1

Summery
Orifice meters are most commonly used for continuous measurement of fluid flow in pipes.
It uses Bernoulli's principle according to which the velocity increases when pressure
decreases and vice versa. For this experiment velocity of the fluid (water) was found to be
the within the range of 0.538277 m/sec to 0.783446 m/sec and the pressure drop of water
was within 0.050614 m to 0.150678 m. We used these values to find orifice coefficient and
Reynolds number for different flow rates. The orifice coefficient was within the range of
0.43 to 0.526 and the Reynolds number was within 16315.96 to 23811.5. These values
were graphically represented from which the orifice meter can be calibrated.


















2
Experimental Set up


Fig-1: Orifice meter











3
Observed data

Nominal pipe dia. = 2 inch
Schedule No = 40
Orifice Diameter = 1 inch
Mass of the empty bucket = 0.450 kg
Temperature of the room = 29.5
0
C
Temperature of the water = 28.5
0
C

Table.1: Table on water flow rate and readings of manometer.
No. of
observation
Mass of
bucket
with
water
(kg)
Mass of
water
(kg)
Time
(s)
Manometer Reading

Left
column
(cm)
Right
column
(cm)
Difference
(cm)
1 4.80 4.35 16 26.6 35.3 8.7
2 5.75 5.3 16.2 24.9 36.8 11.9
3 6.40 5.95 16 23.3 38.6 15.3
4 6.60 6.15 15.5 21.2 41.4 20.2
5 6.90 6.45 16.3 18.5 44.4 25.9







4
Calculated data

All physical constants data provided here are taken from

Franzini and Finnemore, Fluid Mechanics, 10
th
edition .729-737page and

Inside diameter, D = 2.067 inch = 0.0525 m
Area of the orifice, Ao = 5.06710
-4
m
2

Density of Water,
w
= 996.22 kg/m
3

Density of Carbon Tetra Chloride,
4
CCl
= 1575.79 kg/m
3

Viscosity of water at 28.5
0
C=0.0008348Ns/m
2


Table 2: Table for Calculation volumetric flow rate, average velocity and Reynolds
number.
No. of
observati
on
Mass flow
rate
Kg/s
Volumetric
flow rate Q
m
3
/sec
Area of the
orifice
m
2
Velocity at
orifice u0
m/sec
Reynolds
Number
NRe
1 0.271875 0.000273

5.07E-04

0.538277 16315.96
2 0.32716 0.000328 0.647735 19633.79
3 0.371875 0.000373 0.736264 22317.23
4 0.396774 0.000398 0.785562 23811.5
5 0.395706 0.000397 0.783446 23747.36




5
Table 3: Table for Calculation of Orifice Coefficient
Manometer Reading

Change in
pressure
head AH
(m)
Root of
change in
pressure
head
H A
Orifice
Coefficiet
C0 Left
column
(cm)
Right
column
(cm)
Difference
of Pressure
(cm)
Difference
of Pressure
(m)
26.6 35.3 8.7 0.087 0.050614 0.224975 0.510564
24.9 36.8 11.9 0.119 0.069231 0.263117 0.525325
23.3 38.6 15.3 0.153 0.089011 0.298347 0.526613
21.2 41.4 20.2 0.202 0.117517 0.342808 0.488999
18.5 44.4 25.9 0.259 0.150678 0.388173 0.430688


Sample Calculation

Sample Calculation for observation 4
Nominal pipe diameter = 2 inch
Schedule No = 40
Inside diameter, D = 2.067 inch = 0.0525 m
Orifice diameter, Do = 1 inch = 0.0254 m
Area of the orifice, Ao =
4
2
0
D t
=
4
) 0254 . 0 (
2
t
m
2
= 5.06710
-4
m
2

Weight of bucket = 0.450 kg
Weight of water & bucket = 6.60 kg
Weight of water, m = ( 6.60 - 0.450 ) kg = 6.15 kg
Time of collection of water, t =15.5 s

6
Mass flow rate of water, 396774 . 0
s 15.5
kg 6.15
t
m
m = = = kg/s
Density of water at 28
o
C,
w
= 996.22 kg/m
3

Volumetric flow rate of water,
4
3
10 3.98
kg/m 22 . 996
kg/s 0.396774 m

= = =
W
Q

m
3
/s
Velocity at orifice, Vo = m/s 785562 . 0
m 10 5.067
s / m 10 3.98
A
Q
2 4 -
3 4
o
=

=


Dynamic Viscosity of water w =0.0008348Ns/m
2
(at 28.5
0
C)

Reynolds number, Re = 5 . 23811
10 348 . 8
22 . 996 786 . 0 0254 . 0 v D
4
w
w o o
=

Difference in manometer reading, R = (41.4 - 21.2) cm =20.2 = 0.202m
Density of Carbon Tetra Chloride,
4
CCl
= 1575.79 kg/m
3

Change in pressure head,
AH = =

=

22 . 996
) 22 . 996 79 . 1575 ( 202 . 0
) R(
w
w CCl
4

0.117517m
\AH = \ 0.117517 m
0.5
=0.342808 m
0.5

Acceleration of gravity, g = 9.81 m/s
2


Orifice co-efficient,
488999 . 0
117517 . 0 81 . 9 2 10 067 . 5
)
0525 . 0
0254 . 0
( 1 10 98 . 3
2
) ( 1
4
4 4 4
0
=


=
A

H g A
D
D
Q
C
o
o



7
Results
The results of our experiment are summarized in Table-4.
Table-4: Summary of the Results for Velocity, Pressure Drop and Orifice Co-efficient.
No. of
observation
Reynolds
Number
NRe
Change in
pressure head
AH
(m)
Root of change in
pressure head
H A
Orifice Coefficiet
C0
1 16315.96 0.050614 0.224975 0.510564
2 19633.79 0.069231 0.263117 0.525325
3 22317.23 0.089011 0.298347 0.526613
4 23811.5 0.117517 0.342808 0.488999
5 23747.36 0.150678 0.388173 0.430688

From The table we know that the determined orifice coefficient was 0.43 to 0.526.













8
Discussion

The largest contribution to the uncertainty in the measured coefficient is due to the
time measurement. At the higher mass flow rates, the bucket filled much too quickly
causing large temporal uncertainty. The simplest solution to this problem would be to use a
larger vessel to capture the water. This would increase the filling time and reduce the
uncertainty in the temporal measurement. If the orifice plate is to be used at higher flow
rates than those presented here, it would be necessary to recalibrate and expand the
Reynolds number range. Expanding the Reynolds number range would benefit from a
larger bucket as well.
The main disadvantage of this meter is the greater frictional loss it causes as compared
with the other devices and hence causes large power consumption. While water passing
through the orifice, it increase the velocity head at the expense of the pressure head. But
when it again expands at downstream all of the pressure loss is not recovered because of
friction and turbulence in the stream.
It is recommended that the project be repeated with a square edge orifice with flange
taps that are designed and located according to ASME standards. We also recommend a
sufficient length of pipe upstream of the orifice to insure fully developed flow prior to the
orifice.
Within the limits of the experimental uncertainty and the Reynolds number range
investigated, the results obtained for the discharge coefficient through an orifice plate
agree with the empirical relation. Unfortunately, the large uncertainty in the experimental
data significantly reduces the reliability and utility of the data. The orifice plate should be
re-tested prior to its use as a mass flow rate sensor using a larger bucket to measure the
mass flow rate.




9
Graphs
Five graphs are plotted according to our results. a)plot of H Vs Q; b) plot of H Vs Q; c)
plot of C0 Vs H, d) plot of C0 Vs . e) Plot of C0 Vs NRe
From figure-2, the relation between change in pressure head and volumetric flow rate is
parabola asymmetric about Y axis. From figure-3, a linear relationship between root of
change in pressure head and volumetric flow rate is found. In figure-4 and figure-5, the
relation between Co Vs. AH and Co vs. H A are rectangular parabola.


Figure-2: The relation between change in pressure head and volumetric flow-rate
0
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0 0.00005 0.0001 0.00015 0.0002 0.00025 0.0003 0.00035 0.0004 0.00045
C
h
a
n
g
e

i
n

p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

h
e
a
d
,

H

[
m
]

volumetric flow rate,Q [m
3
/s]
Plot of change in pressure head,H Vs volumetric flow rate,Q

10

Figure-3: The relation between sqrt of change in pressure head and volumetric flow-
rate.

0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0 0.00005 0.0001 0.00015 0.0002 0.00025 0.0003 0.00035 0.0004 0.00045
S
q
r
t

o
f

p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e

h
e
a
d
,

H

[
m
0
.
5
]


volumetric flow rate,Q [m
3
/s]
Plot of Sqrt of change in pressure head,H Vs volumetric flowrate,Q

11

Figure-4: The relation between change in pressure head and Orifice Coefficient, C0

Figure-5: The relation between sqrt of change in pressure head and Orifice
Coefficient, C0
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16
O
r
i
f
i
c
e

C
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
n
t
,
C
0

Change in pressure head, H [m]
Change in Orifice Coefficiet, C
0
Vs pressure head, H [m]
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
O
r
i
f
i
c
e

C
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
t
,
C
0

Sqrt of pressure head, H [m0.5]
Plot of Orifice Coefficiet C0 Vs Sqrt of change in pressure head,H

12


Figure-6: The relation between Reynolds number, Re and Orifice Coefficient, C0











0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000
O
r
i
f
i
c
e

C
o
e
f
f
i
c
i
e
t
,
C
0

Reynolds Number,Re
Plot of Reynolds Number,R
e
Vs Orifice Coefficiet,C
0