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MEQ 2018/19

Claudia Hernández
Sergio Rodríguez

LABORATORY PRACTICE: Venturi Tube (Fluid Dynamics)

Introduction
In this laboratory practice we design a system for different pipes where a stream of water
circulates at different flow rates. We have a Venturi tube to measure the flow and, therefore,
we can choose the appropriate operating conditions for each case. Notwithstanding, first we
need to calibrate the Venturi tube in order to avoid the cavitation phenomenon inside the
pipe. Then, we will be able to decide the appropriate range of operation.

Objective
Characterize the Venturi tube by establishing the discharge coefficient and the pressure drop
at different flow rates, as well as the limits of operation in order to avoid cavitation in the
system.

Engineering diagram of the equipment


The main theoretical concepts of fluid dynamics of this practice for both the Venturi tube and
Orifice plate are described in Annex 1.

Figure 1. Engineering diagram of the equipment.

Methodology
 Calculation of volumetric flow
First of all, it is necessary to determine the volumetric flow for the characterization of the
Venturi tube. There are two possible options for obtaining values of volumetric flow:

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MEQ 2018/19
Claudia Hernández
Sergio Rodríguez

1. Calculating how much time it takes to fill with water the volume integrated in the
equipment with equation 1.

(1)

For this practice, 11 different flow rates have been regulated with the pump of the equipment.
Moreover, each flow has been measured three times in order to be as accurate as possible,
and it has been considered the average of these three as the volumetric flow rate of each
experience. Thus, the results of the experiences are shown in Annex 3 considering that the
area of our control volume is 639.59 cm (See Annex 2 for the Area calculation).

2. Calibrating the orifice plate in order to obtain a lineal relationship between the flow and
the pressure drop. By establishing different flow rates with the pump and measuring ΔP
for each of these, we can obtain the volumetric flow values using the Bernoulli and
continuity equations (see Annex 4). This method is more accurate than the previously
described since human errors are avoided. Hence, the calibration line is shown in Graphic
1.

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Graphic 1 . Orifice Plate Calibration: Lineal relationship between volumetric flow and ΔP.

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Note: In order to obtain an accurate calibration line, from 10 to 15 measurements must be done. In
this case, however, due to experimental reasons we could not obtain more than 5.

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MEQ 2018/19
Claudia Hernández
Sergio Rodríguez

 Characterization of the Venturi tube

For the Venturi tube experience, the pressure drop of the critical section is measured with a
digital manometer. Then, as previously detailed, we can obtain the volumetric flow rates from
two different calculations. Nevertheless, as the calibration line is done with 5 experiences, we
consider more precise to obtain the volumetric flow rates from option 1 which was carried out
for 11 different flows.

Finally, we can characterize the Venturi tube by using the formulas of Bernoulli and continuity
equations in order to obtain the discharge coefficient (shown in Results and Analysis).

It is important to stress that we had to consider high flows since otherwise the ΔP was not
appreciable in the digital manometer. Having said that, the results of the Venturi tube are
shown in Annex 5. Moreover, the pressure drop throughout the Venturi tube is shown in
Annex 6.

It is extremely important to point out that during the realization of the experiences cavitation
could have taken place. Notwithstanding, we have not appreciated this phenomenon, but we
should have calculated the pressure range with a vacuum gauge in order to assure that our
results were not altered by it.

Results and Analysis


 Venturi tube
The calculations of experience 1 for obtaining the velocity coefficient are shown below:

Volumetric Flow:
̇( )

(N/m2):

Fluid’s velocity in the tube:


̇( ) ̇( )

Reynolds number:

( ) ( )

*: In Annex 8 it is detailed how to calculate the hydraulic diameter for a rectangular section.

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MEQ 2018/19
Claudia Hernández
Sergio Rodríguez

Fluid’s velocity coefficient “Cv”:


̇( )

| |( )

( )√ ( ( ) )
( )

The results of all the experiences are shown in Annex 5. These are represented in Graphic 2 –
Reynolds Number versus the velocity coefficient. As it can be seen, the ideal Cv number is 1
(generally from 0.7 to 1), and in our case it is around 1-1.3, which suggests us that the
experimental data has resulted in higher results than expected. This can be related to the fact
of having experimental errors such as inaccurate measurements of the volume of the
equipment.

1.50

1.40

1.30

1.20
Cv

1.10

1.00

0.90

0.80

0.70
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000

Re
Graphic 2. Reynolds number versus the velocity coefficient (Cv).

 Orifice plate
Considering the same formulas as for the Venturi tube we obtain the expression of the
discharge coefficient to characterize the orifice plate.

Discharge coefficient
̇( )

| |( ) √
( )√ ( ( ) )

( )

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MEQ 2018/19
Claudia Hernández
Sergio Rodríguez

The results of the 5 experiences are shown in Annex 7 and represented in Graphic 3 – Reynolds
number versus discharge coefficient Cd. The points represented are perfectly united drawing a
curve, which means that the results of the Orifice plate are not far from the ideal ones; being
the discharge coefficient around 0.2-0.35.

0.45

0.40

0.35
Cd

0.30

0.25

0.20
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000
Re

Graphic 3. Reynolds number versus the Discharge Coefficient (Cd).

Conclusion
The characterization of the Venturi tube has been successfully achieved by establishing the
discharge coefficient and the pressure drop at different flow rates, as well as calibrating the
orifice plate. Furthermore, we have not experienced the phenomenon of cavitation inside the
pipe. It is highly important to stress that the areas and volumes’ measurements of the
equipment, were not accurate enough to perform properly the laboratory practice. These
measurements were made with a ruler since they were not established as facts of the practice.

Having said that, the velocity coefficient of the Venturi tube is affected by these experimental
errors, and therefore, it is not as accurate as expected; being these between 1.1-1.4.
Nevertheless, we can conclude that the trend line of the velocity coefficient versus the
Reynolds number is correct. Conversely, the areas of the orifice plate were given as facts of the
practice and hence, the results are accurate.

In conclusion, our design of different pipes where a stream of water circulates at different flow
rates can operate at a range of, approximately between 1247 to 4973 cm3/s.

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MEQ 2018/19
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Sergio Rodríguez

Annex
1. Theoretical Concepts

The main theoretical concepts of fluid dynamics of this practice are described below for both
the Venturi tube and Orifice plate.

 Venturi Tube
It consists in the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a
constricted section of a pipe.

The different sections of the Venturi tube are shown in Figure 1, however, we focus on the
area 1-2 because it is the critical one; being 2 the contracted area of the Venturi where the
section and pressure decrease dramatically, and conversely, velocity increases. Therefore, the
drop pressure, henceforth ΔP, is the highest in 1-2, being P1>P2 and V2>V1.

Figure 2. Sections of the Venturi Tube.

 Orifice plate
It is a device used for measuring flow rate, for reducing pressure or for restricting flow. Unlike
the Venturi tube, the orifice plate has one point to measure the drop pressure, which is the
difference of pressure between the entrance diameter and the contracted area as it is shown
in Figure 2. Consequently, when the area decreases, so does the pressure, and the velocity
increases. This device is less accurate than the Venturi tube but more economical.

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MEQ 2018/19
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Sergio Rodríguez

Figure 3. Orifice Plate Sections.

2. Calculation Volumetric Flow Rate – Vessel Area

The area of the vessel where the flow rate liquid falls is the following:

The green area will be the area where liquid will be occupied, so we have to avoid the red area
to obtain de total area available.

In this case, the operations that we have to do are the following:

Total Area = Green Area rectangle – Red area square – Red area circumference

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MEQ 2018/19
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Sergio Rodríguez

3. Calculations of Volumetric Flow Rates

Table 1. The average of the three volumetric flow rates calculated.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q1-1 (cm3/s) 1262 1742 2490 3613 5452 5374
Q1-2 (cm3/s) 1250 1740 2485 3609 5446 5372
Q3-3 (cm3/s) 1230 1747 2492 3618 5459 5373
Average(cm3/s) 1247 1743 2489 3613 5452 5373

Experience 7 8 9 10 11
Q1-1 (cm3/s) 6835 4582 5961 6814 4974
Q1-2 (cm3/s) 6833 4579 5960 6812 4971
Q3-3 (cm3/s) 6834 4581 5963 6815 4973
Average(cm3/s) 6834 4581 5961 6814 4973
.

Table 2. Results of volumetric flow rates measurements.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5 6
h (cm) 30 50 60 70 100 70
t (s) 15 18.3 15.6 12.5 11.2 8.1
Qv (cm3/s) 1262 1742 2490 3613 5452 5374

Experience 7 8 9 10 11
h (cm) 70 70 70 70 70
t (s) 6.5 9.8 7.5 6.5 9
Qv (cm3/s) 6835 4582 5961 6814 4974

4. Bernoulli and Continuity Equations

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MEQ 2018/19
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Sergio Rodríguez

5. Venturi Tube Results

Table 3. Results of the contracted area of the Venturi tube.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5 6
-3 -3 -3 -3 -3
Qv (m3/s) 1.2·10 1.7·10 2.5·10 3.6·10 5.4·10 5.4·10-3
∆p (N/m2) 1·104 1.20·104 2.5·104 6·104 1.25·105 1.3·105
c1 (m/s) 0.78 1.09 1.55 2.25 3.40 3.35
Re1 6131 8569 12232 17757 26795 26407
Cv 1.05 1.34 1.31 1.26 1.30 1.26

Experience 7 8 9 10 11
Qv (m3/s) 6.8·10-3 4.6·10-3 6.0·10-3 6.81·10-3 5.0·10-3
∆p (N/m2) 1.7·105 8.3·104 1.4·105 1.9·105 1·105
c1 (m/s) 4.27 2.86 3.72 4.25 3.10
Re1 33584 22511 29296 33484 24437
Cv 1.40 1.34 1.34 1.33 1.33

6. ΔP and Volumetric Flow Rates throughout the Venturi Tube length

Table 4. Experimental data of outlet L= 0.69 cm.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5
Qv (cm3/s) 1247 1743 2489 3613 5452
∆p (mbar) 15 40 95 205 450

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MEQ 2018/19
Claudia Hernández
Sergio Rodríguez

Table 5. Experimental data of outlet L = 0.75 cm.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5
Qv (cm3/s) 1247 1743 2489 3613 5452
∆p (mbar) 10 25 70 140 305

Table 6. Experimental data of outlet L= 0.865 cm.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5

Qv (cm3/s) 1247 1743 2489 3613 5452


∆p (mbar) 5 0 50 110 240

1400

1200

1000
ΔP (mBar)

Qv=1247,63 cm3/s
800
Qv=1743.74 cm3/s

600 Qv=2489.31 cm3/s


Qv=3613.64 cm3/s
400
Qv=5452.77 cm3/s

200

0
0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.009
Diameter (m)
Graphic 4. Relation between the drop pressure and the sections of the Venturi tube.

7. Orifice Plate Results

Table 7. Results of the Orifice plate at different volumetric flow rates.

Experience 1 2 3 4 5
∆p (mbar) 5 10 35 75 150
Qv (m3/s) 1.2·10-3 1.7·10-3 2.5·10-3 3.6·10-3 5.4·10-3
∆p (N/m2) 1.0·102 1.0·103 3.5·103 7.5·103 1.5·104
C1(m/s) 0.35 0.49 0.71 1.02 1.54
Re 6812 9521 13591 19730 29771
Cd 0.34 0.34 0.26 0.26 0.23

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MEQ 2018/19
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Sergio Rodríguez

8. Calculation of hydraulic diameter for rectangular section

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