Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific

Research
Mustansiriyah University
College of Engineering
Water Resources Engineering Department
Fluid laboratory

Experiment 5

Flow Measurement Using Venturi Meter

(Flow through a Venturi meter)

By
Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
 Fluid laboratory Flow Measurement Using Venturi Meter

1. Introduction:
A Venturi meter is a tube with a constricted throat that increases velocity
and decreases the pressure. Venturi meter is used for measuring the flow
rate of both compressible and incompressible fluids in pipeline. For
example, the Venturi meter is found in the wastewater treatment plant.

2. Objectives:
The objectives from the implement of this experiment are study the
principles of Venturi meter and to determine its coefficient (C d) by
comparing the measure flow rate (Qactual) with the ideal flow rate (Qtheortical).
Typically, the discharge coefficient (Cd) has a value between 0.92, and
0.99. The actual value of Cd is dependent on a given Venturi meter, and
even it may change with Qactuual.

3. Theoretical Aspects:
3.1. Theoretical background:
As shown in figure (1), the Venturi meter is used for measuring the
discharge in the long pipe. It is consisting from converging cone
(contraction section) with angle about (15-20o). This section is accelerated
the fluid and lead it to a throat section, which has cross-sectional area
smaller than the pipe (the flow area is the minimum), so that, the fluid
velocity through the throat is higher than that in the pipe. This increase of
velocity is accompanied by a fall in pressure, the magnitude of which
depends on the rate of flow, so that by measuring the pressure drop (the
pressure difference between the upstream side of the cone and the throat),
the signal for the flow rate is provided and the discharge is calculated. Then
the fluid slow down in a cone with smaller angle about (5-7o), where, most
of the kinetic energy is converted back to pressure energy.

Divergent outlet

Convergent section

Datum

Throat section

Figure 1. Illustration of Converging Cone and Throat Section in Venturi Meter

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurement Using Venturi Meter

3.2. The Equations:

By applying the Bernoulli equation, the theoretical discharge (Qtheoretical) is
calculated from the following equation:
√2 𝑥 𝑔 𝑥 "(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
𝑄𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 = (𝐴1 𝑥 𝐴2 )𝑥 … … … (1)
2 2
√𝐴1 − 𝐴2

Where:
Qtheoretical= the theoretical discharge (ideal) (m3/sec).
A1= the cross sectional area of entry (upstream or converging) section
(mm2) (A1= 31.76 mm2).
A2= the cross sectional area of throat section (mm2) (A2= 15 mm2).
h1= the manometer reading (head reading) across the entry (upstream)
section (mm).
h2= the manometer reading (head reading) across the throat section (mm).
h1-h2= The differential manometer reading (mm).

In practice, there is some loss of the energy between section 1 and 2.

Therefore, the measured values of Q usually fall a little short of coefficient
Cd which is introduced as follows:
Qactual= Cd . Qtheorotical … … … (2)
Where:
Qactual= the actual discharge (m3/sec).
Cd = the discharge coefficient.

4. Experimental Work:

4.1. Equipment and apparatus:

Figures 2 show the details of the Venturi meter. Water enters from the
hydraulic bench to the Venturi meter which consisting of a short nozzle, a
throat, and a long diffuser. Next, the water flows into a rapidly diverging
section (C-D) followed by a settling length where the flow again adjusts to
uniform conditions.

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurement Using Venturi Meter

Figure 2. The Venturi Meter Used in the Experiment

4.2. Procedure:
1. Stand the apparatus on top of the hydraulic bench. Connect the bench
supply hose to the inlet pipe and secure it with a hose clip. Connect a hose
to the outlet pipe and put the other end of the hose in the hole leading to
the bench volumetric tank.
2. Open the outlet valve, then switch on the bench pump and open the
bench supply valve to admit water to the apparatus.
3. Partly, close the outlet valve, so that water is driven in manometer tubes.
Then, carefully close both valves so that you stop the flow whilst keeping
the levels of water in the manometers somewhere within the range on the
manometer scale.
4. Level the apparatus by adjusting the leveling screws until the
manometers each read the same value.
5. Open both valves (inlet and outlet) and carefully adjust each one in turn
until you obtain the maximum differential reading (h1-h2) whilst keeping
all the water levels within the range on the manometers scale. If necessary,
adjust the general level by pumping air pipe into the reservoir or releasing
air.
6. Record the manometer reading (h1, and h2).
7. Measure the flow rate (Qact) by timing the collection of water in the
bench volumetric tank.

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurement Using Venturi Meter

4.3. Data Sheet:

The table (1) is represent the data sheet for this experiment:

Table (1). The Date Sheet

Ran Vol (L) Time (sec) h1 (mm) h2 (mm)
1
2

5. Calculations and Results:

1. Calculate Qact by using equation (Qact=Vol/time).
2. Calculate the cross sectional area of upstream section (A1) and throat
section (A2) by using equation (Area=(𝜋/4)d2).
3. Calculate the differential between reading (h1-h2).
4. Calculate the theoretical discharge (Qtheortical) by using equation (1).
5. Calculate Cd by using equation (2).
6. Calculate the average of the discharge coefficient by collecting the
calculated runs and dividing it on the readings number.
7. Plot the relationship between the actual flow rate (Qact) versus the root
square of (h1-h2)1/2 and finding the slope from linear equation for graph then
calculate Cd (again) through by using equation (3) and comparing it with
Cd average. The table (2) is represent the results for this experiment.

Table (2). The Experiment Results

Ran Qact (m3/sec) h1-h2 Qtheortical Cd
(mm) (m3/sec) (Eq 2)
1
2
3
Cd avrage

y= slope X+ number
3
Qact (m /sec)
(𝐴1 𝑥𝐴2 )
𝐶𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ = 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒/ 𝑥√2𝑔 … … … (3)
2 2
√𝐴1 − 𝐴2

(h1-h2)1/2

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel
Fluid laboratory Flow Measurement Using Venturi Meter

6. Discussion:
1. Is there a difference between the values of Qideal calculated by equation
(1) and Qact using equation (Qact=Vol/time)? Why?
2. Is there a difference between the values of Cd average and Cd graph ? Why?
3. Why the relationship in the plot is linear between the actual flow rate
and the root square of (h1-h2)1/2?
4. Why used the slope value of the graph for calculate Cd again using
equation (3).

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Asst.Lectuer: Mohammed Abid Jameel