CIVE340 LAB – Experiment#1: Orifice Discharge

CIVE340 Fluid Mechanics Laboratory

Experiment #1: Orifice Discharge

Objective: Determine the discharge coefficient, Cd, for an orifice at the bottom of a
cylindrical tank based on an equation derived from the continuity equation.

Equipment: 1) Hydraulic bench

2) Orifice Apparatus
3) 3 mm and 6 mm circular edged orifices
4) Stop watch

Procedure: 1) Place the orifice apparatus on the hydrostatic bench, and attach the
3mm-diameter orifice plate.
2) Cover the orifice and fill the tank to above the 40 cm level. Keep the
orifice covered.
3) Uncover the orifice to let the water discharge through the orifice.
4) Start timing once the water level reaches h=40 cm. Record the time at
2cm-increment levels down to level h=2 cm(i.e. h=38, 36, 34, .. 2 cm).
Record time at 0.5 cm below h=2 cm down to h=0.5 cm (i.e. h= 1.5, 1.0
and 0.5 cm). Use the attached table to record the times.
5) Replace the 3mm –diameter orifice place with the 6mm – diameter and
repeat steps 1-4.

Results and 1) Derive t as function of h for the upper and lower part of the cylinder.
Analysis: Your final answers should match the following formulas:
a. Upper part:
2
⎛ DCYN ⎞
tUpper =
2
⎜ (
⎟⎟ H 01 2 − h1 2 )
Cd 2 g ⎜⎝ DORF ⎠
b. Lower part:

t Lower = t H 0 → H b +
1 (ΠDCYN − 4d )DCYN (H 1 2 − h1 2 )
Π DORF
2 b
Cd 2 g

2) Use recorded data to plot t against h (one plot per each orifice
diameter).
For each plot determine the line slopes that correspond to the
upper and lower sections of the cylinder. Calculate the
discharge coefficient Cd for each slope given that DCYN =13.7
cm, d = 6mm and g = 9.81 m/sec2

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CIVE340 LAB – Experiment#1: Orifice Discharge

Documentation: Prepare a report that contains the following:

1) Detailed derivation of the t-h relationship utilizing the control-volume
approach.
2) Records of collected data
3) Plots of t vs. h prepared as stated above.
4) Calculated slopes and their corresponding Cd.
5) Comments and Conclusions.

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CIVE340 LAB – Experiment#1: Orifice Discharge

Data Sheet

t (sec)
h (cm)
3mm-Orifice 6mm-Orifice

40.0
38.0
36.0
34.0
32.0
30.0
28.0
26.0
24.0
22.0
20.0
18.0
16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5