Venturimeter

Orifice meter
Pitot-tube
Lecture 11: Practical applications of Bernoullis equation
Objective: To study the applications of the Bernoullis equation
Venturimeter
Venturimeter: is a device used for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid
flowing through a pipe. It consists of three parts:
A short converging part
Throat
Diverging part
Inlet
Throat
x
Inlet
1
2
Let d
1
= diameter at the inlet (section 1)
p
1
= pressure at section 1
v
1
= velocity at section 1
A
1
= area at section1
d
2
, p
2
, v
2
, A
2
are the corresponding values at the throat (section 2)
Applying Bernoullis equations at sections 1 and 2, we get
2 2
p w p w
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 2
.
2 2
p w p w
z z
g g g g
+ + = + +
As pipe is horizontal z
1
=z
2
2 2
1 2 2 1
2 2
2 1
2
2
p p v v
g g
v v
h
g

=
Where difference of pressure heads at sections 1 and 2.
From the continuity equation at sections 1 and 2, we obtain
Hence
1 2
,
p p
h
g

2 2
1 1 2 2 1
1
A v
Av A v v
A
= =
2
2 2
2 1 2
2
1
2
v A A
h
g A
(

=
(

Discharge
1
1
2
2 2
1 2
2
2
A
v gh
A A

=

1 1 2
1 2
2 2
1 2
2
Q Av A h
A A
Q gh
A A
= =
=

Note that the above expression is for ideal condition and is known as
theoretical discharge.
C
d
is the coefficient of venturimeter and its value is always less then 1.
1 2
2 2
1 2
2
actual d
A A
Q C gh
A A
=

Actual discharge will be less than theoretical discharge.

Expression of h given by differential U-tube manometer:
Case 1: The liquid in the manometer is Case 1: The liquid in the manometer is
heavier than the liquid flowing through the pipe
0
1
h
S
h x
S
(
=
(

Case 2: The liquid in the manometer is lighter
than the liquid flowing through the pipe
0
1
L
S
h x
S
(
=
(

S
h
: Specific gravity of the heavier liquid.
S
0
: Specific gravity of the flowing liquid.
S
L
: Specific gravity of the lighter liquid.
X: difference of the liquid columns in U-tube
Orifice meter
Orifice meter: is a device used for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid flowing through a pipe.
It is a cheaper device as compared to venturimeter. This also work on the same principle as that of
venturimeter.
It consists of flat circular plate which has a circular hole, in concentric with the pipe. This is called
orifice.
The diameter of orifice is generally 0.5 times the diameter of the pipe (D), although it may vary from
0.4 to 0.8 times the pipe diameter.
1
2
x
Direction
of flow
Orifice
Differential manometer
2D
D/2 Vena contracta
Let d
1
= diameter at section 1
p
1
= pressure at section 1
v
1
= velocity at section 1
A
1
= area at section1
d
2
, p
2
, v
2
, A
2
are the corresponding values at section 2.
Applying Bernoullis equations at sections 1 and 2, we get
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 2
2 2
p v p v
z z
g g g g
+ + = + +
2 2
1 2 2 1
1 2
2 2
2 1
2
2 1
2 2
2
2
2
g g g g
p p v v
z z
g g g
v v
h
g
v gh v


| | | |
+ + =
| |
\ \

=
= +
where h is the differential head.
Let A
0
is the area of the orifice.
Coefficient of contraction,
2
0
c
A
C
A
=
By continuity equation, we have
1 1 2 2
0
1 2
1
c
Av A v
A C
v v
A
=
=
Hence,
2 2 2
0 2
2
2
1
2
2
2
0
2
1
2
2
1
c
c
A C v
v gh
A
gh
v
A
C
A
= +
=

Thus, discharge,
0
2 2 2 0
2
2
0
2
1
2
1
c
c
c
A C gh
Q A v v A C
A
C
A
= = =

If C
d
is the co-efficient of discharge for orifice meter, which is defined as
2
0
2
1
A
A

2
1
2
2
0
2
1
2
2
0
2
1
2
0
2
1
1
1
1
d c
c
c
c d
A
C C
A
C
A
A
C
A
C C
A
A
=

Hence,
0 1
2 2
1 0
2
d
A A gh
Q C
A A
=

The coefficient of discharge of the orifice meter is much

smaller than that of a venturimeter.
Pitot-tube
Orifice meter: is a device used for measuring the velocity of flow at any
point in a pipe or a channel.
Principle: If the velocity at any point decreases, the pressure at that point
increases due to the conservation of the kinetic energy into pressure energy.
In simplest form, the pitot tube consists of a glass tube, bent at right angles.
1
2
H
h Let p
1
= pressure at section 1
p
2
= pressure at section 2
v
1
= velocity at section 1
H = depth of tube in the liquid
h = rise of liquid in the tube
above the free surface
v
2
= velocity at section 2 = 0
Point 2 is just at the inlet of the Pitot-tube
Point 1 is far away from the tube
Applying Bernoullis equations at sections 1 and 2, we get
2 2
1 1 2 2
1 2
2 2
p v p v
z z
g g g g
+ + = + + But , and
1 2
z z =
2
0. v =
1
p
g
= Pressure head at 1=H
2
p
g
= Pressure head at 2=h+H
Substituting these values, we get
2
1
v
H h H + = +
Substituting these values, we get
1
1
2
2
v
H h H
g
v gh
+ = +
=
This is theoretical velocity. Actual velocity is given by
( )
1
2
v
act
v C gh =
coefficient of pitot-tube
v
C