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Mapua Institute of Technology

School of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biological


Engineering and Material Science and Engineering

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1


EXPERIMENT 3: DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE
METER)
Bismonte, Ma. Elizabetha, Gara, John Patrick N.a, Surnit, Rebecca T.a,
Tabaquero, Renz James T.a
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Mapua Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and
Chemical Engineering
a

ARTICLE INFO
Keywords:
Orifice Meter
Coefficient of Discharge
Manometer Reading
Pressure Drop
Date Performed
October 28, 2014
Date Submitted
November 10, 2014

ABSTRACT
The objectives of this
experiment
were
to
generate a calibration
curve for the orifice
meter, compare it with
the curve of rotameter
and
determine
the
effect of increasing the
mass flow rate of water
to the coefficient of
discharge of the orifice
meter. An orifice meter
was used to collect data
for different mass of water with corresponding
manometer reading. The mass flow rate, pressure
drop and discharge coefficients were calculated for
every trial using the equations. A graph was formed
showing the relationship of the manometer reading
and the mass flow rate in the orifice meter. Based
from the calibration curve, the experiment concluded
that as the manometer reading increases, the
corresponding pressure drop also increases. It was
also determined that the increasing mass flow rate of
water increases the coefficient of discharge of the
orifice meter.
Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 1

1. INTRODUCTION
Fixed restriction variable head
type flow meters using different
sensors like orifice plate, venture
tube, flow nozzle, pitot tube, dall
tube, the quantity meters like
positive displacement meters and the
mass flow meters are the popular
types of mechanical flow meters.2
In the variable head type flow
meters, a restriction of known
dimensions is generally
introduced
into
pipeline,
consequently, there occurs a head
loss or pressure drop at the restriction
with increase in the flow velocity.
Measurement of this pressure drop is
an indication of the flow rate.3

volumetric flow rate.6


Cd = qactual/qideal
where: qactual = actual volumetric flow
rate
qideal = ideal volumetric flow rate
Flow
Coefficient
represented by
K=Cd / 1 4

(K)

is

where: K = Flow coefficient


Cd = discharge coefficient
= ratio of diameters = d/D
1/ 1 4

is known as velocity

approach factor

Most variable head meters


depend on a restriction in the flow
path to produce a change
in velocity. For the usual circular pipe,
the beta ratio is the ratio between the
diameter of the
restriction and the inside diameter of
the pipe.6
= d/D
where: d = diameter of the restriction
D = inside diameter of the pipe
Discharge coefficient, Cd, is
defined as the ratio between actual
volumetric flow rate and ideal
Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 2

Measuring fluid flow with an


orifice
and
differential
pressure
manometer, as shown in
Fig. 1.2, requires that the effect of the
fluid over the manometer liquid be
taken into account.
Furthermore, the pressure differential
at the orifice is usually expressed in
liquid-column
height.5 Then,
P1 P2 = (m f)h
where: h = differential at restriction,
liquid column height
m
=
weight
density
of
manometer fluid
f = weight density of fluid over
the manometer fluid

importance. The sharp edge results in


an almost pure line contact between
the plate and the effective flow, with
the negligible fluid-to-metal friction
drag at the boundary.6

Finally if the flow rate is to be


converted at the control room
temperature at which the fluid density
iss,
then
from
the
previous
equations:

2 gh( m f )
( ) = KA
Q = KA2
2
s

There were three objectives of


the experiment. First, to generate a
calibration curve for the orifice meter.
Second, to compare the calibration
curves of the orifice meter and of the
rotameter. Lastly, to determine the
effect of increasing the mass flow rate
of water to the coefficient of discharge
of the orifice.1

2 gh

( m f )
s

An orifice flow meter is the most


common head type flow measuring
device. An orifice plate is inserted in
the pipeline and the differential
pressure across it is measured. The
orifice plate inserted in the pipeline
causes an increase in flow velocity
and a corresponding
decrease in pressure. The flow pattern
shows an effective decrease in cross
section beyond the orifice plate, with
a maximum velocity and minimum
pressure at the vena contracta.4
The flow pattern and the sharp
leading edge produced by the orifice
plate (Fig. 1.3) are of major

2. METHODOLOGY

The equipment and materials


used in this experiment were the fluidflow set-up equipped with rotameter,
orifice and manometer, the weighing
balance,
water
tanks
and
a
stopwatch.1
Several steps were done in
performing the experiment. First, a
water tank was placed on top of the
weighing scale. The water tank was
directly placed near the discharge
valve of the fluid-flow set-up. Then,
the initial weight of the water tank
was determined and recorded. The
rotameter valve was opened slowly to
the first gauge reading. The plummet
was allowed to stabilize. Next, water
was collected for thirty seconds while

Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 3

simultaneously
reading
the
manometer. The final weight of the
water tank was determined and
recorded. The mass flow rate of the
water was computed and recorded.
Afterwards, the manometer reading
was recorded and the corresponding
pressure drop was calculated. The
coefficient of discharge was computed
using the given equations and
gathered data. Several trials were
performed at different increasing
rotameter
readings.
Finally,
the
calibration curve of the orifice meter
was made by plotting manometer
reading (y-axis) versus the mass flow
rate (x-axis) in a graphing paper.1

DATA 2: DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT OF ORIFICE


Specific
Gravities

Diameters,
inch

Are
as,
m2

Tempe
rature

26 0C

Wat
er

1.0

Orific
e

0.60

S0 =
1.82
E-4

Water
Densit
y

996.8
kg/m3

Mer
cur
y

13.534

Pipe

1.049

S1 =
1.82
E-4

=
d0/d1

0.572

Rot
am
eter
Rea
din
g

Mass
Flow
Rate,
kg/sec

U1,
m/s

U0,
m/s

Man
ome
ter
Rea
ding
,
cm
Hg

-P/,
Nm/kg

C0

0.1233

0.222
1

0.678
8

0.3

0.368
5

0.747
2

0.1667

0.300
2

0.917
5

0.5

0.614
2

0.782
3

0.2233

0.402
2

1.229
3

0.6

0.737
0

0.956
8

0.28

0.504
3

1.541
3

0.7

0.859
8

1.110
7

0.327

0.588
9

1.799
9

1.5

1.842
5

0.886
0

11

0.3733

0.672
3

2.054
8

2.3

2.825
2

0.816
9

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

TABLE 1

DATA 1: CALIBRATION CURVE OF THE ORIFICE


Rotamet
er
Reading

Manomet
er
Reading,
cmHg

Mass
of
Water,
kg

Time,
sec

0.3

3.7

30
30

0.5

5.0

Mass
Flow
Rate,
kg/sec
0.1233
0.1667

30
5

0.6

6.7

0.2233
30

0.7

8.4

0.28
30

1.5

9.8

0.327
30

11

2.3

11.2

0.3733

FIGURE 1: CALIBRATION CURVE FOR THE


ORIFICE METER

TABLE 2

Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 4

Mass Flow Rate (kg/sec) VS Manometer Reading (cmHg)


2.5

Cross-sectional area of
the pipe, S0

(d 02)
S 0=
4

Velocity of the fluid


through the pipe, U1

U 1=

Velocity of the fluid


through the orifice, U0

U0

2
1.5

m1
S1

1
0.5
0
0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Pressure drop, -P/

FIGURE 2: CALIBRATION CURVE FOR THE


ROTAMETER
Mass Flow Rate (kg/sec) VS Rotameter Reading
12

P
Hg
g
=Rm
1 ( )

gc

Discharge coefficient, Co

U 0=C o

P
)

1 4

2 gc(

Where:
= ratio of orifice diameter to pipe diameter, d0/d1

10

m1 = mass flow rate of fluid

8
6

Rm = manometer reading

Hg = density of mercury

= density of water

0
0.1

1 2
U 1( )

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

The experiment was performed for


several trials in order to see clearly the
relationship of the different parameters
involved in the orifice meter. Each trial
was done in 30 seconds as basis for the
data.

TABLE 3

EQUATIONS USED IN THE CALCULATIONS


Cross-sectional area of
the pipe, S1

(d 1 )
S 1=
4

From the Table 1, an apparent


relationship was observed between the
manometer reading, the mass of water
and the mass flow rate from all the trials.

Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 5

The said three parameters were seen as


directly proportional from each other.

In Table 2, more factors were


considered in the data, such as the
velocity in the orifice and pipe,
respectively, the pressure drop and the
coefficient of discharge. The time,
densities of water and mercury, and
diameters of the orifice and pipe were
constant for the whole computations. The
velocity of the fluid through the pipe was
increased as the mass flow rate of water
increased. At the same time, the velocity
of the fluid through the orifice was found
to be increased simultaneously. This
pattern was very evident because the
velocity of the fluid through the pipe was
directly proportional to the velocity
through the orifice as shown by the
equations. Since the increasing mass flow
of water was accompanied by the
increasing
manometer
reading,
an
increasing pressure drop was also seen in
the table. The values were brought by the
equation for the pressure drop indicating
its
direct
proportionality
with
the
manometer reading since the densities
remained constant for all the trials. On
the other hand, the coefficient of
discharge, Co, did not show a pattern of
increasing value with the rest of the
parameters in the table. This showed its
dependence on the pressure loss, velocity
of the fluid through the orifice and mass
flow rate of water. From Table 1, the trials
1 to 4 showed that as the mass flow rate
of
water
was
increased,
the
corresponding computed coefficient of
discharge (Co) also increased.

The calibration curve of the orifice


meter in Figure 1 showed a direct
proportionality between the mass of flow
rate and the manometer reading. The
graph for the rotameter in Figure 2
displayed a direct proportionality of the

mass flow rate of water with the


rotameter reading. The graph for orifice
meter was curve in nature in contrast to
the one for rotameter that showed
linearity.

4. CONCLUSION
The experiment was able to attain
its objectives. A calibration for the orifice
meter was generated and compared with
the graph of the rotameter. Using the
gathered
data
and
calculations
performed, the effect of increasing the
mass flow rate of water to the coefficient
of discharge was also determined.
Based from the tables and graphs
presented, several conclusions were
made. As the mass flow rate increases,
the velocities of the fluid through the pipe
and orifice, respectively, also increase.
Also, the increasing mass flow rate is
accompanied
by
an
increasing
manometer reading, resulting to an
increasing pressure drop. From the data,
majority of the trials showed that when
the mass flow rate increases, the
corresponding coefficient of discharge, C o,
also increases.
The graph plotted for the orifice
meter did not show a perfect curve. This
may be accounted from the data
tabulated. Thus, an -improvement in data
gathering is considered a factor in order
to produce a more accurate calibration
curve.

5. REFERENCES
[1] Gutierrez, Cecilia L. and Ngo,
Roberto L. (2005). Chemical
Engineering Laboratory Manual
Part 1, 17-25.
[2] Geankoplis, Christie J. (2012).
Transport Processes and

Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 6

Separation Process Principles, 4th


Ed., 139-141.
[3] Perry, Robert H. and D. Green (1984).
Perrys Chemical Engineers Handbook,
8th Ed., 8-59.
[4] Larry W. Mays (1999). Hydraulic
Design Handbook.
[5] Joseph H. Spurk and Nuri Aksel (2 nd
Edition). Fluid Mechanics.
[6] https://www.idconline.com/technical_references/pdfs/instr

umentation/Industrial_Instrumentation
%20-%20Flow.pdf. Industrial
Instrumentation.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The group would like to thank God
for the talents and resources He
bestowed. The group would like to
thank Dr. Allan Soriano and the
laboratory
assistant
for
their
knowledge and guidance in the
experiments theory and procedures.

Expt.3 | DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT (ORIFICE METER) 7

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