experiment (4): flow measurement -...

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122) Islamic University – Gaza (IUG)

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa 1

Experiment (4): Flow measurement

Introduction:

The flow measuring apparatus is used to familiarize the students with typical methods of flow

measurement of an incompressible fluid and, at the same time demonstrate applications of the

Bernoulli's equation.

The flow is determined using a sudden enlargement, venturi meter, orifice plate, elbow and a

rotameter. The pressure drop associated with each meter is measured directly from the

manometers.

Purpose:

To investigate the flow rate using particular flow measuring apparatus.

Apparatus:

1. Water flow measuring apparatus (Figure 1).

2. Hydraulic bench.

Figure 1: Water flow measuring apparatus



Figure 2: Schematic diagram of water flow measuring apparatus

Water flow measuring apparatus is designed as a free-standing apparatus for use on the hydraulics

bench, although it could be used in conjunction with a low pressure water supply controlled by a

valve and a discharge to drain. Water enters the apparatus through the lower left-hand end and

flows horizontally through a sudden enlargement into a transparent venturi meter, and into an

orifice plate, a 90° elbow changes the flow direction to vertical and connects to a variable area flow

meter, a second bend passes the flow into a discharge pipe which incorporates an atmospheric

break.

The static head at various points in the flow path may be measured on a manometer panel. The

water flow through the apparatus is controlled by the delivery valve of the hydraulics bench and

the flow rate may be confirmed by using the volumetric measuring tank of the hydraulics bench.



Theory:

(1) Pressure drop at sudden enlargement

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of sudden enlargement

The test section consists of a 10mm diameter bore with a sudden enlargement to 20mm diameter.

Two manometer are provided.

Consider a sudden enlargement in pipe flow area from area A1 to area A2.

Applying Newton’s second law, the net force acting on the fluid equals the rate of increase of

momentum.

Where is the mean pressure of the eddying fluid over the annular area of the expansion. It is

known from experimental evidence that , since the jet issuing from the smaller pipe is

essentially parallel.

From Bernoulli equation:

Since the flow direction is horizontal .

And substituting from Newton’s second law:

Using Bernoulli equation:



But by continuity equation then:

Where is the coefficient of discharge.



(2) The venturi meter

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of venture meter

The venturi is manufactured from transparent acrylic materials and follows the classic 21°-10°

convergent-divergent design which forms the basis of most engineering standards for venturi flow

meters.

From consideration of continuity between the mouth of the venturi of area A1 and the throat of area

A2:

And on introducing the diameter ratio then:

Applying Bernoulli’s theorem to the venturi meter between section 1 and section 2, neglecting

losses and assuming the venturi is installed horizontally:

Rearranging

And solving for :

The volumetric flow rate is then given by:



The actual discharge will be less than this due to losses causing the velocity through the throat to be

less than that predicted by Bernoulli’s theorem, therefore it is necessary to introduce an

experimentally determined coefficient of discharge . The actual discharge will then be given by:

The coefficient of discharge varies with both the Reynolds number and area ratio. Typical values for

a machined venturi meter are between 0.975 and 0.995.

(3) Orifice plate

Figure 5: Schematic diagram of orifice plate

The orifice flow meter consists of a 20mm bore tube with an orifice of 12mm. The downstream

bore of the orifice is chamfered at 40° to provide an effective orifice plate thickness of 0.35mm.

Manometer tappings are positioned 20mm before the orifice and 10mm after the orifice plate.

Due to the sharpness of the contraction in flow area at the orifice plate, a vena contracta is formed

downstream of the throat in which the area of the vena contracta is less than that of the orifice.

Applying the continuity equation between the upstream conditions of area A1 and the vena

contracta of area Ac:

Where suffix denotes the vena contracta.

Applying Bernoulli’s equation, neglecting losses and assuming a horizontal installation:



Rearranging

And solving for :

The volumetric flow rate is then given by:

The flow area at the vena contracta is not known and therefore a coefficient of contraction may be

introduced so that

The coefficient of contraction will be included in the coefficient of discharge and the equations

rewritten in terms of the orifice area with any uncertainties and errors eliminated by the

experimental determination of the coefficient of discharge. The volumetric flow rate is then given

by:

The position of the manometer tappings has a small effect on the values of the discharge

coefficients which also vary with area ratio, with pipe size and with Reynolds number. The

variations of with Reynolds number is tabulated below for orifice plates with .

Reynolds

Number 2 x 104 3 x 104 5 x 104 7 x 104 1 x 105 3 x 105 1 x 106 1 x 107

D & D/2

taps 0.6127 0.6102 0.6079 0.6068 0.6060 0.6043 0.6036 0.6032



(4) Flow Round Bends and Elbows

A 90º elbow is placed immediately after the orifice plate and before the rotameter. There is a

constant bore diameter throughout the bend with manometer tappings positioned normal to the

plane of the bend before and after the elbow.

Whenever the direction of the flow is changed at a bend or elbow, the velocity distribution across

the pipe is disturbed. A centrifugal effect causes the maximum velocity to occur towards the outside

of the bend or elbow whilst at the inside of the bend or elbow, the flow is slowed or even reversed

in direction if the flow separates from the wall and a vena-contracta formed. A secondary flow is set

up at right angles to the pipe cross section which increases the velocity gradient and hence the

shear stress of the wall.

The loss of head is related to the velocity head by defining a bend loss coefficient so that

Values of are related to the pipe friction factors or by a constant which is dependent on the

ratio of the bend radius to the pipe diameter R/D. This constant may also be treated as an

equivalent length of straight pipe expressed as diameters by using the Darcy Weisbach equation :

For single 90° bends and elbows, the bend resistance coefficient and the equivalent length are

typically:



R/D Elbows 1 1.5 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

30D 20D 14D 12D 14D 17D 24D 30D 34D 38D

30 20 14 12 14 17 24 30 34 38

(5) Rotameter

The rotameter utilises a transparent tube and a stainless steel float providing a visual indication of

the flow rate by measuring the position of the float relative to the position of the tube by using the

integral scale, which is calibrated from 1.5 to 10 litres/minute.

Procedures:

1. Position the water flow measuring apparatus on the horizontal operating surface of the

hydraulics bench using the locating pegs on the top surface of the bench. Connect the delivery

hose from the bench to the inlet connection of the water flow measuring apparatus. Insert the

overflow hose from the inlet tank into the overflow pipe of the volumetric measuring tank.

2. Prepare the instruments such that the water passes sudden enlargement, then venturi meter,

orifice plate, elbow, and finally rotameter .

3. With the flow regulating valve of the bench closed, switch on the bench pump and allow water

to be pumped into the apparatus by controlling the opening of the flow regulating valve until

water just begins to flow into the equipment and just overflows through the air vent above the

rotameter. Ensure that there are no air bubbles trapped in the manometer tubes, if necessary

open the supply valve until water spills out of the top of the manometer tubes so that the wat er

flushes out all air bubbles.

4. Adjust the supply valve to obtain 6 or 7 readings with the height of water in the left hand

manometer tube increasing in increments of approximately 50mm. The maximum flow which

can be achieved for the experiment is when the height of water in the left hand manometer tube



reaches the top of the manometer scale. At each steady state condition record the heights on

each manometer tube and the flow shown on the rotameter. Also measure the flow using the

volumetric flow tank of the hydraulics bench with a stop watch.

Data & Results:

Volume flow (Liters)

Time (min)

Head at tapping 1 (cm)








Rotameter flow rate

experiment (4): flow measurement -...

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