Calibration of Venturi and Orifice Meters

KEVIN A. OLEGARIO

BS Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Chemical Engineering

Cebu Institute of Technology - University, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

ABSTRACT

The experiment aims to determine the coefficient of discharge of the venturi meter
and the orifice meter and plot it against Reynolds number. Using a set of data obtained from
the experiment, its actual volumetric flow rate was determined. The calibration experiment
was accomplished by determining the actual volumetric flow rate of the Venturi and Orifice
meters and was compared to its theoretical volumetric flow rates. During the course of the
experiment, various problems were encountered that may have led to slight errors. These
problems were usually inaccurate readings in the manometer due to the formation of bubbles
in the pipes and in the hose. As a conclusion, the coefficient of discharge of a venturi meter is
directly proportional to the Reynolds number while the orifice meter is inversely
proportional.
1. Introduction

Fluid meters are devices that relate the change in pressure to the rate of flow of a
certain fluid. Two common types of fluid meters are the Orifice and Venturi meters. Venturi
tubes are used in processes where permanent pressure loss is required and where maximum
accuracy is needed in case of high viscous liquids. Venturi tubes are more expensive to
construct than a simple orifice plate which uses the same principle as a tubular scheme, but
the orifice plate causes significantly more permanent energy loss. Calibration of Venturi
meters and Orifice plates is important because these meters are subject to wear and need to be
checked periodically for accuracy. It is economical to use a prescribed calibration of the
meters to keep the flow continuous rather than pulsating, the fluid occupies the entire pipe
(precluding silt or trapped gas), the flow profile is even and well-developed and the fluid and
flow rate meet certain other conditions.
The Venturi meter has a converging conical inlet, a cylindrical throat and a diverging
recovery cone. It has no projections into the fluid, no sharp corners and no sudden changes in
contour. The converging inlet section decreases the area of the fluid stream, causing the
velocity to increase and the pressure to decrease. The low pressure is measured in the center
of the cylindrical throat as the pressure will be at its lowest value, where neither the pressure
nor the velocity will change.
An Orifice meter is essentially a cylindrical tube that contains a plate with a thin hole
in the middle of it. The thin hole essentially forces the fluid to flow faster through the hole in
order to maintain flow rate. The point of maximum convergence usually occurs slightly
downstream from the actual physical orifice this is the reason orifice meters are less accurate
than Venturi meters, as we cannot use the exact location and diameter of the point of
maximum convergence in calculations. Beyond the vena contracta point, the fluid expands
again and velocity decreases as pressure increases.
For these reasons it is widely used, particularly for large-volume liquid and gas flows.
However this meter is relatively complex to construct and hence expensive. Especially for
small pipelines, its cost seems prohibitive, so simpler devices such as orifice meters are used.
The orifice meter consists of a flat orifice plate with a circular hole drilled in it. There is a
pressure tap upstream from the orifice plate and another just downstream. The principle of
the orifice meter is identical with that of the venturi meter. To get the coefficient of
discharge, the theoretical and actual volumetric flow rates are used.
 2(𝑃1 −𝑃2 )
𝐴2 √
𝜌
Q(Theo) =
𝐷 4
√1−( 2 )
𝐷1

Q(actual) = Volume/Time

𝑄(𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙)
C= 𝑄(𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜)

𝐷(𝑈2 )(𝜌)
NRe = µ

Where: P = P1 - P2 = pressure drop

U = velocity

A = area

 = density

D = diameter (orifice/venturi)

C = discharged coefficient

NRe = Reynolds number

2. Materials and Methods

2.1 Materials and Apparatuses

Hydraulic bench apparatus, Orifice meter, Venturi meter, Timer, Manometer,
Water, and Vernier Caliper.
2.2 Preparation
The Venturi meter and Orifice meter apparatus was prepared. The pump was
started and the main regulating flow valve was gradually opened to fix the water flow
rate from the hydraulic bench apparatus. The tubes were connected from the Venturi
or Orifice pressure tapping points to the manometer (mouth or inlet tap point and
throat tap point). Care was taken to ensure that there was no trapped air in the
connecting lines.
2.3 Calibration
Ample time is needed to stabilize the flow before any reading is taken. The
diameter of the cylindrical cross-section of the taping points of the orifice meter is
recorded. The upstream and downstream readings of the manometer is also recorded.
For every reading of the manometer, the volume discharge is collected at the outlet.
The time to collect a an amount of water in a graduated cylinder is constant. Several
trials were conducted by adjusting the main flow regulating valve. The procedure is
repeated using the venturi meter instead of the orifice meter.
2.4 Computation
The pressure difference is computed. The actual volumetric flow rate is
computed by dividing the volume of water collected by the collection time. The
theoretical volumetric flow rate is computed. From the recorded data, the Reynolds
number and coefficient of discharge for orifice and venturi meter are also computed.
2.5 Sketch
3. Results

MANOMETER
TRIAL READING (mm) RM (mm) Volume (m3) TIME (s) C NRE
US DS
1 96.5 83.3 13.2 0.000945 5 2.0944 16792.3136
2 81.6 70.6 11 0.00095 5 2.3064 15329.2149
3 75.3 64.4 10.9 0.00097 5 2.3658 15259.3776
4 68.5 58.5 10 0.000905 5 2.3044 14615.8330
5 61.2 51.3 9.9 0.000855 5 2.1881 14542.5702
6 49.7 41 8.7 0.000815 5 2.2249 13632.7414
7 45.6 37.9 7.7 0.00084 5 2.4375 12825.3414
8 38.1 30.9 7.2 0.000775 5 2.3257 12401.9455
9 32.6 25.3 7.3 0.000765 5 2.2799 12487.7732
10 27.8 21.6 6.2 0.00072 5 2.3284 11508.5184
Table 1. Calibration of Orifice Meter

TRIAL ACTUAL Q (m3/second) THEORETICAL Q (m3/second)

1 0.000189 9.0240x10-05
2 0.00019 8.23779x10-05
3 0.000194 8.20026x10-05
4 0.000181 7.85442x10-05
5 0.000171 7.81505x10-05
6 0.000163 7.32612x10-05
7 0.000168 6.89223x10-05
8 0.000155 6.6647x10-05
9 0.000153 6.71082x10-05
10 0.000144 6.18458x10-05
Table 2. Volumetric Flowrate, Q (Orifice Meter)
 MANOMETER
RM
TRIAL READING (mm) Volume (m3) TIME (s) C NRE
(mm)
US DS
1 10.9 8.4 2.5 0.00083 5 4.2269 7307.9165
2 17.3 14.6 2.7 0.00074 5 3.6263 7594.6096
3 26.9 21.6 5.3 0.000775 5 2.7107 10640.4870
4 27.2 24.4 2.8 0.000755 5 3.6332 7733.9718
5 37.9 25.3 12.6 0.0008 5 1.8148 16406.2318
6 48 43.4 4.6 0.00084 5 3.1537 9912.9402
7 51.8 48.3 3.5 0.000865 5 3.7230 8646.8434
8 69.9 66.4 3.5 0.0009 5 3.8737 8890.4641
9 68.1 64.4 3.7 0.00093 5 3.8931 8646.8434
10 83 79 4 0.00108 5 4.3482 9243.8644
Table 3. Calibration of Venturi Meter

TRIAL ACTUAL Q (m3/second) THEORETICAL Q (m3/second)

1 0.000166 3.927x10-05
2 0.000148 4.081x10-05
3 0.000155 5.718x10-05
4 0.000151 4.156x10-05
5 0.00016 8.817x10-05
6 0.000168 5.327x10-05
7 0.000173 4.647x10-05
8 0.00018 4.647x10-05
9 0.000186 4.778x10-05
10 0.000216 4.968x10-05
Table 4. Volumetric Flowrate, Q (Venturi Meter)
 5.0000
4.5000
COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE

4.0000
3.5000
3.0000
2.5000
2.0000
1.5000
1.0000
0.5000
0.0000

REYNOLDS NUMBER

Figure 1. Coefficient of discharge vs. Reynolds Number (Venturi Meter)

2.5000

2.4500

2.4000
COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE

2.3500

2.3000

2.2500

2.2000

2.1500

2.1000

2.0500
11000.00 12000.00 13000.00 14000.00 15000.00 16000.00 17000.00 18000.00
REYNOLDS NUMBER

Figure 2. Coefficient of discharge vs. Reynolds Number (Orifice Meter)

 14

12

10
PRESSURE DROP (mm)

0
0.0001 0.00012 0.00014 0.00016 0.00018 0.0002 0.00022 0.00024
ACTUAL VOLUMETRIC FLOWRATE (m3/s)

Figure 3. Plot of Pressure drop vs. Actual volumetric flow rate (venturi)

14

12

10
PRESSURE DROP (mm)

0
0.0001 0.00012 0.00014 0.00016 0.00018 0.0002 0.00022 0.00024
ACTUAL VOLUMETRIC FLOWRATE (m3/s)

Figure 4. Plot of Pressure drop vs. Actual volumetric flow rate (orifice)
4. Discussion
Orifice plate is a plate with an orifice that restricts the flow, thereby causing a
pressure drop which is related to the volumetric flow based on Bernoulli’s equation. Orifice
plates causes high energy losses and high pressure loss to the flow being measured. Venturi
meter, on the other hand, is also based on Bernoulli’s principle just like the orifice plate. But
instead of sudden constriction caused by an orifice, venturi meter uses relatively gradual
constriction much like a reducer to cause the pressure drop by increasing fluid velocity. The
volumetric flow is proportional to the square root of this pressure drop and venturi meter can
be calibrated accordingly.
Theoretically for the variation of C with Reynolds number, opposite should be seen
for the venturi and orifice flow meters. From Figure 1, the coefficient of discharge increases
as the Nre increases. In Figure 2, the coefficient of discharge decreases as the Nre increases.
From Figure 3 and 4, it can be seen that the pressure drop of a venturi is lower than an orifice.

5. Conclusion
For an orifice meter, NRe is inversely proportional with Co; as the NRe increases the Co
decrease. This is because of the friction increase and a greater head loss results. On the other
hand, discharge coefficient (Cv) for Venturi meter would increase as the Reynolds’ number
increased. This is due to the decreasing effects of the friction since the narrowing down from
D1 to D2 and the expansion from D2 to D1 was gradual, little friction loss was incurred due to
contraction and expansion as the flow rate approached the theoretical value.
Appendix A

v12 p1 v22 p2
Equation A.1    (Mechanical Energy Balance Equation)
2  2 

Volume
Equation A.2 Q (For Actual Volumetric Flow Rate)
Time

2(P)
A2

Equation A.3 Q (For Theoretical Volumetric Flow Rate)
  D 4 
1   2  
  D1  
 

Q(theoretical )
Equation A.4 U2  (For velocity, m/s)
A2

DU 2
Equation A.5 N Re  (For Reynolds Number)


Q( actual)
Equation A.6 C (For Coefficient of Discharge)
Q( theoretical )
Appendix B

Orifice Flow Meter

Venturi Flow Meter

Figure B.1 Experimental Setup

Figure B.2 Orifice Flow Meter

Figure B.3 Venturi Flow Meter

Appendix C

Figure C.1 Theoretical Plot of Coefficient of Discharge vs. Reynolds number (Orifice Meter)

Figure C.2 Theoretical Plot of Coefficient of Discharge vs. Reynolds Number (Venturi Meter)[4]
REFERENCES

[1] Christie John, Geankoplis, Principles of Transport Processes and Separation

Processes Principles, Pearson Education South Asia Private Limited, 2015, pages 39

and 138-141

[2] W.L. McCabe, J.C. Smith, S.P. Harriott, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering,

McGraw-Hill Book Company, Singapore, 1993, pages 33 and 214-219

[3] G.G. Brown, D. Kate, A.S. Foust, Unit operations, John Wiley and Sons,New York,

1950, pages 156-161 and 199

[4] DP Flow Engineering Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved January 10, 2017, from

http://www.2.emersonprocess.com/en-US/brands/rosemount/Rosemount-Site-

Map/en-gineering-guides/Pages/chapter-03.aspx