Mapua Institute of Technology

School of Civil Engineering Environmental and Sanitary Engineering

Hydraulics Laboratory

Experiment No. 5
Flow through an Orifice

Name: Bautista, Derwin Daniel C.

Student #: 2008103322
Program & Year: CE / 3
Course code & Sec: CE140-OP / B2 (Fluid mechanics)
Group #: 5
Group Members: Espejo, Mhello; Ramos, Jomar; Bautista, Derwin
Date Performed: November 12, 2010
Date Submitted: November 25, 2010
Ratings

Engr. Fibor J. Tan

Instructor

HYDRAULICS DEPARTMENT
Name:_Bautista, Derwin Daniel C.__________________________________________
Subject & Section: _CE140-0P / B2____________ Date Performed: _November 12, 2010_
Instructor: __Engr. Fibor J. Tan______________ Date Submitted: _November 25, 2010_

EXPERIMENT NO. 5
FLOW THROUGH AN ORIFICE
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the coefficient of discharge, velocity, and contraction of a small orifice.
EQUIPMENT:
Hydraulics Bench
Stopwatch
Flow through an Orifice Apparatus

Water Inlet

Manometer

Diffuser

Constant head overflow

Tapping
Pilot Tube

Orifice
To sump tank

To volumetric tank

DERIVATION:
From the application of Bernoullis Equation (conservation of mechanical energy for
a steady, incompressible frictionless flow):
The ideal orifice outflow velocity at the jet vena contracta (narrowest diameter) is

V i= 2 gh
where h is the height of fluid above the orifice.
The actual velocity is

V =C v 2 gh
Cv
therefore

Hence

is the coefficient of velocity, which allows for the effects of viscosity and

C v <1. For the Pitot tube

C v=

hc =

v
2g

; ie.

V i = 2 g h c

hc
ho

The actual flow rate of the jet is defined as :

Qt =A c V
where

Ac

is the cross-sectional area of the vena contracta, given by :

A c d2c
C c= = 2
Ao do

A c =C c A o

where

Ao

is the orifice are and

Cc

is the coefficient of contraction and, therefore,

Hence

Qt =A o Cc C v 2 gh

Cc

<1

The product

CcCv

is called the discharge coefficient,

C d , so finally

Q t =A o C d 2 gh
If

C d is assumed to be constant, then a graph of

linear and the slope,

Qt

plotted against

will be

S= A o C d 2 g

PROCEDURE:
(Equipment Set-up)
1. Position the apparatus across the channel on top of the hydraulic bench and
level it using the adjustable feet and the spirit level on the base. Connect the
flexible inlet pipe to the hydraulic bench snap connector in the top channel.
Place the end of the overflow tube directly into the hydraulics bench overflow
(located in the side wall of the volumetric tank), and adjust the inlet pipe to
the approximate level of the head required for the experiment.
2. Remove the orifice plate from the recess in the cylinder base, by releasing
the two screws (take care not to lose the ring seal). Check the orifice profile.
3. Replace the required orifice. The sharp-edge orifice (if used) should be
installed with the sharp edge uppermost.
4. Turn on the pump and open the bench valve gradually. As the water level
rises in the reservoir towards the top of the overflow tube, adjust the bench
valve to give a water level of 2 to 3 mm above the overflow level, with the
end of the inlet tube fully submerged. This will ensure a constant head and
produce a steady flow through the orifice.
(Taking a Set of Results)
In the first part of the experiment, adjust the overflow pipe and the inlet pipe as
described above, o obtain a constant head height.
Determination of the Coefficient of Discharge

To measure Cd, the discharge is obtained by collection of a known quantity of water

from the orifice in the volumetric tank, and recording the value of the head ho on
the orifice.
Determination of the Coefficient of Velocity
To measure Cv, the Pitot tube is inserted into the emerging jet close to the
underside tank, and the values of the Pitot head hc and head ho on the orifice are
noted.

Determination of the Coefficient of Contraction (Sharp-Edged Orifice)

This should be done using the sharp-edge orifice, as there is likely to be insufficient
contraction to obtain a reliable value for the other orifices.
1. Measure Cc t is necessary to find the diameter of the jet at the vena
contracta. This is done by the utilizing the fine wire attached to the head of
the Pitot tube, the plane of the wire being normal to the direction of traverse
of the tube. The wire is brought to each edge of the jet in turn, just below the
tank, and the position of the tube as read on the lead screws and graduated
nut read in each case. The difference of the readings represents the diameter
of the jet.
2. The second part of the experiment the inflow to the tank is reduced to lower
the level in the tank stages, the discharge from the orifice being measured at
each stage. Care should be taken to allow the level to settle to a steady
value after the inflow to the tan has been changed, and it is advisable to
read this level several times while the discharge is being collected and to
record the mean value over the timed interval. About eight difference flow
rates should be sufficient to establish the relationship between discharge and
head on the orifice.
Application Principle:
1. Is it justifiable to assume that Cd is a constant over the range of steady flows
tested?
2. Why are the Cd values significantly less than 1.00?

3. Comparing Cd values for the steady and the falling head tests, which value is
likely to be more reliable?

FINAL DATA SHEET

NAME:__Bautista, Derwin Daniel C.__________________________________
2010_____________

DATE:___October 12,

SUBJECT & SECTION:__CE140-0P / B2___________________________________

NO._________5________________

GROUP

SEAT NO._________

EXPERIMENT NO.5
FLOW THROUGH AN ORIFICE
Orifice
Diamete
r
do
(m)

Vena
Contract
a
Diamete
r
do

Orific
e
Head

Pitot
Hea
d

Volum
e

Tim
e

Flow
Rate
Qt

ho

hc

(m)

(m)

V
3
( m )

(m)

T
(sec
)

(
3

m /s

Coeff.
Of
Dischar
ge

Coeff.
Of
Velocity

Coeff. Of
Contracti
on

(C t)

(C c )

0.57

0.975

0.714

0.696

0.61

0.978

0.805

0.787

0.63

0.978

0.818

0.800

0.59

0.976

0.845

0.825

(C d )

0.01349

0.0114

0.375

0.01349

0.0121

0.372

0.01349

0.0122

0.374

0.01349

0.0124

0.373

0.35
7
0.35
6
0.35
8
0.35
5

0.005

22.5

0.005

21.0
6
20.7
0
21.0
5

0.005
0.005

2.22x1
0-4
2.37x1
0-4
2.42x1
0-4
2.29x1
0-4

SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS
Trial 1. Derivations on Procedure
Given :

Orifice , d o =0.01349 m
Vena Contracta, d c =0.0114 m
Orifice Head , ho =0.375 m
Pitot Head ,h c =0.357 m
Volume , V =0.005 m3
Time , t=22.5 s
Constant , g=9.81 m/ s2

Area of Orifice , A= ( 0.01349)2 =1.429 104 m2

4

Flow Rate :Q=

V 0.005
m3
=
=2.22 104
t
22.5
s

Velocity : v o = 2 g ho = 2 ( 9.81 ) ( 0.375)=2.712m/ s

Coefficient of Discharge : c d=

Coefficient of Velocity : c v =

Q
2.22 104
=
=0.57
Av ( 1.429 104 ) (2.712)

hc
0.357
=
=0.98
ho
0.375

Coefficient of Contraction : c c =(

k =c v c c =( 0.714 ) ( 0.98 )=0.696

dc 2
0.0114 2
) =(
) =0.714
do
0.01349

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In this experiment, the performers must be able to determine the values of
the coefficient of discharge (cd), coefficient of velocity (c v), and coefficient of
contraction (cc) when a fluid is flowing through an orifice. An orifice refers to the
opening or a hole in a container that causes flowing of fluid initially at rest or that
causes continuous flow. Assuming the flow to be frictionless, the unknowns to be
considered are the flow rate, discharge velocity, and the cross-section of the fluid.
The coefficient of discharge is the ratio of the actual flow rate that can be done by
recording the time it takes to fill a certain volume of the fluid and the ideal flow
rate or the flow rate at the orifice. It can be assumed that the flow is steady-state
or the flow rate remains constant. But, in this case, the flow rates are assumed to
have a certain correction factor, or in this case, the coefficient of discharge (c d). For
the coefficient of velocity or the ratio of the actual and the ideal discharge velocity,
the ideal and the actual discharge velocity can be determined by the equation
v =2 gh . The ideal can be achieved by measuring the orifice head (velocity
where friction is assumed to be negligible) and the actual velocity by measuring
the pitot head. Finally, the coefficient of contraction can be determined by the ratio
of the area of the orifice and the vena contracta or the narrowest cross-section at
the outflow. As the experiment progresses, the coefficient of discharge can also be
expressed as the product of the coefficient of velocity and contraction.
Possible source of errors committed in this experiment is primarily the
inaccuracy of the instruments that are used to measure particularly the calliper to
measure the pitot head and the diameter of the vena contracta. Comparing the
value of the coefficient of discharge and k, it can be said that the results obtained
arent precise or accurate. As previously stated, the wrong measurement of the
vena contracta diameter and the pitot head causes error in calculating the
coefficient of contraction and velocity. Therefore, it causes the discrepancy of k and
the coefficient of discharge to be high. Also, in measuring the vena contracta, it is

inevitable to measure the wrong cross-section. Thus, even with the accurate data,
misuse of the equations and the formulae is the primary reason the error is
committed.

ANSWERS TO APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLE

1. Is it justifiable to assume that Cd is a constant over the range of steady flows
tested?
The assumption that the coefficient of discharge is constant over the range
of steady flows tested is due to the fact that the discharge velocity and the flow
rate to be determined are constant and readable by means of a rational
number. In addition, the coefficient of discharge acts as the correction factor for
the ideal and actual flow rate since it was assumed that the actual flow rate is
equal to the ideal flow rate multiplied by the coefficient of discharge. Therefore,
it was justifiable to assume that the coefficient of discharge is a constant.
2. Why are the Cd values significantly less than 1.00?
The values of the coefficient of discharge or Cd is relatively small that it is lesser
than 1.00 given that every actual values are smaller than the ideal values such
that in the discharge velocity, the pitot head is smaller than that of the orifice
head due to the fact that friction loss is considered also on the flow rate, it was
actually measured by determining the time for a certain volume of a fluid to
flow while on the theoretical value wherein friction loss is neglected.
3. Comparing Cd values for the steady and the falling head tests, which value is
likely to be more reliable?
As observed on the values, using the steady test will be reliable in obtaining
the value for the coefficient of discharge given that using falling head tests,
more measurements are required and simple error committed may cause
inaccuracy and the discrepancy to be higher. Therefore, in order to obtain more

precise data, go for the method with fewer unknowns to be measured for faster
and safer or more efficient results.

CONCLUSION
Going further, the performers can generalize that coefficients are
significantly less than one because all of the denominators in the ratio are the
theoretical values wherein no any losses are present. It actually means that the
theoretical values are greater than the actual values and therefore there is no way
the coefficient could exceed one. The purpose of these coefficients is that they
balance the ideal values obtained by pure calculations based on derived formulas
by earlier studies with an assumption that the friction loss must be neglected. The
coefficients serve as corrections to the theoretical values to obtain the actual ones
without actually physically measuring the parameters which are impractical. There
can also be a generalization that the performed experiment is a practical
application of the Bernoullis Theorem.

It is recommended for reduction of possible causes of errors in this

experiment is through further knowledge and learning of the experiments that will
be performed. The procedure and other concepts must be read carefully and must
be familiarized. In addition, it was recommended to use other materials that yield
more accurate results.

Practical Application of this experiment is the orifice meter. The orifice meter
consists of a flat orifice plate with a circular hole drilled in it. There is a pressure
tap upstream from the orifice plate and another just downstream. There are in

general three methods of placing the taps. The coefficient of the meter depends
upon the position of taps.

Flange location - Tap location 1 inch upstream and 1

inch downstream from face of orifice

"Vena Contracta" location - Tap location 1

diameter (actual inside) upstream and 0.3
0.8 pipe diameter downstream from face of
orifice

Pipe location - Tap location 2.5 times nominal pipe diameter

upstream and 8 times nominal pipe diameter downstream from face of
orifice

pipe
to

REFERENCES

Fluid Mechanics, Fundamentals and Applications, Y. A. Cengel, J. M. Cimbala,

2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, 2009.
Besavilla, V. (1996) Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics.
Orifice, Nozzle, and Venturi Flow Rate Meters (n. d.) Retrieved November 20,
2010
from:
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/orifice-nozzle-venturid_590.html
Orifice
Plate
(n.
d.)
Retrieved
November
20,
2010
from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orifice_plate
Calibrated
Orifice
(n.
d.)
Retrieved
November
21,
2010
from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibrated_orifice
Applications of the Bernoullis Equation (n. d.) Retrieved November 21, 2010
from:
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/physics/mechanics/fluidmechanic
s/dynamics/Applications/Applications.htm
Flow through an Orifice (n. d.) Retrieved November 22, 2010 from:
http://opencourseware.kfupm.edu.sa/colleges/ces/ae/ae420/files%5C2Lectures_Lecture_4.pdf
Flow through an Orifice (n. d.) Retrieved November 22, 2010 from:
http://home.wlu.edu/~kuehnerj/311/orifice.pdf
Coefficient of Discharge (n. d.) Retrieved November 23, 2010 from:
http://mysite.du.edu/~jcalvert/tech/fluids/orifice.htm