CHAPTER 6

Fluid Flow Measurement

DEVICE COEFFICIENTS
Coefficient of Discharge, C or Cd

C or Cd = Actual discharge
Theoretical discharge

Coefficient of Velocity, Cv

Cv = Actual velocity
Theoretical velocity

Coefficient of Contraction, Cc

CC = Area of stream or jet

Area of opening
Relationship between the Three Coefficients

Actual discharge, Q = C x Qt
Also
Q= Actual area, a x Actual velocity, v
Q= CCA x CVVt
but Av₁ = Qt
Q= Cc CV Qt

C = Cc X CV
HEAD LOST
The head lost through Venturi meters, orifices, tubes, and
nozzles may be expressed as:

The ideal energy equation between 1 and 2 is:

E₁ = E₂
ORIFICE
An orifice is an opening (usually circular) with a closed
perimeter through which fluids flows.

Energy equation between 1 and 2 neglecting head lost

E₁ = E₂
NOZZLE
A nozzle is a converging tube installed at the end of a
pipe or hose for the purpose of increasing the velocity of
the issuing jet.

The discharge through a nozzle can be calculated using

the equation

where:
H = total head at base of nozzle
An = area at the nozzle tip
UNSTEADY FLOW
WEIR
Weirs are overflowing structures which are built across an
open channel purpose of measuring or controlling the flow
of liquids.
where:
d = depth of water upstream
d=H+P
FRANCIS FORMULA
Bases upon experiments on rectangular weirs from 1.07m
(3.5ft) to 5.18m (17ft) long under heads from 180mm to
490mm.

For H/P < 0.4, the following value of Cw may be used.

REHBOCK AND CHOW FORMULA

BAZIN FORMULA

Contracted Rectangular Weirs

The effective length of L of a contracted weir is given by:

where:
L’ = measure length of crest
N = number of end contraction (1 or 2)
H = measured head
•TRIANGULAR
  WEIR (V-NOTCH)
A very low heads, the nappe of a rectangular weir has a
tendency to adhere to its downstream face.

For standard 90weir

Trapezoidal Sharp Crested Weir
The discharge from a trapezoidal weir is assumed the
same as that from a rectangular weir in combination.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Example # 1 [6-5G].*
Calculate the discharge through the 140-mm diameter
orifice shown. Assume C= 0.62
 Solution:

Q = CA
H = H upstream – H downstream
H=3+ -
H = 6.568m

Q = CA
Q = 0.62[ (0.14) 2 ]
Q = 0.108m3/sec
Example # 2 [6-13G].*
Water flows through orifice at the vertical side of a large
tank under a constant head of 2.4m. How far horizontally from
the vena contracta will the jet strikes the ground 1.5m below
the orifice.?
 Solution:

y = X tan θ – [ ]
y = -1.5m
Vo =
=
Vo = 6.862m/s
θ=0
-1.5 = X tan 0 – [ ]
X = 3.79 m
Example # 3 [6-29G]. (CE May 1999)*
An open cylindrical tank 4 m in diameter and 10 m high
contains 6 m of water and 4 m of oil (sp.gr. = 0.8). Find the time
to empty the tank through a 100 mm diameter orifice at the
bottom. Assume Cc = 0.9 and Cv = 0.98.
 Solution:
t =[ ] [( )]
[] = []
[ ] = 819.1
Time to empty the water:
H1 = 6 + 4(0.8) = 9.2 m
H2 = 4(0.8) = 3.2 m
T1 = 819.1 (- )
T1 = 1019.3 sec
Time to empty the oil :
H1= 4
H2 = 0 m
T2 = 819.1 (- )
T2 = 1638.2 sec
Total time to empty = T1 + T2 = 2657.5sec ( 44.3min)
Example # 4 [6-36G].
A rectangular tank shown is divided by a partition into two
chambers and provided with a round 150 mm- diameter sharp
edged orifice at the lower portion of the partititon. At a certain
instant, the level in chamber B is 3 m higher than it is in
chamber A. How long will it take for the water surfacess in the
two chambers to be at the same level? Assume C = 0.62

3m 7.5m

Top View
2m A A

3m A A Side View
 Solution:
t =[ [( )]

As1 = 2(3) = 6 m2
As2= 2(7.5) = 15m2
H1 = 3 m
H2= 0 m

t =[] [( )]
t = 305.91 sec
Example# 5 [ 6-46G].*
A 37.5 mm Venturi meter (C = 0.957) is installed in a 75mm
diameter horizontal pipe carrying oil having sp.gr. = 0.852.
If the recorded flow in the water was 1.5 liter/sec , What could
have been the deflection of the water in the differential
manometer connected between the inlet and the throat?
 Solution:
Actual discharge, Q = 1.5 L/s = 0.0015 m3/s
Since the head lost is not known, the theoretical discharge will be
used.
Q = CQT
0.0015 = 0.957 QT
QT = 0.001567m3/s
Q1 = Q2 = 0.001567

Energy equation between 1 & 2 neglecting head lost : ( using Q1)

E1 = E2
+ + Z1 = + + Z2
++0=++0
- = 0.09618 m of oil
 

Sum- up pressure head from 2 to 1 in meters of oil:

+y+ –h–y=
0.1737h = -
0.1737h = 0.09618
h= 0.554m = 554mm
Example # 6 [6-8B].
Determine the Q of the Weir having a head of 0.30m in Lit/sec
if; (a)900 triangular weir (b)A trapezoidal weir with sides inclined
at 14.040 with the vertical and a length of crest of 2m.
(c)Double contraction.
Solution:
a.) Q = 1.4H5/2 = 1.4(0.30)5/2 = 0.064 m3/s
Q = 64 Lit/sec

b.) Q = 1.859 LH3/2 = 1.859(2)(0.30)3/2 = 0.611 m3/s

Q = 611 Lit sec

c.) L = L - 0.20H
L = L - 0.20H = 2-(0.20)(0.3)
L = 1.94m
Q = 1.84LH3/2 = 1.84 (1.94)(0.3)3/2 = 0.587 m3/s
Q = 587 Lit/sec
 
Example # 7 [6-63G].
The discharge from a 150 mm diameter orifice under a head
of 3.05 m and coeficient of discharge C = 0.60 flows into a
rectangular channel and over a rectangular surface weir . The
channel is 1.83 m wide and the weir has height P = 1.50 m and
length L = 0.32 m . Determine the depth of water in the channel .
Use francis formula and neglect velocity of approach.
 Solution:
For the orifice:
Q = CA = 0.60 x (0.15)2
Q = 0.08202 m3 /s
For the weir neglecting :
Q = 1.84LH3/2
0.08202 = 1.84(0.31)H3/2 ; H = 0.274 m
d = H + P = 0.274 + 1.5
d = 1.774 m