HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

Experiment No.6-B
Determination of the Coefficient of Discharge in an Orifice
(Falling Head)

An Orifices may also be calibrated under a falling head. Whereas the constant head
produces a steady stream of water, the falling head approach makes use of an
unsteady flow condition. When the inflow is less than the outflow then that condition is
called the falling head condition. The time required for a certain quantity of water to flow
from a reservoir can be calculated by equating the volume of water that flows through
the orifice or pipe in time to the volume decrease in the reservoir.
In an incremental time dt, the incremental decrease in volume is;

At the same increment of time, the incremental volume of discharged through the orifice
is;

Continuity of flows dictates that the decrease in volume equals volume discharged; that
is, both equations are equal and that;

But from the orifice theory, we know that;

Substituting the above equation in the continuity equation and rearranging for dt;

) (

Integrating the equation, between heights, h1 (initial height) and h2 (final height) and
time from t1 (initial time) and t2 (final time), we have an equation which determines the
time to discharge contents of a tank between two levels. If the tank has a constant
cross-section, as can be taken out of the integral sign, the following equation results;
(

])(

Solving for Cd, we have;

(

EXPT.No.3.b

])(

HYDRAUL

HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

Where:
Cd
AT
Ao
T
h1
h2

EXPT.No.3.b

- coefficient of discharge of an orifice

- cross-sectional area of orifice tank
- cross-sectional area of orifice
- time elapsed between marks
- initial height of water surface
- final height of water surface

HYDRAUL

HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

I.

Experiment Objectives
-

II.

To demonstrate the characteristics of flow over an orifice.

To determine the discharge coefficient of an orifice under falling head.

Materials and Apparatuses Required

The apparatuses necessary to perform this experiment are the following:

III.

Orifice
Orifice Tank
Calibrating bucket/container
Stopwatch
Ruler
Water Hose

Procedures
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Select an orifice to be screwed in the orifice tank.

Set four heights h by marking different levels on the header tank.
Record these heights between intervals.
Fill the tank with water to an overflow level and close the inlet pipe.
Let the water surface be a little higher than the highest mark. The water surface
will go down since there is an opening.
f) When the water level reaches the first mark, start the timer and when it reaches
the second mark, stop the timer.
g) Repeat the procedure up to the last mark and record the time that elapses
between the marks.
h) Compute for the coefficient of discharge using the equation;
(

])(

i) Make three trials.

EXPT.No.3.b

HYDRAUL

HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

IV.

Laboratory Data
Diameter of Orifice
Area of Orifice (Ao)
Area of Orifice Tank (AT)

:
:
:

__________
__________
__________

TIME

COEFFICIENT OF
DISCHARGE

HEIGHT

TRIAL SEGMENT
ti

tf

hi

hf

hi - hf

Cd

Cd(AVERAGE)

1 to 2
1

2 to 3
3 to 4
1 to 2

2 to 3
3 to 4
1 to 2

2 to 3
3 to 4
COEFFICIENT OF DISCHARGE, Cd

EXPT.No.3.b

HYDRAUL

HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

V.

Observations
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VI.

Conclusions
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EXPT.No.3.b

HYDRAUL