COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY Department of Mechanical Engineering

Exp. # 3
Flow Measurement
Objective:

The flow measurement experiment familiarizes students with the typical methods of
measuring the discharge of an essentially incompressible fluid, whilst giving applications of
the Steady-Flow Energy Equation and Bernoulli's equation. The discharge is determined using
a Venturi meter, an orifice plate meter and a Rotameter

Theory:
Bernoulli’s Equation Demonstration
Bernoulli’s theorem states that: “The total head of
flowing liquid between two points remains constant
assuming there are no loss due to friction and no gain
due to application of external work between the two
points”.
The total head (Ht) of a flowing liquid is made up of
Elevation head (Hz), pressure head (Hs) and velocity
head (Hv) and according to Bernoulli’s theorem the
total head is constant between any two points along
the streamline of a flowing fluid.

P V2 Figure 1 The Steady Flow energy equation

Ht   Z ……………………………[1]
g 2g
Where: Ht is the total head (m), V is the average
velocity (m/s), P is the pressure (Pa), Z is the
3
elevation (m),  is the density (Kg/m ) and g is the
2
gravitational acceleration (m/s ). Thus between point
1 and 2 for example (Figure 1)

P V 2 P V 2  Z 2  hL (Head loss) ………………………………………

1 1 2 2

 Z1   [2]
g 2g g 2g

If the Bernoulli’s tube is horizontal then Z1 = Z2 and if loss between point 1 and 2 is
negligible then the equation becomes
P V2 P V2
   ………………………………………………………………………..[3]
1 1 2 2

g 2g g 2g
P P V2 V 2
Or 1  2  2  1
……………………………………………………………[4]

g g 2g 2g
If point 1 and point 2 are of different diameters, then V1 and V2 are different. It is
demonstrated by the difference in manometer water level reading between point 1 and
2. Therefore

From continuity

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY Department of Mechanical Engineering

Sub equation 6 into equation 5 and rearrange

( )
√
( )

( )
Venturi )between points B and C(

̇
√
( )

Orifice (between points E and F)

For orifice Coefficient of discharge introduced in equation due to high head losses
( )
√
( )

Where C = 0.601
̇

Rotameter

For Rotameter use the calibration curve shown in Figure 2 to find flow rate through the
Rotameter.

Figure 2 Typical Rotameter Calibration Curve

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY Department of Mechanical Engineering

Apparatus:

Figure 3 shows the Flow Measurement apparatus. Water from the Hydraulic Bench enters the
equipment through a venturi meter, which consists of a gradually converging section,
followed by a throat, and a long gradually diverging section. After a change in cross-section
through a rapidly diverging section, the flow continues along a settling length and through an
orifice plate meter. This is manufactured in accordance with BS1042, from a plate with a hole
of reduced diameter through which the fluid flows[Figure 4]. The H10 has eleven
manometers, nine are connected to tapping's in the pipework and two are left free for other
measurements.

Figure 3 Flow Measurement Apparatus

Figure 4 Explanatory Diagram of the Flow Measurement Apparatus

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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY Department of Mechanical Engineering

Procedure:
1- Connect Power supply of the hydraulic Bench.
2- Check that the valve on hydraulic bench is open and the control valve on the apparatus
are closed.
3- Operate the pump, then open the control valve on the apparatus to give a Rotameter
reading of 25 mm.
4- Check that all pipes and manometers are empty from air bubbles.
5- Record all manometer readings
6- Record the time taken to ‘collect’ a given amount of water in the volumetric tank (with
the drain valve in place). For improved accuracy at greater flow rates, measure a
larger volume. Ensure the water level is at 0 before readings are taken.
7- Drain the water collected in the volumetric tank, simply by lifting the drain valve,
allowing water to return to the sump tank.
8- Repeat the experiment for rotameter readings of 50 mm, 75mm, 100mm, 125mm, and
150mm.
Results:

Test Number
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Rotameter (mm) 25 50 75 100 125 150 175

A 149 160 178 205 235 275 325

B 139 135 131 128 122 115 106

C 147 155 169 190 215 249 289

D 147 155 169 191 218 250 292

Manometer 147 155 171 195 223 260 332

E
Level (mm)

F 135 130 121 110 92 72 45

G 139 132 130 125 115 103 89

H 135 131 129 122 112 100 82

Water collected (kg)

Time (s) 48.6 30 22.2 17.6 14.5 12.3 10.3

Venturi

Orifice
Mass Flow
Rate ̇(kg/s)

Rotameter

Weigh Tank
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 COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY Department of Mechanical Engineering
Analysis and Calculations

1. Calculate mass flow rate by Weigh tank .

2. Calculate mass flow rate through Venturi [Equations 8 &9].
3. Calculate mass flow rate through orifice [Equations 10 &11].
4. Calculate mass flow rate through Rotameter [Figure 2].
5. Find the difference between the flow rate of each meter and the weigh tank flow rate.
6. Plot the difference of each meter against the flow rate of weigh tank.

Discussion and Conclusions

Compare between the three methods of flow rate measurement in terms of accuracy, head
loss, and ease of use.