Chapter 5: Flow meters

Pitot-tube
Venturimeter
Orifice meter

Venturimeter

Orifice meter

At the end of this topic, you should be

able to:
Explain and describe how the orifice,
venture meter and pitot tube works.
2. Derive an equation to measure the quantity
of fluid flowing through the flow meters
above.
3. Apply the equation to calculate the fluid
flow.
1.

When a fluid stream is restricted , its pressure

decreases by an amount which is dependent
on the flow rate of flow through the
restriction.
The pressure difference between the sections
before & after the restriction can be used to
indicate the flow rate.

The derivation of the relationship between the

pressure difference and the volume flow rate
is the same, regardless of which device is
used.

Pitot tube

Working principle based on the velocity of

flow at a point becomes zero and the
pressure is increased due to the conversion
of the kinetic energy into pressure energy.
When uniform velocity flow hits a solid blunt body,
it has streamlines similar to:

Some move to the left and some to the right.

While the centre hits the body and stops
V1 = 0
Fluid does not move at this point (Stagnation Point)

Dynamic head is taken as the difference of liquid columns in the manometer

h2
2

h1
1

The liquid rises in the tube due to the conversion of

kinetic energy into pressure energy.
When a moving fluid is brought to rest:
additional pressure is created
magnitude of this additional pressure is proportional to
the velocity of the fluid : Dynamic Pressure Head
Consider two points , 1 & 2.

Apply Bernoullis Equation between 1 & 2

1 12
2 22
+
+ 1 =
+
+ 2
2
2

1 = 2

1 = 0

Stagnation point (where fluid is brought to rest)

1
2 22
=
+
2

1
= Total Pressure Head

22
1 2
=

= 1 2
2

2
= Static Pressure Head

2 =

22
= Dynamic Pressure Head
2

2 1 2

where,

1 2 = (differential pressure in m of the flowing fluid)

(DYNAMIC PRESSURE HEAD)

2 =

Pitot-static tube
Apply Bernoullis Equation between 1 & 2

1 12
2 22
+
+ 1 =
+
+ 2
2
2
2 = 0
Stagnation point
1 = 2
2
1 12
=
+
2
12
2 1
=
2

h
A

2 1 = +

12
2 1
=
2

Example:
A pitot-static tube is used to measure the velocity of water in a pipe. The stagnation
Pressure head is 6 m and the static pressure head is 5 m. Determine the velocity of
Water by assuming the coefficient of tube is 0.98.

Venturimeter
Consist of 3 parts:
1. A short converging section
2. Throat
3. Diverging section

1 12
2 22
+
+ 1 =
+
+ 2
2
2
1 12
2 22
+
=
+
2 2

Throat

Equation A

Converging Diverging
section
section

Applying continuity equation on section 1 & 2

1 1 = 2 2

1 1
2 =
2

substitute in Equation A

1
(
)
2
1 1
2
2 1
+
=
+
2
2

12
2

1
2

12
=
2

1 =

1 2
1 =

1
2

2
1
2

Example
1. The flow of kerosene is measured using a venturimeter. The diameter of the pipe
and The throat are 50 mm and 25 mm respectively. A differential manometer
shows a deflection of 55 mm of mercury. The coefficient of discharge is given as
0.96. Determine the volume flow rate of kerosene given that the density of
kerosene is 820 kg/m3.
2. An oil of SG of 0.8 is flowing through a venturimeter having inlet diameter of
20 cm and throat diameter of 10 cm. The oil-mercury differential manometer
shows a reading of 25 cm. Determine the volemetric discharge of the oil by
taking the coefficient discharge as 0.98.

Orifice meter

An orifice is an opening either in the side or base

of a tank. An orifice maybe circular, rectangular or
triangular in shape. Water discharges from an
orifice into the atmosphere as a jet. An orifice is
considered small when the pressure at the top
and bottom of the orifice is almost the same.

Orifice Plates

Demonstration of flow through orifice

Flow from a tank through a small orifice

1
h

Aactual

Large tank &

free surface (open to atmosphere)

Vena contracta
The streamlines at the orifice contract thus
reducing the area of flow. This contraction is
known as Vena contracta.

The discharge is in the form of jet into the atmopshere.

Apply Bernoullis Equation between 1 and 2

1 12
2 22
+
+ 1 =
+
+ 2
2
2
Assumptions and Conditions

Surface velocity is negligible (large tank),

1 = 0

Open tank and liquid flows to atmosphere,

Take point 2 as datum,

2 = 1

2 = 0

22
= 1 =
2
2 =

This velocity is an overestimate as friction losses have not been considered thus,
coefficient of velocity, Cv is introduced.
where Cv is 0.97-0.99

2 = 2

Vena contracta
Cc is coefficient of contraction
This area is about 60% of the area of
the hole of the orifice plate

Orifice Plate

Tank feeds to another

Area, A1

h1

Area, A2

h2

Orifice area, Ao

Examples:
Oil of specific gravity of 0.82 discharges from an open tank
through an orifice of diameter of 14 mm. The coefficient of
velocity and coefficient contraction is given as 0.88 and 0.62
respectively. The centre of the orifice is at a depth of 0.9 m
from the surface of the oil. Determine the diameter of the
vena contracta and the discharge of oil through the orifice.

A pipe orifice is a plate with an opening which is fitted in

a pipeline. It produces a constriction within the flow. The
cross sectional area of the flow at the orifice is much
smaller compared to the cross sectional area of the
pipeline.
The actual discharge is given by: Qact=CdQ
For a sharp edge orifice, Cd = 0.65. Even though the
accuracy of the measurement is lower compared to
venturi meter but the cost are much cheaper.

Pipe

Orifice Plate

Differential Manometer

Orifice in a pipe
Flow direction

Orifice Plate

Example:
A sharp-edged orifice meter is fitted to a 250 mm diameter pipe
carrying liquid ammonia. The orifice diameter is 100 mm. If the
measured pressure difference is 150 mm of mercury column,
determine the volume flow rate of ammonia in the pipe. The
coefficient of discharge of orifice and the density of the
liquid ammonia is 0.6 and 825 kg/m3 respectively.

Notches & Weirs

Notch

Defined as an opening in the side of a tank or a small

channel in such a way that the liquid surface in the tank or
channel is below the top edge of the opening.

Used to measure flow leaving a tank.

Nappe

h
Crest
or
Sill

Side view

Weir

A concrete structure placed in an open channel over which

the flow occurs.

It is generally in the form of a vertical wall with a sharp edge

at the top, running all the way across the open channel.

Bigger size than notch.

 Types of notch/weir:
Rectangular
V-notch
Triangular
Trapezoidal
Parabolic

Triangular/V Notch

Rectangular Notch

Discharge rate over a Rectangular Notch & Weir

Consider a rectangular notch according to the diagram.

dh

Area of the strip = B x dh

where h is measured below of
The free surface of the fluid

Theoretical velocity through the strip =

dQ = Area of strip x velocity = 2

= 2
0
3
2
= 2
3

2
= 2
3

Cd is to account for
losses at the edges of
weir/notch and contraction
0 in the area of fow

3
2
= 2
3

Discharge rate over a Notch

Consider a horizantal strip of
liquid with a thickness dh at a
depth of h from the free
surface (diagram)

Advantages of Notch over Notch

For a right angled V-notch/weir the expression for the
computation of discharge is very simple.
For a low discharges, notch gives more accurate
results than a notch.
To measure discharge rate, notch requires only one
reading, (head, h).
notch do not require ventilation.
The same notch can measure a wide range of flows
accurately.

Example
Find the discharge of water flowing over a rectangular notch
of 2 m length when the constant head over the notch is 300 mm.
Take Cd as 0.60.

Example
Determine the height of a rectangular weir of length 6 m to be
built across a rectangular channel. The maximum depth of water
on the upstream side of the weir is 1.8 m and discharge is
2000 litre/s. Take Cd as 0.6 and neglect the end contractions.

Example
The flow rate of water flowing in a 3 m wide channel is to be
measured with a sharp crested triangular weir 0.5 m above the
Channel bottom with a notch angle of 60. If the flow depth up
stream from the weir is 1.5 m, determine the volumetric flow
rate of water through the channel. Take Cd as 0.6.