usually circular) with a close
perimeter through which fluid flows.
It is used primarily to measure or to control the flow of fluid.
The upstream face of the orifice may be rounded or sharp
According to shape, orifice may be circular, square, or
rectangular in cross section.
2. ORIFICE
The figure below shows a general case of fluid flow through an
orifice
H = Head Upstream – Head Downstream
2. ORIFICE
where:
𝑣𝑇 - theoretical velocity at orifice
𝑄𝑇 - theoretical discharge at the orifice
𝐻 - total Energy head at orifice
H = Head Upstream – Head Downstream
2. ORIFICE
Values of H for Various Conditions
Sample Problem 1
Calculate the discharge in liters per second through a 100-mm
diameter orifice under a head of 5.5m of water. Assume 𝐶𝐶 =
0.61 and 𝐶𝑣 = 0.98
Ans: 48.77 L/𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 1
Ans: 48.77 L/𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 2
Calculate the discharge through the 140-mm diameter
orifice shown. Assume C = 0.62
Ans: 𝑄 = 0.108 𝑚3 /𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 2
Ans: 𝑄 = 0.108 𝑚3 /𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 3
An open cylindrical tank, 2.4m in diameter and 6m tall has
1m of glycerin (𝑆𝑔 =1.5), 2.5m of water, and 1.5m of oil
(𝑆𝑔 =0.82). Determine the discharge through the 125mm
diameter located at the bottom of the tank. Assume C =
0.65.
Ans: 𝑄 = 0.066 𝑚3 /𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 3
Ans: 𝑄 = 0.066 𝑚3 /𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 4
A 50-mm diameter circular sharp-edged orifice at the side of a
tank discharges water under a head of 3m. If the coefficient of
contraction 𝐶𝐶 = 0.63 and the head lost is 240mm. Compute
the discharge and the coefficients of velocity 𝐶𝑣 and discharge
𝐶.
Ans:𝐶𝑣 = 0.959 ; 𝐶 = 0.604
Sample Problem 4
Sample Problem 4
Ans:𝐶𝑣 = 0.959 ; 𝐶 = 0.604
Sample Problem 5
A calibration test of a 125-mm diameter circular sharp-edged orifice in a
vertical side of a large tank showed a discharged of 590 N of water in 81
seconds at a constant head of 4.7m. Measurement of the jet showed that
it traveled 2.35m horizontally while dropping 300mm. Compute the three
orifice coefficients.
Ans:𝐶𝑣 = 0.989 ; 𝐶 = 0.631 ; 𝐶𝑐 = 0.638
Sample Problem 5
Sample Problem 5
Ans:𝐶𝑣 = 0.989 ; 𝐶 = 0.631 ; 𝐶𝑐 = 0.638
Sample Problem 6
A large closed cylindrical steel tank 4m high with
its bottom on a level ground contains two layers
of liquid. The bottom layer is water 2m deep.
The top layer is occupied by a liquid whose sp.
gr. is not known, to a depth of 1m. The air space
at the top is pressurized to 16 kPa. A 50-mm
φorifice with a coefficient of velocity of 0.98 is
situated 1m from the bottom of the tank. The jet
from the orifice hits the ground 3.5m horizontally
away from the vena contracta. Determine the
specific gravity of the liquid at the top layer.
Ans: s = 0.56
Sample Problem 6
Ans: s = 0.56
3. VENTURI METER
Venturi meter is an instrument used in measuring the discharge
through pipes.
It consists of a converging
tube which is connected to
the main pipe at the inlet,
and ending in a cylindrical
section called the throat, and
a diverging section which is
connected again to the main
pipe at the outlet.
3. VENTURI METER
Consider two points in the system, at
the base of the inlet and at the throat,
and writing the energy equation
between these two points.
Therefore, neglecting head lost, “the increase in kinetic energy is equal
to the decrease in potential energy” – Venturi Principle
Note:
If we neglect head lost in our energy equation, the values we get are
theoretical values. Considering head lost, we get the actual values.
Sample Problem 7
A horizontal 150mm diameter pipe gradually reduces its section to 50mm
diameter, subsequently enlarging into 150mm section. The pressure in the
150mm pipe at a point just before entering the reducing section is 140 kPa
and in the 50mm section at the end of the reducer, the pressure is 70 kPa.
If 600mm of head is lost between the points where the pressures are
known, compute the rate of flow of water through the pipe in L/sec.
Ans: 𝑄 = 22.4 𝐿/𝑠𝑒𝑐
Sample Problem 7
Sample Problem 8
A 37.5mm Venturi meter (C=0.957) is installed in a 75mm diameter
horizontal pipe carrying oil having specific gravity of 0.852. If the
recorded flow in the meter was 1.5 L/s, what could have been the
deflection of water in the differential manometer connected between
the inlet and the throat?
Ans: ℎ = 0.554𝑚
Sample Problem 8
Sample Problem 8
Sample Problem 9
Oil (sp. gr. = 0.8) flows at the rate of 8.5 liters per second through a 25-
mm diameter horizontal Venturi meter, which is attached to a 37.5 mm
diameter pipe as shown in the figure. A differential manometer containing
mercury is attached from the base of the inlet to the throat and to the
base of the outlet. Calculate the deflection of mercury in each tube if the
head lost from the inlet to the throat is 5% of the velocity head in the
throat and from the throat to the outlet is 20% of the velocity head in the
throat.
Ans: ℎ1 = 0.814𝑚 ; ℎ2
= 0.239𝑚
