ORIFICEMETER

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the coefficient of discharge for the Orificemeter and calibrate it.

THEORY:
Orificemeter is based on Bernoullis theorem, which is used to measure flow through pipeline
by providing a coaxial contraction area within the pipe and measuring the pressure drop across
the contraction. Orificemeter consists of a thin plate with circular hole in it and held between the
flanges such that the orifice is concentric with the pipe.
By contracting the passage of flow at the orifice, the velocity of flow and hence the velocity head
is increased. This increase in the velocity head causes change in the pressure head. The pressure
difference thus crated is measured generally by a U tube manometer (differential) and the
discharge through the pipe is calculated by the formula.

Q = CDA2 [2 g h / 1 4 ]

Q = Discharge
CD = coefficient of venturimeter (theoretically it is equal to one)
h = Difference of head in terms of water column between inlet and throat.
= Ratio of throat diameter to pipe diameter [d2/d1]
A2 The area of inlet which can be found out from inlet diameter d1
Actually the coefficient CD is never unity and hence it is determined experimentally. The
above formula can be written in the from:
Q = M Hn

The constant M and n can be found out by plotting the result of the experiment on log-log scale.
OBSERVATIONS:
1. Type of manometer =
2. Inlet Diameter of venturimeter d2 =
3. Throat Diameter of venturimeter d1 =
=
Dimensions of the measuring tank
length L=
width W=
OBERVATION TABLE:

Sr. No Height difference in the Discharge measurement

limbs of manometer (Depth of water collected in certain time)
h in cm Depth of water collected Time
D in cm t in sec
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

SAMPLE CALCULATION:

(use g = 981 cm/sec2)

Area of inlet A1 = (/4)d12 = ..cm2

Area of Orifice A2 = (/4)d22 = . cm2

=
Theoretical discharge Qth = Q = CDA2 [2 g h / 1 4 ]

= .cm3/s

Surface area of tank S = L W = = cm2

 APPARATUS:
A flow table with self-circulating system, measuring tank, stopwatch,
differential manometer, orificemeter etc

PROCEDURE:
2. Oificemeter is set up on the flow table and connected to the inlet pipe.
3. The manometer is then connected to the respective pressure tapping, making sure that no
air bubble is entrapped in the tube.
4. The flow of the water is then adjusted for the required pressure difference and the
pressure difference is noted.
5. The flow is collected in measuring tank for known say 5 or 10 cm.
6. Time required to collect the water in measuring tank is noted.
7. The procedure is repeated for different values of pressure head by changing the
discharge.
8.
RESULT:

Coefficient of orificemeter CD
a. Average value from calculation = _________

b. Value from graph =_________

CONCLUSION:

1. Discharge formula, Q = , H..

2. The calibration plot between actual discharge and differential head can be used for
measurement of discharge whenever this orificemeter is used.

REMARK:

Coefficient of orificemeter varies between --------to--------.

Volume of water collected V = SD = .= cm3

Actual discharge Qa = V/t = = cm3/s

Coefficient of Orificemeter K = Qa/Qth =

TABULATED CALCULATION:

Sr. No. Theoretical Volume of Actual Coefficient of

discharge Qth water collected discharge orificemeter
cm3/s V Qa CD
cm3 cm3/s
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Average value of CD =