EXPERIMENT # 1

BERNOULLI PRINCIPLE
THE VENTURI METER
OBJECTIVE: Experimental verification of the Bernoulli equation.
Description of the main component of the set-up: The Venturi meter used in this
experiment consists of successive converging, uniform and diverging sections equipped
with pressure taps at selected locations See Fig. 1 for a schematic diagram.
Experimental method: A flow rate is supplied through the test section. After steady state
flow is achieved the flow rate is measured by a flow meter. The pressure variation along
the test section is measured by the use of piezometer tubes. The experiment is repeated
for two more flow rates.
Preparation
Study section 3.7 (pp. 174-176) in Fluid Mechanics, 4
th
Edition by Frank M. White,
McGraw-Hill, 1999.
THEORY
Recall Bernoulli equation, which expresses the principle of conservation of linear
momentum under special circumstances :
( ) ( )
2
2
2 2
1
2
1 1
2 2
gz
V P
gz
V P
+ + + +

(1)
This was derived with the following assumptions:
1. Steady flow
2. Incompressible flow
3. Flow along a streamline
4. No frictional forces
In addition, we shall assume
2 1
z z
. Therefore, we have
( ) ( )
2 2
2
2 2
2
1 1
V P V P
+ +

(2)
Let us consider the continuity equation (conservation of mass) and limit it to the same
assumption as above. Then we have
2 2 1 1
A V A V
where
( )
4
2
1
1
D
A
( )
4
2
2
2
D
A (3)
2
2
1
1
2
1
2

,
_

D
D
A
A
V
V
(4)
Solving for

P
2
from equation (2)
( )
2
1
2
1
2
2
1 1 2
1
1
]
1

,
_

+
V
V
V P P
Substituting for

V
2
/ V
1
from equation (4)
( )
2
1
4
2
1
2
1 1 2
1
1
]
1

,
_

+
D
D
V P P
Noting that
1 1
A V m
( )
1
1
A
m
V

( )
( ) [ ]
2
1
2
1
A
m
V

( ) ( )
1
1
]
1

,
_

+
4
2
1
2
1
2
1 2
1
2 D
D
A
m
P P

(5)
or pressure at any location x is given by
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
1
1
]
1

,
_

+
4
1
2
1
2
1
1
2 x D
D
A
m
P x P

(6)
2
or, since
g
x P
x h

) (
) (
one can write
1
1
]
1

,
_

+
4
1
2
1
2
2
1
) (
1
2
) (
x D
D
A g
m
h x h

(7)
Hence the pressure head at any location along the test section can be expressed in term of
the pressure at a reference location (inlet).
Experimental Procedure
1. Connect the Venturi Meter apparatus to the water supply line.
2. Adjust the water flow rate by the flow control valve until a steady reading of 10
liters/min is observed by the use of the flow meter.
3. Ensure that the water heights in the piezometer tubes become stabilized.
4. Read and record these heights in mm.
5. Change the flow rate to 12 liters/min and repeat steps 3, 4.
6. Change the flow rate to 14 liters/min and repeat steps 3, 4.
Lab Report Requirements
3
1. Determine the mass flow rate for each run.
2. Perform the calculations for each flow-rate and compare with the measured
values.
a. Evaluate
( ) x h
for each pressure location using the corresponding diameter
( ) x D
.
c. Record the
( ) x h
values in Table 2.
3. Calculate % error between theoretical and experimental results and list it in the
appropriate row in Table 2.
Note:
% 100 %
exp
exp

h
h h
ERROR
cal
or
% 100 %

cal
cal
h
h h
ERROR
exp
depending on which of and you consider
to be more accurate. You must give a justifying statement as to which one you consider
to be more accurate.
4. Plot
( ) x h
vs. x for both theoretical and experimental data for the three different
flow rates separately, i.e. each graph should include a set of theoretical and a set
of experimental data points.
Note: For theoretical pressure calculations for stations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11
the distance is measured from station 1, and the measured pressure at station 1
must be assumed to be the inlet pressure.
4
Table 1
Experimental values of pressure as a function of flow-rate: m in (kg/sec) and h in (mm
of water).
Q
m h
1
h
2
h
3
h
4
h
5
h
6
h
7 8
h
9
h
10
h
11
h
Table 1a
Corrected experimental values of pressure as a function of flow-rate: m in (kg/sec) and h
in (mm of water).
Q
m h
1
h
2
h
3
h
4
h
5
h
6
h
7 8
h
9
h
10
h
11
h
Table 2
Theoretical values of pressure as a function of flow-rate: m in (kg/sec) and h in (mm of
water).
Q
m h
1
h
2
h
3
h
4
h
5
h
6
h
7 8
h
9
h
10
h
11
h
%
error
in h
%
error
in h
%
error
in h
5
A
B
C D
E
F G
H
J
K
L
Figure1
Schematic diagram of the Venturi meter
Table 3
Pressure tap locations and diameters at pressure tap locations
Pressure
location
A B C D E F G H J K L
Diameter
(mm)
26 23.2 18.4 16 16.8 18.47 20.16 21.84 23.53 25.24 26
x (mm)
0 20 32 46 61 76 91 106 121 136 156
6