Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

Experiment (5): Flow through small orifices

Introduction:
An Orifice is an opening in the side or base of tank or reservoir through which fluid is discharge in
the form of a jet. The discharge will depend up on the head of the fluid (H) above the level of the
orifice. The term small orifice means that the diameter of the orifice is small compared with the
head producing flow.
The analysis of the quantity of water which can be discharged through an orifice is arrived at in a
simple, straightforward manner by the application of Bernoulli's equation. However, experimental
tests typically produce a result which is only some 65% of the solution indicated by the simple
analysis. The study of water flow through an orifice is therefore a classic topic to illustrate the need
for a semi-empirical approach which is so often required in Mechanics of Fluids.

Exercise A: Flow through a small orifice

Purpose:
To investigate the discharge characteristics of circular orifices subjected to a constant head.

Apparatus:
1. Constant head inlet tank (Figure 1).
2. Circular orifices with different diameters.
3. Hydraulic bench.

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

Figure 1: Constant head inlet tank with circular orifice

Equipment set up:

Set up the apparatus on top of the hydraulics bench with the left hand support feet of the impact of
jet apparatus located on the two left hand locating pegs of the hydraulics bench so that the
apparatus straddles the weir channel. Connect the feed tube from the hydraulics bench to the boss
on the rear of the base of the impact of jet apparatus. Fit the 5mm nozzle and the normal flat target.
1. If the hook gauge and scale are to be used to measure the trajectory of horizontal jets then place
the two positioning rails on the worktop of the hydraulics bench engaging them onto the
locating pegs. Ensure that the engraved rail is placed closest to the front of the hydraulics bench
with the engraved side uppermost.
2. Position the constant head inlet tank onto the worktop of the hydraulics bench (over the hook
gauge positioning rails, if fitted) at the left hand side engaging two of the feet of the inlet tank
onto the locating pegs. If the orifice is to be fitted into the side of the inlet tank then it should be
moved to the left so that the right hand support feet engage with the locating pegs.
3. Remove the hexagonal (37mm across flats) bush and adaptor from the side of the inlet tank. Fit
the required orifice into the screwed hole in the side and plug the unusued hole using the
blanking plug provided.

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

4. Connect the hydraulics bench flexible delivery tube to the connection provided on the rear of
the inlet tank base. Insert the flexible overflow take off pipe, which is connected to the boss on
the front of the inlet tank, into the overflow pipe of the volumetric measuring tank.
5. Remove or refit the overflow extention tube (screwed) in the inlet head tank to obtain a
nominal head of 250mm or 500mm above the side orifice.
A. Setting the overflow: Switch on the pump and control the flow rate by either adjusting the
hydraulics bench delivery valve or by adjusting the pump speed. The flow should be adjusted
carefully to produce a small but constant overflow and then fine adjusted to give 250 or 500mm
head as required.
B. Flow measurement: The discharge from the orifice may be measured using the volumetric
measuring tank and taking the time required to collect a quantity of water. The quantity should
be chosen so that the time to collect the quantity is at least 120 seconds to obtain a sufficiently
accurate result.
C. Measurement of jet trajectory: Use the hook gauge to measure the trajectory of the jet.
D. Measurement of head: The scale attached to the side of the inlet tank has its zero level with the
centre line of the side outlet boss.

Theory:
Consider a small orifice in the side of a vessel with the head of water above the orifice kept
constant.

Figure 2: Discharge through an orifice

Applying Bernoulli's theorem between the surface of the water 1 and the orifice O yields

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

However

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

= atmospheric pressure

hence substituting these into Bernoulli's equation gives

In other words, the theoretical velocity of the water passing through the orifice is given by

and hence the quantity of water being discharged through the orifice is given by

However in practice the discharge is always less than this theoretical amount due to the viscosity of
the fluid, to surface tension and due to resistance of the air. The disparity between the theoretical
discharge velocity and the actual discharge velocity is allowed for by introducing a factor
known as the coefficien of velocity so that

If the discharge from a sharp edged orifice is examined closely it will be observed that the minimum
diameter of the jet of water discharging from the orifice is smaller than the orifice diameter. The
plane at which this occurs is known as the vena contracta, which is the plane where stream lines
first become parallel. Applying the discharge equation at the vena contracta

which can be written as

Where:

or more simply as

Where:

Typical values of Cd range from 06 to 065, i.e. the actual flow through a sharp edged orifice is
approximately 60% of the theoretical value. The value of the coefficient of discharge may be

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

determined by measuring the quantity of water discharged over a period of time whilst the head is
maintained at a constant level.

Procedures:
1.

Fit the 5mm diameter orifice into the side of the inlet head tank. Remove the overflow
extension pipe. Start the pump and set up an inlet head of 25cm. Measure the flow rate using
the volumetric measuring tank.

2.

Replace the overflow extension pipe and set up an inlet head of 50cm. Measure the flow rate.

3.

Repeat the procedure using the 8mm orifice.

Results:
1.

Record the results on a copy of the result sheet for discharge characteristics.

2.

For each result calculate the flowrate

3.

Plot a graph of square root of the head against the flow rate for each orifice diameter, the
results should lie on a straight line passing through the origin to confirm that:

Measure the slope of each graph and calculate the coefficient of discharge for each orifice from

D (mm)
H (cm)

5
50

8
25

50

25

(m)
V (L)
T (sec)
(m3/s)

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

Exercise B: Trajectory of horizontal jet

Purpose:
To investigate the trajectory of a horizontal jet issuing from an orifice and hence determine the
coefficient of velocity for the orifice.

Apparatus:
1. Constant head inlet tank (Figure 1).
2. Circular orifices with different diameters.
3. Hook gauge and scale.
4. Hydraulic bench.

Theory:
Consider the trajectory of a jet formed by the discharge of water through an orifice mounted in the
side of a tank. The jet will be subjected to a downward acceleration of g due to gravity.

Figure 3: Trajectory of horizontal jet

Taking the origin of co-ordinates at the vena-contracta and applying the laws of motion in the
horizontal and vertical planes then ignoring any effect of air resistance on the jet.
In the horizontal direction
In the vertical direction
Solving simultaneously by eliminating t

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

Procedures:
1.

Fit the 5mm diameter orifice into the side of the inlet head tank. Remove the overflow
extension pipe. Start the pump and set up an inlet head of 25cm.

2.

Measure the trajectory of the jet using the hook gauge. Record the horizontal and vertical
distances.

3.

Replace the overflow extension tube and establish an inlet head of 500mm. Measure the
trajectory of the jet

4.

Repeat the experiment using the 8mm diameter orifice.

Results:
1.

Draw a graph of y against x to represent the trajectory.

2.

Draw a graph of

against x and draw the best straight line through the points to represent

the results. Measure the slope of the line and hence calculate the coefficient of velocity from:

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa

Hydraulics Lab (ECIV 3122)

D (mm)
H (cm)
x (cm)

Islamic University Gaza (IUG)

5
25

8
50

25

50

Vertical distance below orifice center line y (cm)

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Slope of graph

Instructors : Dr. Khalil M. Alastal

Eng. Mohammed Y. Mousa