Flow Meter Discharge Coefficient Estimation

Walt Williams
Group 2
ABSTRACT:
When a company designs a flow meter, the design will include
the discharge coefficient. This coefficient represents the friction losses
in the flow meter. In lab tests, the coefficients of two different meters
were determined. A Venturi meter had a value of .907 and an orifice
meter had a value of .761. The same factors that contribute to these
coefficients also contribute to energy loss through the meter. Energy
losses were also calculated in the lab. A rotameter had the highest
energy loss, while the Venturi had the lowest.
INTRODUCTION:
Obstruction flow meters are simple mechanisms fitted to the
inside of pipes to measure the flow inside the pipe. This lab tests three
different types of obstruction flow meters; Venturi, orifice, and
rotameter.
Venturi and orifice flow meters act by reducing the cross
sectional area of the pipe. The reduction in area increases velocity,
which leads to a decrease in pressure. The pressure drop can be
measured and used to calculate velocity using Bernoullis equation
(Equation 1).
2

Equation 1:

P1 V 1
P V

z1 g= 2 2 z 2 g

Though the two act using the same principles, their construction is
different. An orifice flow meter is comprised of a plate with a circular
hole in the middle, while a Venturi flow meter is a gradual decrease in
cross sectional area, then a gradual increase back to the original area
once reaching the smallest point.

Each of these flow meters adds friction and reduces vena

contracta area of the pipe, therefore decreasing the final velocity
(Cengel and Cimbala). This is accounted for in calculations by using a
discharge coefficient (Cd). Discharge coefficients are often greater than
0.5 and always less than 1. Higher Cd means less friction loss, and
lower Cd means more friction loss. Because of the abrupt obstruction
associated with orifice meters, they introduce much more friction in
the flow; therefore, their Cd is low compared to that of a Venturi meter.
The Venturi meters sloped sides help it to avoid excessive friction
losses, leading to a Cd value between 0.95 and 0.99 (Fasina).
Rotameters act differently than the previous two flow meters.
They measure flow by suspending a float in a pipe. This float is
stationary in steady flow fluids, balancing the downward force of
gravity with the upward force of the upward flow in the pipe (Sensors
Mag). The force from the flow comes from friction as the flow splits
around the float. Total upward force increases as flow increases, and
gravity remains constant, causing the float to rise. The opposite is true
of a decrease in flow. Once the rotameter is calibrated, the flow in the
pipe can be determined from the vertical position of the float. The
pressure drop from rotameters is large, compared to the previous two
flow meters, but since they give a direct reading of flow rate, no
correction value is necessary.
OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lab were to estimate the discharge
coefficients for Venturi and orifice flow meters and to quantify energy
losses due to flow through Venturi, orifice, and rotameter flow meters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Materials:

The only material used for this lab was a FNE18 Flow Meter
Module from Edibon. This device works by pumping water through a
hose that connects to three different flow meters: a venture, an orifice,
and a rotameter. Each flow meter is connected to a set of manometers
that measure differential pressure across the device. This allows
pressure drop and energy losses, to be measured. Velocity of the liquid
in the hose is given by the rotameter, and can also be calculated by
measuring flow rate out of the system.
Methods:
The lab consisted of taking 6 different readings at different
velocities between 250 and 1250 L/h. The Edibon system was set to a
velocity and pressure drop was recorded for each of the three flow
meters. Velocity was also manually tested by recording the liters of
fluid flow per minute. Once velocity and pressure were recorded, the
system was set to a new velocity and the process was repeated.
Calculations:
Over the duration of the lab time, values for velocity and
pressure were recorded. All of the following calculations use those
recorded values and common assumptions (such as density of water
and force of gravity).
Bernoullis equation is used to find energy loss. In this situation,
it can be simplified down to Equation 2. Fluid height in the manometer
is converted into energy per unit mass. The variables

z b and

za

stand for fluid height in the manometer before flow meter, and after
the flow meter, respectively. The difference between the two is energy
loss, calculated in kJ/kg.
z

Equation 2:

g
1 kJ
( bz a)
1000 J
E L =

In order to find pressure drop across the flow meter, Bernoullis

equation can be used again. This time, it simplifies down to Equation 3
and is measured in Pascals.
Equation 3:

Pd =g( z bz a )

The main purpose of this exercise was to develop a Cd value.

That was accomplished using Equation 4. Equation 4 was provided in a
lab handout. It uses the slope of the Venturi and orifice flow meter lines
in Figure 3 in conjunction with Equation 4 to calculate the Cd value. The
values for A1 and A2 are included in Figure 1.

Equation 4:

Slo pe=C d A2

( [ ])
2

A2
1
A1

Figure 1: A1 and A2 values

In addition to Cd values being calculated using experimental
data, a Cd value was also calculated using a universal equation for Cd of
an orifice meter. Equation 5 was used for orifice, though none was
available for Venturi meters. D and d are the diameters corresponding
to A1 and A2, respectively.
Equation 6:

C d=0.5959+ 0.0312

d 2.1
d8
0.184
+
D
D

91.71

d 2.5
D

0.75

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

Figures 1 shows the energy losses in the three flow meters. When
used in conjunction with the Cd value obtained through Figure 2, it is
determined that a high Cd value indicates low energy losses. Since

Venturi meters have a higher Cd value than orifice meters, they have
lower energy losses. Low energy losses make Venturi meters the most
efficient and have the lowest pressure drop of any of the three flow
meters tested in this exercise. Friction is significantly higher in
rotameters than either of the other two flow meters; this causes it to
have much higher energy losses. However, because the fluid moves
around the rotameter float, the energy loss is fairly constant regardless
of flow rate.
The slope of the trend lines in Figure 2 has been plugged into
equation 4, which was solved for the Cd value. The experimental Cd for
Venturi meters was 0.907. This is less than an 8% difference from the
general assumption for Venturi flow meters of 0.98 (Cengel and
Cimbala). The experimental orifice meter Cd was calculated in a similar
manner, and turned out to be 0.761. Orifice Cd was also calculated
using Equation 6. This Cd value turned out to 0.611, a 22% difference
from the experimental value. The differences in the two pairs of Cd
values can be attributed to inaccurate readings of the Edibon system,
and imperfect approximations made for the two calculated values.
TABLES AND FIGURES:

Venturi

Rotameter

Orifice

Figure 2: Energy Losses versus Flow Rate

0
0

f(x) = 0x

0
0
Flow Rate (m^3/s)
Venturi

0
Linear (Venturi)
0

Rotameter

Orifice

Linear (Orifice)

0
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

Square root of Pressure Drop ((Pa)^1/2)

Figure 3: Flow Rate versus Square Root of Pressure Drop

CONCLUSION:
It is difficult to know the true Cd value of the Venturi or orifice
flow meter. Since both relative errors are relatively small between
experimental and calculated, it is reasonable to consider the

60

experimental Cd values to be viable. More trials of each meter would

yield more conclusive results.
The energy loss data is much easier to read. One can look at the
information given and determine the efficiency of each flow meter by
how much energy it looses from the initial reading to the final. It is
clear that the Venturi is the most efficient, followed by the orifice, and
a not-so-close third place in efficiency for the rotameter.
CITATIONS:
Cengel, Y. A., and J. M. Cimbala. "8-8: Flow Rate and Velocity
Measurement." Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals and Applications.
3rd ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2014. 393-396. Print.
Fasina, O. Chapter 8: Internal Flow [PDF document]. 8-8: Flow Rate
and Velocity Measurement. Retrieved from
https://auburn.instructure.com/courses/922317/pages/8-internalflow
"The Basics of Rotameters." Www.sensorsmag.com. Sensors Magazine,
1 Oct. 2002. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.sensorsmag.com/sensors/flow/the-basics-rotameters1068>.