PRACTICE WORK 3

ORIFICE FLOW EXPERIMENT

1. Purpose of experiment

A flow rate measuring method by a throttle has been used for a long time for the measurement of
flow rate of various types of fluid, and is also widely used in the present day of advanced
measurement technology and well-known.

It is a purpose of this type of experimental device to understand a definition, a configuration, a

calculation method and a testing method of a flow rate coefficient of a throttle flow rate meter by
conducting calculation experiment for orifice coefficients.

2. Theory

In the case where an orifice is provided on the bottom surface or the side surface of a water tank
(Fig.2-1), assuming that height from the orifice to water surface be Ho, descending velocity of
the water surface be v, and atmospheric pressure be po, the following expression is obtained
based on Bernoulli’s theorem.

Fig. 2-1

2
v0 p v 2 p0 v 0  0　
 0  H0   (2.1)
2g γ 2g γ

v 02
v  2g ( H 0  )  2gH 0 (2.2)
2g

Specifically, jet flow velocity (outflow velocity from orifice) equals velocity that is obtained
when an object makes free fall from the height H0. This is also called Torricelli’s theorem.

However, since a small amount of energy loss actually occurs, a velocity coefficient Cv is
multiplied to form an expression as follows.

v  C V 2gH 0 (2.3)

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 1

Further, a cross-sectional area ac of jet flow is smaller than an aperture area a0 of the orifice,
which is called vena-contracta. (Fig.2-2)

Fig. 2-2

An area where the cross-sectional area ac of jet flow is the smallest is called a vena-contracta
area, and a relational expression of a vena-contracta coefficient Cc is shown in the following
expression.

C C  aC / a 0 (2.4)

Thus, flow rate passing through orifice is as follows.

Q 0  a C  v  C C  a 0  C V  2gH 0
(2.5)
 C d  a 0  2gH 0

where
C d  C C  CV , which is called a flow rate coefficient.

When the height of water surface of a water tank to which orifice is installed is made constant,
flow rate can be obtained based on the height H0 of water surface at that time and the aperture
area a0 of the orifice.

Further, when actual flow rate Q from the orifice is measured in advance, the flow rate
coefficient Cd of the orifice can be calculated based on the ratio between an actual flow rate Q
and a theoretical flow rate QS, and this method is generally used more frequently.

C d  Q / QS (2.6)
where
QS  a 0  2gH 0

3. Method of experiment

1) Prepare data paper to be attached, and record ambient temperature, humidity, atmospheric
pressure and water temperature in a head tank.

2) Remove the plug that stops outflow. At this point, leave the drain port of the lorry tank open,
and drain orifice outflow water to the outside.

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 2

3) When the head tank overflows, measure the water level H’ of the tank.

4) Insert a pitot tube at the center of an area where outflow water from the orifice is thinned
most (vena-contracta area), and remove air in the pitot tube and a dynamic pressure tube
portion. Note that air is removed in the procedure below. (refer to Fig.3-1)

 Confirm that the cocks of a manometer draining hose port and a hose port for removing
air are closed, and open the cocks of the water supply hose port for aspirator and an
aspiration hose port for aspirator in the state where water is being supplied to the tank.

 Open the cock of the hose port for pitot tube. At this point, if water level does not rise
into a dynamic pressure tube, adjust a globe valve of a water supply piping section to a
closing direction to increase a water supply amount to an aspirator.

 Once water level rises into the dynamic pressure tube (approximately 400mm of scale),
close the cock of the water supply hose port for aspirator.

 Close the cock of the aspiration hose port for aspirator and the cock of the hose port for
pitot tube.

 Open the cock of the hose port for removing air and the cock of a manometer draining
hose port, lower the water level inside the dynamic pressure tube to a position
approximately 300mm of scale, and close the cock of the manometer draining hose port.
At this point, if water inside the dynamic pressure tube is excessively lowered, a
measurement range for a differential pressure of the pitot tube goes off the scale.

 Close the cock of the hose port for removing air, and open the cock of the hose port for
pitot tube.

Fig. 3-1

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 3

  Remove air in the above procedure. (if water level H’ is changed when flow rate
adjustment is performed in the first procedure, adjust the water supply amount to the
head tank to return it to water level of the measured value.)

5) Once the indicator of the manometer is stabilized, measure dynamic pressure (time can be
saved if actual flow rate is measured while dynamic pressure is measured).

6) Measure outflow water from the orifice.

 Place a 10kg weight on a weight receiver in advance.

 Close the drain port of the lorry tank.

 Start time measurement from a point at which a balance scale is balanced by the weight
of 5kg.

 Next, place a 10kg weight on a weight receiver.

 End time measurement at a point at which the balance scale is balanced again.

7) Measure vena-contracta diameter after the measurement of pitot tube dynamic pressure and
actual flow rate.

 Match the tip portion of a pitot tube with the height of a vena-contracta diameter
measuring needle.

 Take the pitot tube out of a flow path to measure vena-contracta diameter.

 Adjust the vena-contracta diameter measuring needle by a micrometer head, and

measure diameter by setting it to the standard point of the vena-contracta area. (Refer to
Fig.3-2).

Fig. 3-2

 Put the measuring needle into water flow to measure the vena-contracta diameter. (Refer
to Fig.3-3).

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 4

 Fig. 3-2

8) After the measurement and experiment above, change the water level (H’) of head tank and
repeat measurement for 3 to 5 times.

4. Kinematic viscosity and density of water

(1 atm)

Temperature Viscosity ν Density

T(oC) ×10-6 (m2/s) (kg/m3)
0 1.794 999.8
5 1.535 1000.0
10 1.297 999.7
15 1.137 998.9
20 0.996 998.2
25 0.884 997.0
30 0.796 995.7
35 0.724 994.0
40 0.663 992.3
45 0.611 990.2
50 0.562 988.1
55 0.518 985.7
60 0.480 983.2
65 0.447 980.5
70 0.413 977.8
75 0.389 974.8
80 0.365 971.8

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 5

5. Experimental results (Table for measurements and calculations)

MEASUREMENT VALUES
Temperature o
C Water level mm
Humidity % Orifice plate 0.013 mm

Atmospheric pressure kPa Level surface 13 mm

Micrometer
Level gauge Ambient Scale Manometer Density of
Item Time Vena-contracta
Water level temperature Weight Dynamic pressure water
diameter

Symbol H’ t W T dc Hc 

Unit mm o
C kg sec m mmH2O kg/m3

EXP_1

EXP_2

EXP_3

EXP_4

EXP_5

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 6

 CALCULATION VALUES

Orifice aperture Orifice jet flow Orifice flow rate Velocity Vena-contrata
Item Tank Head Flow rate
area area coefficient coefficient coefficient

Symbol H0 Q ao ac Cd CvCc Cv Cc

Unit mmH2O m3/s m2 m2 - - - -

EXP_1

EXP_2

EXP_3

EXP_4

EXP_5

　H 0  H '  K S 　　　　  (1 )
W
　Q   (2)
γ ・ T
π 2
　 a0  d 0 　　　　　　 　 ( 3 )
4
π 2
　 aC  d C 　　　　　　  　
( 4 )　
4
Q
　Cd   (5 )
2g
a・
0 ・ H 0
γ

HC
　 CV   (6 )
H0
2
aC  d C 
　CC      (7 )
a 0  d 0 


Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 7

 Questions

Discussion

1. Comment on the values you obtained for the constants (Cc, Cv, Cd). Suggest any ways to
improve the results and accuracy of the experiment?

2. Is there any difference if the orifice (hole) is on the side of the wall? Explain.

3. Explain the reasons why there is difference between theoretical and actual discharge?

4. Have you ever heard mouthpiece? Explain the meaning and its effect on the three constants
(Cc, Cv, Cd).

Prepared and conducted by Lecturer KHOUN Rithymean Page 8