7

Discharge Coefficient for Orificemeter

Aim of the Experiment

To calibrate a given orifice meter i.e. to determine the coefficient of discharge for an
orificemeter and to draw its calibration curve.
Equipment
1. Supply tank connected to a water line connected further to the pipe fitted with the
orificemeter through a supply valve.
2. A long pipe line fitted with a sharp edged concentric circular orifice plate with
pressure taps on the u/s and d/s side of the plate.
3. A differential mercury Utube manometer.

Differential
mercury
Utube H
monometer

DIS side
US side
pressure
pressure
tapping tapping Orifice
plate
In flow
D. 1,
3

Vena Out flow

Pipe line contracta
2

Discharge
measuring
tank

Fig. 7.1
 ARIFICEMETER
COEFFICIENTFOR AN
DISCHARGE
fitted with a piezometer tube
4.
Discharge measurement tank
watch.
5. A stop

Theory
Orifice meter is a flow measuring device. It iis used extensively to measure flowthrough
'merely one hole-circular in shape in a plate both thin
it consists of
pipes. In its simplestform
clamped between the flanges at a joint in the pipe line so that its plane
which being
and flat;
is perpendicular to the axis of the pipe.
Concentricity or eccentricity of an orifice depends upon
homogeneous flows concentric orifice meter are
its usage. For measurement of single phase eccentric orifices are used.
HSed whereas for sediment laden flows, segmental or
made in the pipe wall on
Pressure tappings for being connected to a differential gauge are
diameter downstream of the
both sides of the plate; one pipe diameter upstream End halfpipe
orifice plate isgenerally used. resulting in
The flow undergoes a change in itscross sectional area as it crosses the plate
pressure
a Dressure difference across the meter which is utilised to determine the flow. Fluid
at the tap on u/s side of the orifice plate is unaffected by the introduction of the plate and the
pressure of fluid at the second tap which isat vena contractsd/s of the plate, is
affected by the
introduction of plate.
Fig. 7.1illustrates the flow pattern at and near the orifice plate. Boundary stream lines
confining the flow assumes the shape as shown. The fluid flow approaching the orifice gets
accelerated; whereas the radially inward component of fluid acceleration results in the
reduction of the jet flow area coming out of the orifice causing the formation of vena contract
which is located within a distance equal to the pipe diameter.
Theoretical analysis of flow through the orifice plate utilises the fundamental relationship
of fluid flow-namely the energy and continuity equations. Refer to Fig. 7.1 considering the
pipe axis horizontal and turbulant flow which being irrotational at vena contracta ; the
Bernoulli's equation between sections; 1 and 2 in combination with the continuity equation
gives
Q= Cd aV2gH ...(7.1)
Ce
where Cd = coefficient of discharge = Ce = coefficient of contraction
d
1-Cc D
Coefficient of contraction is defined as the ratio ofjet area at vena contracta to the area of
the opening.
a =area of orifice,

H=
Pi- p2

d
i.e,
Ca-f|pRe ...(7.2)
Johansen has studied the variation of Ca with Re for orifices with various d/D values and
his results are presented in Fig. 7.2 (c).
Energy Loss in Orifice Meter
Refer to Fig. (7.1). Let section 3 represents the section where the flow regains uniformity
thereof the flow area becomes equal to the pipe area.The energy loss may be expressed as
 EXPERIMENTS IN FLUID MECHANICcs

HL = CL ...(7.3)
2g
Loss coefficients for orificemeter in turbulent flow

Diameter Ratio (dID) Loss Coefficient CL

0.2 1670.0
0.4 86.0
0.6 11.0
0.8 1.3

In case the velocity is not known the head loss can be obtained approximately by using
following relationship,
HL =2
h ...(7.4)
where h= Differential head across the orifice plate in terms of the fluid.

Graphical Exercise
1. Plot Qvls h
2. Plot Q vls Nh
3. Plot Ca vls Re and compare with standard curve given below.

0.75
a7 = 0.7
0.70

h 0.65
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.60
0.3
0.55
(0,0) 10 5 105 105
(0,0) Q Q
Và

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 7.2

Experimental Set up
The experimental set up is shown in Fig. (7.1). Along horizontal pipe line in which a thin
plate having a concentric sharp edged orifice is fitted on ws side to the water main and to a
water measuring tank on d/s side. Two pressure tapsprovided on w/s side and d/s side of the
orifice plate are connected to a mercury differential U-tube manometer by means of flexible
tubes. A valve is fitted at the end of the pipe line for discharge regulation.

Procedure
1. Record internal diameter of the pipe lineD and the orifice diameter d.
 53
DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT FOR AN ARIFICEMETER

2. Open the inlet and outlet valves So that water flows through the pipe line and orifice
meter.

3. Open the pressiure taps and note the manometer reading hË and h2 in two limbs of
the manometer using the scale.
4. Ascertain the flow rate by measuring the flow volume with the help of the discharge
tank in a known time period.
5. Vary the flow rate through the system by regulating the valve.
6. Note the temperature of water in the tank.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for at least eight different value settings i.e. flow rates.

Observations
Diameter of pipe line D = ...... Area of cross-section of pipe line aj = .... ;
Diameter of orifice in orifice plate d =.... :Area of cross-section of orifice a2 = ...... :
Area of measuring tank A=...... :Kinematic viscosity of water y = ....; Temperature of
water t°C =... (0

2 3 5 6 7 8

Discharge Initial level h1

Measurement
Final level h
Time t in secs
Volume
Qactual =A (h2- ki/t
Manometer Left limb reading hË
Reading Right limb reading h2
Difference of head of fluid in orifice meter
Sm
|H= (h1 - h2) S
Theoretical discharge
Qth = V2gh
Coefficient of discharge actua/Qth
Reynold number of flow Re = Qd
ay
DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT FOR AN ARIFICEMETER
57
Think and Grow Rich
1. Whether Cd for orifice meter is greater
than or less than Ca for venturimeter and
why?
2. Can the same calibration be used if the
orifice meter is inclined.
3. Comment and discuss the
prepared.
usefulness of this experiment based on the plots
4. Compare the value of Ca obtained with the corresponding expected
orificemeter. value of the
5. What flow conditions favour
rates through a pipe line.
installation of an orifice plate for measurement of flów
6. For accurate measurement of
discharges with an orifice plate the orifice plate
should be preceded and followed by what straight lengths of pipe.