Edward Crinion 30-Oct-11

ECM2113 Thermofluid Engineering: Flow Meter Laboratory Report

Introduction
This report will investigate the operation and accuracy of three types of flow meters:
1. Venturi meter
2. Orifice plate
3. Variable area meter
The theory behind each meter will be discussed, and the results from accuracy experiments
will be presented and evaluated.
Theory and Method

Fig. 1 The entire system, including the Venturi

Meter, Variable Area Meter, and Orifice Plate
The real flow rate through the system (see Figure 1) will be measured through measuring the
time for a chosen volume of water to exit the system, and then converting this into a
meaningful rate (m3s-1). This real flow rate can then be compared against the flow rate
calculated from each of the three meters, outlined below, to compare accuracy and losses.
1. Venturi Meter

Fig. 2 The Venturi Meter

The Venturi meter (shown in Figure 2) is based upon the results of Bernoullis equation[1].
Tubes are located before the narrowing, at the narrowest point, and afterwards[2]. The height
of the water in each tube is then measured and used to calculate the pressure at the linked

point in the meter, using the equation P=gh where P is pressure, is density, g is the
gravitational constant and h is the measured height.
The flow rate can then be calculated using Bernoullis equation[3]:

Where V is velocity, g is the gravitational constant, P is pressure, is density and Z is the

height (in this case the height difference is zero and irrelevant).
Since flow rate is velocity multiplied by area (Q=VA), Bernoullis equation can be
rearranged into an equation to calculate Q:

Here A1=7.92x10-4m2 and A2=1.77x10-4m2, and the values for pressures P1 and P2 are
calculated from the heights measured in the tables (see the Results section).
2. Variable Area Meter

Fig. 3 The Variable Area Meter

The Variable Area Meter consists of a weight in a tube of graduated area that balances the
force of gravity with the force of the flow, resulting in an output height. (See Figure 3.) This
height is effectively the flow rate[4].
3. Orifice Plate

Fig. 4 The Orifice Plate Meter[5]

In a similar way to the Venturi Meter, the Orifice Plate (see Figure 4) measures volumetric
flow by converting displaced water into pressure values at certain points and inputting these
figures into a rearranged form of Bernoullis equation[6].
The volumetric flow rate will be measured (in all three meters) for three different flow rates:
5 litres/second, 12 litres/second, and 20 litres/second. Since the very nature of the
investigation means there is no certain way of attaining this flow, these values will be
recorded from the Variable Area Meter. (VAM in the tables below.)
Potential Errors and Minimising their Effects
There are four main errors that could affect the accuracy and validity of results.
1. Parallax Errors. This occurs if the level on a gauge is read from a non-normal angle,
or more importantly an inconsistent angle. The degree of error varies depending on
thickness of glass and size of scale, and this could effect the pressure calculations for
all meters as well as the real flow calculations.
This potential error can be tackled by ensuring all gauge readings are taken from 45.
2. Surface Tension. When measuring the height of a water surface, it is possible for
inconsistency to occur due to the curved nature of surface because of surface tension.
The surface height in the tubes (at the centre of Figure 1) is used to calculate the
pressure, making this a major potential error.
To reduce error, readings are taken from the lowest possible surface point.
3. Human Reaction Times. The base volumetric flow is measured by timing the period
to output a specified volume of water, but this rate could be inaccurate because of the
variable quality of human reactions.
There is no full-proof way to eliminate this error, though vigilance will be key. A
large volume of water will also be used to ensure any error will be minimised.
4. Waves. The real volumetric flow is measured by timing the period to output a
specified volume of water, but this rate could be inaccurate because of the wavy
nature of the scale to measure water volume.
A large volume of water will be used to minimise wave influence.
Accuracy Results
Table 1 shows the results from the first attempt at measuring flow rates and the associated
pressures. The experiment was repeated (Table 2) and the average was taken for greatest
accuracy (Table 3).
Table 1 First results
VAM

Volume/m3

Time/s

Q/m3s-1

5
12
20

0.010
0.024
0.040

120.22
140.72
129.69

8.32x10-5
1.71x10-4
3.08x10-4

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

274
314
370

258
243
196

265
285
330

263
275
297

210
215
228

210
218
230

201
171
107

205
187
149

Table 2 Second results

VAM

Volume/m3

Time/s

Q/m3s-1

5
12
20

0.010
0.024
0.040

122.41
121.15
125.35

8.17x10-5
1.65x10-4
3.19x10-4

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

255
237
195

255
237
195

265
281
331

263
269
300

211
210
230

212
213
236

205
165
105

206
181
149

Table 3 Average results

VAM

Volume/m3

Time/s

Q/m3s-1

5
12
20

0.010
0.024
0.040

121.32
130.94
127.52

8.24x10-5
1.68x10-4
3.17x10-4

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

/mm

273
312
381

257
240
196

265
283
331

263
272
299

211
213
229

211
216
233

203
168
106

206
184
149

Using the values in Table 3, the calculated flow rate through each meter can be compared to
the real flow rate (measured by timing a certain volume output). The comparison can be
seen in Table 4 below.
Table 4 Comparison of calculated volumetric flow rates
Real Q Venturi-calculated Q VAM-calculated Q Orifice Plate-calculated Q
8.24x10-5
1.03x10-4
8.33x10-5
7.84x10-5
-4
-4
-4
1.84x10
2.16x10
2.00x10
1.75x10-4
3.14x10-4
3.46x10-4
3.33x10-4
2.87x10-4
To illustrate the difference visually, Figure 5 shows the difference graphically.

Fig. 5 Chart showing the calculated flow rate for certain rates
From the data and the chart, it is easy to see that the Variable Area Meter is the most
accurate. However, this does not tell the whole story.
What matters most is not the absolute error, but the inconsistency of any error. For example,
if each of the Venturi measurements was exactly half of the Real flow rate, it would be a
very good approximation of the flow one could simply factor in a multiplication of two
into the equation for calculating Q.
The equation then becomes:

Where Cd is a constant that could in theory improve the accuracy of the meters that use this
method to calculate Q (The Venturi Meter and the Orifice Plate)[7].
Through averaging the percentage difference for each flow value, the values of Cd were
calculated as 0.853 for the Venturi Meter and 1.07 for the Orifice Plate.
With this value for Cd factored in, the comparable values becomes those in Table 5:
Table 5 Comparison of calculated volumetric flow rates with Cd factored in.
Real Q
Venturi-calculated Q VAM-calculated Q Orifice Plate-calculated Q
-5
8.24x10
8.79x10-5
8.33x10-5
8.39x10-5
1.84x10-4
1.84x10-4
2.00x10-4
1.87x10-4
3.14x10-4
2.95x10-4
3.33x10-4
3.07x10-4
Visually, the result is even more pronounced, as shown in the chart in Figure 6

Fig. 6 Chart showing the calculated flow rate for certain rates, with Cd factored in
With the coefficient factored in, the results become far more accurate, and the Orifice Plate
emerges as the best.
While this is at first surprising (in theory the Orifice Plate should have more losses than an
equivalent Venturi meter), the fact that Cd has been factored in means that if the proportional
change is most associated (as perhaps the geometry of the Orifice allows) it will be most
accurate, regardless of gross accuracy with no adjustments.
One should note the calculated flow rates are extremely accurate at the lowest rate (5 litres/
second) but become far more proportionally volatile at higher rates (12 and 20 litres/second).
This suggests there could be more losses or greater potential for error at higher speeds
water levels could wave more and turbulence could occur. There is also greater chance of
air bubbles infiltrating unnoticed.

Head Loss Evaluation

There is a striking difference in the head losses across the different meters, made clear by the
differences in measured height in Table 3. In summary:
1. Venturi Meter. (Head loss between points 1 and 3.) The change in head loss
between high and low Q is 0.042m.
2. Variable Area Meter. (Head loss between points 4 and 5.) The change in head loss
between high and low Q is 0.018m.
3. Orifice Plate. (Head loss between points 6 and 8.) The change in head loss between
high and low Q is 0.079m.
As we can see, the meter with the lowest change in head loss (the most consistent losses) is
the Variable Area Meter, followed by Venturi Meter and then the Orifice Plate.
This is most likely because the Variable Area Meter is dynamic (in that it changes form as
the flow rate increases), while the Venturi Meter and Orifice Plate are static and do not adapt
to higher flow rates.
References and Sources
(See superscripted citation notation.)
1. http://mech207.engr.scu.edu/SensorPresentations/Atta%20%20Venturi%20Meter%2
0Combined.pdf
2. http://amser.org/index.php?P=AMSER--ResourceFrame&resourceId=9776
3. J.F. Douglas, J.M. Gasiorek, J.A. Swaffield. 2011. Fluid Mechanics VI, Prentice
Hall.
4. http://www.efunda.com/designstandards/sensors/flowmeters/flowmeter_va.cfm
5. http://www.pc-education.mcmaster.ca/Instrumentation/flow.htm
6. http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/14175/css/14175_57.htm
7. http://www.cs.cdu.edu.au/homepages/jmitroy/eng243/VenturiMeter.pdf

Edward Crinion 600017271

Sunday 30 October 2011
ECM2113 Thermofluid Engineering