Venturi Meter Handout-1
Venturi Meter Handout-1
x Divergent cone
Z Z
Mercury
v2 v1 P1 P2
2 2
- - - - - - - - - ii)
2g
P1 P2
h (head of liquid flowing in the meter)
a1v1
and v 2
a2
a1
m, v2 mv1 and v 2 m 2 v1
2 2
Let
a2
Substituting these values in equati on ii),
m 2 v1 v1
2 2
h - - - - - - - - iii)
2g
from which, v 1 2 (m 2 – 1) = 2gh - - - - - - - iv)
Theoretical discharge Q T = av = a 1 v 1
2 gh
v1 from iv)
m2 1
2 gh
QT a1
m2 1
Actual discharge Q A = Cd x Q T where Cd = Coefficient of discharge.
2 gh
Q A Cd a1 - - - - - - - - vi)
m2 1
Note:
i) The Venturi head (h) has been taken in terms of the liquid head. But in
practice, this head is gi ven as the mercury head (x). In such a case, the
mercury head should be converted into the liquid head as follows:
s
h x m 1 or, h x m 1 (Refer Differential manometer)
s
f f
If the flowing liqui d is water, h = 12.6x
ii) A 2 may be given instead of A 1 and therefore the discharge equation has to
be adjusted appropriatel y:
2 gh
Q A Cd a2
1 m 2
Selected Examples:
1. A Venturi meter having a horizontal throat diameter of 50mm is fitted to a horizontal
water pipeline having a diameter of 100mm. If the U -tube differential manometer fi tted
to the inlet and throat points measures a deflection of 150mm of mercury, calculate
the rat e of flow assuming the Cd = 0.98.
Solution:
The flowing liquid is water h = 12.6 x
h = 12.6x = 12.6 x 0.15 = 1.89m
a1 = r 1 2 = x 0.05 2 = 7.85 x 10 - 3 m 2
Let a 1 / a 2 = m = (d 1 /d 2 ) 2 = (100/50) 2 = 4
2 gh 19.62 x 1.89
Q A Cd a1 0.98 x 7.85 x 103 0.0121m 3 / s
m2 1 42 1
2. A Venturi meter having a horizontal throat diameter of 100mm is fitted into a 250mm
diameter horizontal pipeline through which oil of specific gravity 0.9 is flowing. A U -
tube manometer contai ning mercury of specific gravity 13.6 measures the pressure
differenc e b etween the entry and throat tappings, and the connections are filled with
the oil fl owing in the pipeline. If the difference of level indicated by the mercury in the
U-tube is 0.63m, calcul ate the theoretical volume rate of flow through the meter.
Solution:
s 13.6
h x m 1 0.63 1 8.89m
s 0.9
f
a1 = (d 1 2 )/4= ( 0.25 2 )/4 = 0.0491m 2
a 1 / a 2 = m = (d 1 /d 2 ) 2 = (250/100) 2 = 6.25
2 gh 19.62 x 8.89
QT a1 0.0491 0.105m 3 / s
m2 1 6.252 1
3. A horizontal Venturi meter measures the flow of oil of specific gravity 0.9 in a 75 mm
diam pipeline. If the difference of pressure between the full bore and the throat
tappings is 34.5 kN/m 2 and the area ration m = 4, calculate the rate of flow, assuming
a coefficient of discharge of 0.97.
P P 34.5
Here, h 3.92m of oil
o w so 9.81 x 0.9
The rest of the solution is as above. (Q = 0.01 m 3 /s)
Inclined Venturi meter
The manometer readi ng (h) for a given discharge (Q) is not affected by the inclination of the
meter. If however the actual pressure difference (P 1 -P 2 ) is measured to determine the
discharge then the v alu es of z 1 and z 2 , and therefore the slope of the meter, must be taken
into account.
Derivation:
Z2
From Bernoulli’s Equation,
2 2
P1 v1 P2 v2
Z1 Z2 - - - - - - - i)
2g 2g
Rearranging,
v2 v1 P1 P2
2 2
( z1 z 2 )
2g
a1v1
v2
a2
a1
m, v2 mv1 and v 2 m 2 v1
2 2
Let
a2
Substituting these values in equati on ii),
m 2 v1 v1 P1 P2
2 2
Z1 Z 2
2g
P1 P2
from which, v 1 2 (m 2 – 1) = 2g Z1 Z 2
and,
P P
2 g 1 2 Z1 Z 2 - - - - - - - ii)
1
v1
m2 1
Actual discharge Q A = Cd a 1 v 1
P P
2 g 1 2 Z1 Z 2 - - - - - - iii)
Cd a1
m2 1
P1 P2
But, x m 1 ( Z 2 Z 1 ) (Differential manometer equation)
f
Re-arranging,
P1 P2
( Z 1 Z 2 ) x m 1
f
Equation iii) can therefore be written
Cd a1
QA 2 gx m 1 or
m2 1 f
Cd a1
QA 2 gx m 1
m2 1 f
Inclined/Vertical Venturi meter – When Pressure difference is given
A vertical Venturi meter measures the flow of oil of specific gravity 0.82 and has an entranc e
of 125 mm and a throat of 50 mm . There are pressure gauges at the entrance and at the
throat, which is 300 mm above the entrance. If the coefficient for the meter is 0.97 find the
flow in m 3 /s when the pressure difference is 27.5 kN/m 2 .
Solution:
Cd a1
QA 2 gx m 1
m2 1 f
P 27.5
x m 1 h ( Z 1 Z 2 ) (0 0.3) 3.119 m
0.82 x 9.81
f
Cd a1 2 g x 3.119
QA
m2 1
a 1 = ¼ (0.125) 2 = 0.0123m 2 and m = (125/50) 2 = 6.25
P1 P2
h ( Z1 Z 2 ) (h1 h2 ) ( z1 z 2 )
= (2.65 – 2) + 0 – 0.25) = 0.4m
a 1 = ¼ (0.2) 2 = 0.0315m 2 and m = (200/100) 2 = 4
2 gh 19.62 x 0.4
Q A Cd a1 0.98 x 0.0315 0.0223m 3 / s
m2 1 42 1
P1
2
v1 P2 v2
2
P P2
0.03 1
2g 2g g
P P2 v 2 2 v 21
0.97 1
g 2g
P 1 = 150 x 10 3 N/m 2 = 15.29m of water
P 2 = -400 mm of mercury = -0.4 x 13.6 = -5.44 m of water
P P2
1 15.29 ( 5.44) 20.73m Hence,
g
v 2
2 v 21
0.97 x 20.73 20.11m - - - - - - - - - - i )
2g
From the continuity equation,
v 1 = (d 2 / d 1 ) 2 v 2 = (1/3) 2 v 2 = 1/9 v 2 - - - ii)
1 1 / 9 2
From i) and ii ) v 2 20.11 from which v 2 = 19.863 m/s
2
2g
Flow rate (Q ) = a 2 v 2 = ¼ (0.1) 2 x 19.89 = 0.156 m 3 /s.
500 mm Dia.
Air
0.5m
x
250 mm Dia.
Solu tion:
0.6 x 4
v a = Q/a = 3.056m / s
x 0.52
0.6 x 4
and v b = 7.54m / s
x 0.252
Applying Bernoulli’s equation between aa and bb (Assuming no losses):
Pa 3.0562 Pb 7.54 2
0.5 0 from which,
2g 2g
( Pa Pb)
1.92m - - - - - - - i)
and (P a – P b ) = 1.92 x 9.81 = 18.8 kN/m 2
Manometer equation:
P a / - (h + x – 0.50) + x = P b /
( Pa Pb)
h 0.50 1.92m (from equation i)
h = 1.92 + 0.50 = 2.42m.