Experiment #6

Flow Measuring Apparatus

Course: ENME312 Fluid Mechanics Lab

Section: Number One

Students’ Names:

Date of Experiment: February 21, 2013

Date of Submission: February 28, 2013

Abstract: In the majority of industrial chemical processes, fluid must be transported

from one location to another. It is important to understand how to measure the flow

rate. This experiment is performed to help understand the measurement of

discharge from a pipe based on Bernoulli’s principle, which states that there is a

relationship between the pressure of the fluid and the velocity of the fluid. When the

velocity increases, the pressure decreases and vice versa.

Objectives: The objective of this experiment is to find the ideal mass flow rate for

the Venturi meter and the Orifice as well as validating the effectiveness of using a

rotameter as a real-world application for finding the mass flow rate through a

particular system.

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Calculations and Results:
NOTE : all calculations were done using excel sheet.

Table 1 : given datar for flow measurement cross sections

Diameter of section A 26mm

Diameter of section B 16mm
Diameter of section E 51mm
Diameter of section F 20mm

Used symbols

t Time in seconds
P Pressure
g Gravity accrelaration = 9.81 m/s2
a Cross sectional area for flow measurements
m Mass flow rate
K Coefficient of discharge
p Density of water = 1000kg/m3
H Head pressure at certain points

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First Part: Venturi Meter

Table 1: Venturi Measurements

t (sec) Ha Hb m (theo.) m (exp.)

27.1 0.341 0.157 0.41284415 0.4428044
31.97 0.31 0.164 0.36775082 0.3753519
34.4 0.285 0.168 0.32920783 0.3488372
37.1 0.264 0.172 0.29192489 0.3234501
46.8 0.244 0.176 0.2509757 0.2564103
56.5 0.226 0.179 0.20865373 0.2123894
66.5 0.214 0.181 0.17483734 0.1804511
82.47 0.21 0.187 0.14596245 0.1455075

Sample calculations for Venturi :

m (actual ) 1= mass/ time = 12/27.1 =0.442844 kg/s

m(theoretical)1= p*aB*((2g/1-(aB/aA)^2)*(PA/pg – PB/pg))^0.5 =

1000*3.14*0.026^2*((2*9.81/1-(0.016^2/0.026^2)^2)*(0.341-0.157))^0.5 = 0.41284415 kg/s

k= discharge coefficient = exp. Flow rate / theo. Flow rate = 0.441284415/0.41284415 = 1.06

Chart 1: Exp. vs Theo. Mass Flow Rate for Venturi Part

Venturi
0.5
0.45
0.4 f(x) = 1.05 x
0.35
0.3
venture
0.25
experimental mass flow rate (kg/s) Linear (venture)
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6
theoretical mass flow rate (kg/s)

Part 2: Orifice Meter

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 Table 2: Orifice Measurements

weight t (sec) He Hf m( theo.) m (exp.)

12 27.1 0.33 0.128 0.63311105 0.44280443
12 31.97 0.3 0.14 0.56346144 0.37535189
12 34.4 0.277 0.15 0.50200272 0.34883721
12 37.1 0.256 0.153 0.45208784 0.32345013
12 46.8 0.237 0.165 0.37798142 0.25641026
12 56.5 0.22 0.17 0.31498452 0.21238938
12 66.5 0.209 0.175 0.25974289 0.18045113
12 82.47 0.206 0.183 0.2136329 0.14550746

Sample calculations for Orifice :

provided ideal mass flow rate , therefore K=1

m (theo.)1 = = paF K((2g(hE-hF))/(1-(AF/AE)²)½ = 0.6331105

K = 0.44280443/0.63311105= 0.69

Chart 2: Exp. Mass Flow Rate vs. Theo. Mass Flow Rate for Orifice

Orifice Meter
0.5
0.45
0.4 f(x) = 0.69 x
0.35
0.3
orifice
0.25
experimental (actual) mass flow rate (kg/s) Linear (orifice)
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 0.5 1
theoretical mass flow rate (kg/s)

Part 3: Rotameter

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 Table 3: Rotameter Measurements

rotameter reading m (rotameter) m(theoretical)

18 0.38 0.59329272
16 0.35 0.56939184
14 0.31 0.5358683
12 0.27 0.50010259
10 0.23 0.46157379
8 0.19 0.4195213
6 0.15 0.37275446
4 0.12 0.33340172

Sample Calculations:

Taken from a chart in a laboratory that gives a relation between rotameter reading and mass
flow rate.

Chart 3: Exp. Mass Flow Rate vs. Theo. Mass Flow Rate for Rotameter

Rotameter
0.45
0.4
f(x) = x + 0.02
0.35
0.3
0.25
experimental (actual) mass flow rate (kg/s) 0.2 rotameter
0.15 Linear (rotameter)
0.1
0.05
0
0 .4
0
theroretical mass flow rate (kg/s)

Chart 4: Combinations of All Types of Flow Measurements

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 f(x) = 0 0.5
0.45
0.4 f(x) = 0.69 x
0.35 f(x) = 0.62 x
0.3 venturi
0.25 Linear (venturi)
experimental mass flow rate (kg/s)
0.2 orifice
Linear (orifice)
0.15
rotameter
0.1 Linear (rotameter)
0.05
0
0 0.5 1
theoretical mass flow rate (kg/s)

Discussion of Results: Based on our experimental procedure and parameters, our results

show that the experimental mass flow rate and the theoretical mass flow rate have a linear

relationship indicating a quite successful experiment. Based on sample calculations, the

mass flow rate theoretically was about 0.41 in the Venturi meter compared to the 0.44

actual mass flow rate. As for the orifice meter, the mass flow rate theoretically was about

0.66 compared to the actual mass flow rate of 0.44. Finally, using the rotameter, we

calculated the mass flow rate using the rotameter calibration curve. The mass flow rate was

about 0.38 using the rotameter. The reason for differences between theoretical and actual

results is due to many systematic errors as well as some random errors. Systematics errors

include the inefficient pump, giving an inconsistent flow. Due to its old age, the pump seems

to give an inconsistent flow of water through the piping system leaving us with inconsistent

results. Also head losses were not accounted for during the entire calculation process giving

us inconsistent theoretical values. Random errors include incorrect stopwatch readings

when measuring the mass flow rate. Timing precisely when the hydraulic bench lifts the

mass can prove to be a difficult task that can be inconsistent at times. The coefficient of

discharge for the orifice was found using the equation, which relates flow rate to discharge.

By dividing the actual flow rate by the theoretical flow rate, we can find the coefficient of

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discharge for the orifice. The same idea may be applied to the Venturi meter. The coefficient

of discharge for the orifice and the venture meter are 0.69 and 1.06 respectively. Both

values are reasonable according to documented values of coefficients for each meter.

Conclusion: We conclude the ideal mass flow rate through the Venturi meter was

experimentally similar to that of the orifice meter and the only differences are seen

theoretically. Using the ideal mass flow rates and the experimental flow rates we were able

to find the coefficient of discharge for both the orifice and the Venturi meter being 0.69 and

1.06 respectively. Using the graphical relationship for the rotameter, we found that the

rotameter gave very accurate flow rate readings compared to the ideal mass flow rate

calculated during the experiment.