R138269Q

HORIZONTAL JET DISCHARGE THROUGH A SHARP EDGED ORIFICE.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the coefficients of velocity (Cv), contraction (Cc) and discharge (Cd) for sharp
edged circular orifice by passing a horizontal jet of water through the orifice.
THEORY
An orifice is an opening, in the side or base of a tank or reservoir, through which fluid is
discharged in the form of a jet, into the atmosphere. The volume rate of flow discharged
through an orifice will depend upon the head of the fluid above the level of the orifice and it
can, therefore, be used as a means of flow measurement(Douglas, Gasiorek et al. 2005). If Vvc
is the true horizontal velocity at the vena contracta, then the properties of the jet trajectory
give the following relationship:
y=

g
2
.x
2
2V vc
g x2
2y

( )

Vvc=

1
2

APPARATUS
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Header tank with sharp-edged orifice installed in the vertical plane of the tank side.
A steady water supply with means of varying the flow rate
A vertical sight glass to record the water level in the tank
A travelling distance gauge to facilitate the accurate measurement of x and y
A device for measuring the diameter of the jet at the vena contracta (vernier callipers)

Diagram

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EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. The tank was levelled so that the plane of the orifice was vertical and the diameter of
the orifice was vertical and the diameter of the orifice was noted.
The water supply was admitted to the tank and conditions allowed to steady to give a
2.
constant value of H
3. The horizontal centre line through the orifice was established and used as the datum
for the measurement of H and y
4. The value of H was recorded.
5. The diameter of the jet at the vena contracta was accurately measured. A series of
readings of dimensions x and y was taken along the trajectory of the jets.
6. The experimental procedure was repeated for three different flow rates, by means of
varying the head H.
OBSERVATIONS
Diameter of orifice

3.00 mm

Cross-sectional area of orifice A

d2
32
= =7.07 mm 2
4
4

Head above orifice centreline H

400 mm

Diameter of jet at vena contracta

2.7 mm

Cross-sectional area of vena contracta a

d
2.7
=
4
4

= 5.73 mm2

Flow rate 1
Head above orifice centreline

H=405 mm

Volume V
V1 61 cm3
V2 56 cm 3
V3 63 cm3

Time T
T1 4.37 s
T2 4.01 s
T3 4.50 s

Q1

Flow rate q
q1 13.96 cm3 /s
q2 13.97 cm 3 /s
q3 14.00 cm3 /s

q 1+ q 2+q 3 13.96+13.97+14.00
=
=13.98 cm3 / s
3
3

Flow rate 2
Head above orifice centreline

H=363 mm

Volume V
V1 55 cm 3
V2 64 cm3
V3 59 cm3

Time T
T1 4.43 s
T2 5.13 s
T3 4.74 s

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Flow rate q
q1 12.42 cm3 / s
q2 12.47 cm 3 /s
cm3 12.45 cm3 /s

R138269Q

Q2

q 1+ q 2+q 3 12.42+12.47+12.45
=
=12.45 cm 3 /s
3
3

Flow rate 3
Head above orifice centreline

H=313 mm

Volume V
V1 52 cm3
V2 50 cm 3
V3 56 cm 3

Time T
T1 4.50 s
T2 4.32 s
T3 4.83 s

Q3

Flow rate q
q1 11.56 cm 3 /s
q2 11.57 cm 3 /s
q3 11.59 cm 3 /s

q 1+ q 2+q 3 11.56+ 11.57+11.59

=
=11.57 cm 3 /s
3
3

Table of Results
H=0.405 m
Q1 13.98 cm3 /s
x (m)
y (m)
y1/2(m1/2)

H=0.363 m
Q2 12.45 cm 3 /s
x (m)
y (m)
y1/2(m1/2)

H=0.313 m
Q3 11.57 cm3 /s
x(m)
y(m)
y1/2(m1/2)

0.027
0,077
0,127
0.177
0.227
0.277
0.327
0.377

0.027
0.077
0.127
0.177
0.227
0.277
0.327
0.377

0.027
0.077
0.127
0.177
0.227
0.277
0.327
0.377

0.000
0.006
0.015
0.026
0.042
0.059
0.083
0.111

0.000
0.077
0.122
0,161
0.205
0.243
0.288
0.333

0.003
0.009
0.024
0.040
0.051
0.087
0.114
0.144

0.055
0.095
0.155
0.200
0.226
0.295
0.338
0.379

ANALYSIS
The value of y1/2 and x were plotted as shown on the graph ;
Now

Cv=

x
y

1
2

x
y

1
2

1
4H

1
k
slope of grap h

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Where

k=

1
4 H

0.006
0.014
0.028
0.047
0.061
0.102
0.131
0.168

0.077
0.118
0.167
0.217
0.247
0.319
0.362
0.410

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Cc=

a 5.73
=
=0.810
A 7.07

Where a is the cross-sectional area of jet at vena contracta and A cross-sectional area of the
orifice

Cc
Cc1
Cc2
Cc3

a
A
0.810
0.810
0.810

C v=
C d=

Cv (from the graph)

Cd C v C c

Cv1 0.958
Cv2 0.915
Cv3 0.935

Cd1 0.776
Cd2 0.741
Cd3 0.757

C v 1 +C v2 +C v 3 0.958+ 0.915+0.935
=
=0.936
3
3

C d 1+ Cd 2+C d 3 0.776+ 0.741+ 0.757

=
=0.758
3
3

CONCLUSION
The experimental values of Cc, Cv and Cd agree well with the once predicted, although there
are slight deviations. For example, the value of C v is theoretically assumed to range between
0.977 and 0.99 and the average value which was obtained is just below the predicted range.
The slight difference might be due to the errors incurred during the course of the practical.
Possible sources of errors

Parallax error
1. When taking the reading of head above orifice centre line (H)
2. When taking the reading of water collected in the measuring cylinder
3. When measuring the diameter of the jet at vena contracta.
4. When determining y using the needles
Reaction time
1. When measuring the time to determine volume flow rate.
2. When measuring volume to determine volume flow rate.
There is possible change of H during the course of the experiment

REFERENCES
1. Douglas, J. A., J. M. Gasiorek, et al. (2005). Fluid Mechanics.

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