2H4

FLOW THROUGH A VENTURI METER

INTRODUCTION
The Venturi is a device for measuring the discharge along a pipe. The fluid flowing in the
pipe is led through a contraction section to a throat, which has a smaller cross-sectional
area than the pipe, so that the velocity of the fluid through the throat is higher than that in
the pipe. The increase of velocity is accompanied by a fall in pressure, the magnitude of
which depends on the rate of flow. By measuring the pressure drop, the discharge may
be calculated. Beyond the throat the fluid is decelerated in a pipe of slowly diverging
section, the pressure increasing as the velocity falls.

THEORY OF VENTURI METER

Consider the flow of an incompressible fluid through the convergent-divergent pipe

shown in Fig H4-1. The cross-sectional area at the upstream section 1 is A1, at the throat
section 2 is A2, and at any other arbitrary section n is An. Piezometer tubes at these
sections register h1, h2 and hn as shown.

Total head

v12/2g

vn2/2g
v22/2g

h1
hn

h2
Direction of
flow

A1

An

A2

Section 2

Section 1

Datum
Figure H4-1 Ideal conditions in a Venturi meter.

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

Assuming that there is no loss of energy along the horizontal pipe, and that the velocity
and piezometer heads are constant across each of the sections considered, then
Bernoullis theorem states that

v n2
v12
v 22
h1
h2
hn
2g
2g
2g

(H4-1)

in which v1, v2 and vn are the velocities of flow through sections 1,2 and n. The equation
of continuity is

v1A1 = v2 A2 = vn An = Q

(H4-2)

in which Q denoted the volume-flow or discharge rate.

Substituting in equation (1) for v1 from equation (H4-2)

v 22 A2

2 g A1

v
h1 2 h2
2g

and solving this equation for v2 leads to

v2

2 g (h1 h2 )
A
1 2
A1

so that the discharge rate, from equation (H4-2) becomes

Qtheory =

A2

2 g (h1 h2 )
A
1 2
A1

(H4-3)

In practice, there is some loss of energy between sections 1 and 2, and the velocity is
not absolutely constant across either of these sections. As a result, measured values of
Q usually fall a little short of those calculated from equation (H4-3) and it is customary to
allow for this discrepancy by writing

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

Qactual =

cd A2

2 g (h1 h2 )
A
1 2
A1

(H4-4)

In which cd is known as the flow coefficient of the meter, which may be established by
experiment. Its value varies slightly from one meter to another, and, even for a given
meter it may vary slightly with the discharge, but usually lies within the range 0.92 to
0.99.

The ideal pressure distribution along the convergent-divergent pipe may be seen from
Bernoullis equation to be given by

hn h1

v12 v n2
2g

For the purpose of calculation and of comparison of experimental results with

calculation, it is convenient to express (hn h1) as a fraction of the velocity head at the
throat of the meter, i.e.

hn h1 v12 v n

v 22
v 22
2g
Substituting on the right hand side area ratios in place of velocity ratios from the
equation of continuity (2), the ideal pressure distribution becomes

hn h1 A2

v 22
A1
2g

A2

An

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

(H4-5)

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the experiment are as follows;
i)

to determine the variation of flow coefficient, cd with Q through the Venturi

meter.

ii)

to make comparison between the measured and ideal pressure distribution

along the Venturi meter.

EQUIPMENTS
1.

Venturi meter apparatus (Armfield).

2.

Flow measurement tank.

3.

Stop watch.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES
1.

Open the control and supply valve to allow the water flow for a few seconds to
clear air pockets from the supply system.

2.

Close the control valve gradually, so that the meter is subjected to increasing
pressure, which will cause water to pass up the piezometer tubes.

3.

When the water levels have risen to a convenient height, close the bench valve.

Experiment 1
Determination the discharge coefficient, cd.
1.

Open the control valve successively to allow the water flow, record the head at
tube no. 1 (section 1) and tube no.4 (section 2).

2.

Measure the flow rate by collecting the volume of water in the weighing tank and
time.

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

3.

Repeats 1 and 2 for a different water level in piezometer tubes.

Experiment 2
Measured and ideal pressure distribution along Venturi meter.
1.

Open the control valve and fix to any flow, record the water level in piezometer
tubes along the Venturi meter.

2.

Measure the flow rate by collecting the volume of water in the weighing tank and
time.

3.

Repeats 1 and 2 with a different flow rate.

GRAPH
1.

Plot a graph of the variation of cd versus Q through Venturi meter.

2.

Plot a graph of the measured and ideal pressure distribution along Venturi meter.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION

1.

From the graph, draw the conclusion and recommendation of the experiment.

2.

Please give your comment on how to minimize the difference between the
measured and ideal pressure.

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

Experiment 1 : Determination the flow coefficient , cd through the Venturi meter.

Table H4-1. Values of cd calculated from individual experimental results.

Collected
volume
in tank.
V(m3)
[data]

Time to
fill the
tank
t(second)
[data]

Piezometer
head at
tube No. 1
h1 (mm)
[data]

Piezometer
head at
tube No. 4
h2 (mm)
[data]

Note: Tube No.1 is at section 1

Tube No.4 is at section 2

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

Actual
discharge
Q=V/t

(h1 h2)

(h1 h2)0.5

cd

(m3/s)

(m)

(m)0.5

[eq. H4.4]

Experiment 2 : Measured and ideal pressure distribution along the Venturi

meter.

A
Tube no. (n) 1

B
2

C
3

D
4

E
5

F
6

G
7

H I
8 9

J
10

K
11

All dimensions
in mm
Direction of
flow

Section 1
Section 2
8
22
34

7
22
37
58

58

52

58

58

58

58

58
58

58

67
52
5 8

58
58

82

58
58
58

52
5 8

58
58

102

58
58
58

52
5 8

58
58

58
58
58

Fig. H4-1 Dimensions of Venturi meter and positions of piezometer tubes.

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

Table H4-2 Calculation of ideal pressure distribution .

Piezometer
Tube No.,
n
1

Dia. Of
cross
section dn
(mm) [data]
26.00

23.20

18.40

16.00

16.80

18.47

20.16

21.84

23.53

10

25.24

11

26.00

Area
A (m2)

d2/dn

A2

An

Note: A1 = Cross section area of venture meter at section 1 or at n = 1

A2 = Cross section area of venture meter at section 2 or at n = 4
An = Cross section area of venture meter at n
d2 = Cross section diameter of venture meter at section 2 or at n = 4

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

A2

A1

A2

An

[Eq. H4.5]

Table H4-3. Measurements of pressure distribution along Venturi meter

Piezometer
Tube No.,
n

Volume (m3)

Volume (m3)

Time (s)

Time (s)

Q = V/t (m3/s) =

Q = V/t (m3/s) =

hn

hn h1

hn h1

hn

hn h1

hn h1

(mm)

(m)

v22/2g

(mm)

(m)

v22/2g

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Note: v2 = velocity at the throat, section 2

GRAPH
1.

Plot a graph of the variation of cd versus Q through Venturi meter.

2.

Plot a graph of the measured and ideal pressure distribution along Venturi meter.

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM

RESULT AND CONCLUSION

1.

From the graph, draw the conclusion and recommendation of the experiment.

2.

Please give your comment on how to minimize the difference between the
measured and ideal pressure.

copyright 2008 Faculty of Civil Engineering UTM