[LAB EXPERIMENT: BERNOULLI’S THEOREM] September 18, 2018

Introduction

Venturi Meter is a widely used devices in Bernoulli’s principle experiment. Venturi meter is a
measuring instrument to detect flow along a pipe and also the velocity of fluid. This device consists
of several part which are converge, throat, and diverge. Different part of Venturi meter has different
value of pressure. This may result in different value of velocity of fluid pass through. The pressure
in a fluid moving through a small cross section drops suddenly leading to an increase in velocity
of the flow. The fluid of the characteristics of high pressure and low velocity gets converted to the
low pressure and high velocity at a particular point and again reaches to high pressure and low
velocity. The point where the characteristics become low pressure and high velocity is the place
where the venturi flow meter is used. Venturi meter is closely related to venturi effect theory.
Venturi effect occurs when a fluid speeds up because the pipe is traveling through narrows, causing
it to increase in speed, on its own, constitutes an increase in kinetic energy. For this experiment, it
is very important to concern that when fluid flow from big region to smaller region, this may result
in increase of velocity of fluid. When the fluid flow from the throat to diverge area, this may result
to the fall of the pressure accompanied by the deceleration of fluid. For every different region in
the pipe will led to variation of pressure reading in every venturi tube. This pressure differences
can be used to determine the volume flow for any particular configuration. The main objective of
carry out this experiment is to determine the discharge coefficient (Cd) of venture meter and to
measure the volume flow rate using venture meter.

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: BERNOULLI’S THEOREM] September 18, 2018

Theoretical background
Venturi meter consist of several part which has different size. For every part in Venturi meter has its
own gauge pressure. This may result in pressure differences in every configuration. Volume flow rate
(Q) can be determined by using the pressure difference.

Diagram 1
Based on diagram 1, we can see that section 2 has narrow area compared to section 1. As the fluid
flow from section 1 to section 2, the velocity of fluid will decrease and the pressure of fluid will drop
at the same time. Theoretically according to Douglas et.al. (1992), assuming that there are no energy
loss and by applying Bernoulli’s equation to section 1 and 2:

p1 v12 p v2
z1    z2  2  2
g 2 g g 2 g

p1  p2
v22  v12  2 g[( )  ( z1  z2 )] (1)
g
Where z1-z2 is the difference of level
V1,2 represents the velocities at 1 and 2
P1,2 denote the pressure at1 and 2
G is the gravity =9.81 ms2
Ρ is the fluid density for water = 1000 kg/m3

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For continuous flow,

A1V1=A2V2
Or
V2=(A1/A2) V1 (2)

The theoretical volume flow rate Qt can be determined by using equation:

2 g (h1  h3 )
Qt  A1 2
(3)
 A1 
   1
 A3 

To determine the actual flow rate from equation, firstly we have to know the value of discharge
coefficient. Discharge coefficient can be calculated using equation 4 and can be determined by
plotting graph Qe against Q1.

experiment al volume flow rate (Q e )

Cd = (4)
theoretica l volume flow rate (Q t )

In this experiment, there must be a loss of energy occur in section and section 2. By using the value of
discharge coefficient obtained, we can calculate the value of actual volume flow rate, Qa.

Qa=Cd.Qt (5)

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Apparatus and experimental setup

Manifold
Air valve
Manometer

Control valve

Venturi meter

Discharge valve

Volume meter

Diagram 2
This system consists of volume meter, discharge valve, Venturi meter, manometer, manifold, air valve,
and control valve. Volume meter is used to know the total amount water pass though the Venturi
meter. The unit for volume meter is litre. The smallest division for this component is one litre. Use the
bottom of the meniscus to determine the volume. Next, discharge valve.it control the amount of water
pass through. But, it is very to open this valve slowly when carry out this experiment to get a best
result. Next, Venturi meter. This part produces different pressure of water pass through and alter the
velocity of water when they pass through at any particular region. The function of control valve is to
allow and block water flow out of the system. Manometer function as measuring tool for the pressure.
Manifold function is to supply air to this system. Lastly, safety valve is to allow air to flow out of the
system.

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 [LAB EXPERIMENT: BERNOULLI’S THEOREM] September 18, 2018

Experimental Procedure

4.1) The discharge valve is adjusted to the maximum measurable flow rate of the venturi meter.
4.2) The fluid level of manometers is noted after the fluid level stabilized.
4.3) The volume flow rate of the fluid is measured using volumetric method by closing the water
outlet in the hydraulic bench. The time of 5 litters fluid volume is determined using stop watch.
4.4) Step 1 to 3 is repeated for three other decreasing flow by regulating the venturi discharge valve.

5.0) Results and analysis

Volume (litre) Manometer reading, h (mm)

Time (s) 1 2 3 4 5 6
5 29 137 135 120 127 129 131
5 21 150 140 88 114 124 135
5 19 161 152 100 128 137 148
5 14 170 155 67 116 132 150
Table 1 shows the manometer and actual water volume data.

The experimental volume flow rate is calculated using equation 6.

v
Qe  (6)
t

Qe H1-H3 Qt Qa
Qe  Qa
X 100%
Qe

0.172 17 1.25x10-4 0.126 26.75%

0.238 57 2.25x10-4 0.231 2.95%
0.263 61 2.38x10-4 0.239 9.13%
0.357 103 3.09x10-4 0.311 12.89%
Table 2 shows volume flow rate data.

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To find the theoretical value of discharge coefficient, equation 7 is used:

Qe
Cd  (7)
Qt

Qe Qt Theoretical value of discharge

coefficient (Cd)
-4
0.172 1.25x10 1376
-4
0.238 2.25x10 1057
-4
0.263 2.38x10 1105
-4
0.357 3.09x10 1155
Table 3 shows the value of the theoretical value of discharge coefficient (Cd).

Qe Experimental volume flow rate against theoretical

volume flow rate
0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
1.25 2.25 2.38 3.09 Qt (10-4)

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Discussion
For Table 1, the table show the relation between time taken to fill five liters and manometer reading.
The manometer reading can be obtained from six part, each part can represent different pressure. The
manometer reading at part 3 was the least manometer reading taken. This is because the reading reding
at part 3 was the pressure lower than other part. The time taken to fill five litre decrease when increasing
the manometer reading at part 1, however at part 3 it is become decreasing. For Table 2, shows volume
flow rate data. The experimental volume flow rate, QE increasing as the time taken decrease. The
increasing of QE made the difference in manometer reading between part 1 and 3, H1-H3 become bigger.
The actual value, QA show slightly different value compare to QE. There was some error in this
experiment that show the value taken not precise. This error maybe caused by reading intake not be
done right.

The theoretical range of Cd can be calculated by using equation 7 (7). The range obtained is between
1057 to 1376 based on Table 3. The experimental Cd obtained is out of range which is 1005. This value
obtained using the slope of QE against QT graph. The value is out of range because of the error occur
when handling the experiment. So, the experimental result can be rejected as the errors occur in the
experiment which made the experimental Cd result differ from the range of theoretical Cd.

Conclusion
Based on the experiment, the discharge coefficient (Cd) of venture meter obtained from the experiment
is 1005 which is out of the theoretical range of Cd. Next, the volume flow rate from the experiment
increase in actual volume flow rate in range between 0.126 to 0.311.

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References
1.Fox, R. W., McDonald, A. T., Pritchard, P. J., Mitchell, J. W., & Leylegian, J. C. (2016). Fluid
mechanics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
2. Çengel, Y. A., & Cimbala, J. M. (2018). Fluid mechanics: Fundamentals and applications. New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
3. White, F.M. (2011). Fluid Mechanics (7th Edition). NewYork: McGraw-Hill

4.Bernoulli's principle. (2018, September 18). Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli's_principle

5. Atta, T. (n.d.). VENTURI METER AND ORIFICE PLATE LAB REPORT. Retrieved from

https://www.green-mechanic.com/2016/11/venturi-meter-and-orifice-plate-lab.html

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