Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name :T.Subba Rayudu
Designation :Lecturer
Branch :Civil Engineering
Institute :S.V. Govt. Polytechnic, Tirupati
Year/Semester :III Semester
Subject :Hydraulics
Subject Code :C304
Topic :Flow Of Liquid
Duration :50 Minutes
Sub Topic :Practical application of Bernoulli’s
theorem & Venturi meter
Teaching Aids : Diagrams, PPT
Revised By : V. Srinivasa Rao, Lecturer, DAGPT,
9C304.18 1
Ongole
Objectives

On completion of this session, you would be

able to understand

• Practical application of Bernoulli’s Theorem

• Venturi meter

9C304.18 2
Recap
In the previous session, you have learnt about

• Bernoulli's theorem

• Limitation of Bernouli's theorem

9C304.18 3
Practical Applications Of Bernoulli’s Theorem

We deal primarily with application of the Bernoulli’s

equation to the devices used for measurement of
velocity and discharge. The devices discussed are

• Verturimeter

• Pitot tube

• Elbow meter and

• Orifice meter
9C304.18 4
 Verturimeter
• “Clemens Herchel” invented Venturimeter and later on
“Venturi” modified it

• It is designed based upon the concept of “Bernoulli’s

theorem”

• It is used to find the discharge flowing through closed

conduits

9C304.18 5
Verturimeter Continued…
In its simplest form, it consists of three parts,

1.Convergent cone

2.Throat and

3. Divergent cone

9C304.18 6
9C304.18 7
Venturimeter

Fig .1

9C304.18 8
9C304.18 9
 Basic Principle of Venturimeter
• The basic principle on which the venturimeter
works is that by reducing the cross sectional area
of the flow passage a pressure difference created
and the measurement of the pressure difference
enables the determination of the discharge to the
pipe
• A venturi meter consists of converging cone, a
throat section and diverging cone all combined in
one unit
9C304.18 10
 Convergent cone:
• Converging cone converges from diameter d1 at
its upstream end to diameter d2 at its down stream end.
The upstream end of the convergent cone is called
inlet end of the venturimeter. The convergent cone has
a sharp angle of 200.
• Throat:It is small portion of the circular pipe in which
diameter is kept constant.
• Divergent Cone: The down stream end of the throat
diverging from diameter d2 to d1 is known as divergent
cone.

9C304.18 11
• If the pressure head at throat falls below the separation
head (which is 2.5 m of water absolute) then separation
of the liquid occurs.
• To avoid the tendency of separation at the throat and the
pipe d2/d1 is fixed and this ratio varies from ¼ to ¾ . But
the most suitable value is 1/3 to ½ .
• In the divergent cone to avoid separation and
consequent excessive energy loss, it is essential to keep
the angle of divergence very small. The most efficient
conversion of kinetic energy to pressure energy occurs
when the angle of divergence is about 50 to 70
9C304.18 12
Verturimeter

• Pressure is always maximum at the inlet of the

venturimerter

• In the convergent cone portion water is subjected to

“acceleration”

• In the divergent cone portion water is subjected to

“retardation

9C304.18 13
 Design parameters of venturimeter
• The approximate length of the venturimeter is 10 times
the diameter
• The approximate length of convergent cone up to
center of the throat is 2.5 times the diameter
• The approximate length of divergent cone from the
center of the throat is 7.5 times the diameter
• The angle of convergence 150 to 200 and the angle of
divergence 50 to 70.

9C304.18 14
Design parameters of venturimeter: Continued..
• The slope of divergent cone 1 in 3 to 1in 4.
• The approximate diameter ratio between the throat
and inlet to avoid of separation shell be 1/4 to 3/4
generally 1/3 to 1/2
• The pressure head at the throat of the venturimeter
shall not fall below 2.5 m of the water absolute or the
vaccum pressure should not exceed 7.8 m of vaccum
• The pressure exceed the above limit at the throat
separation of liquids takes place. The steady and
continuity of flow gets disturbed at the throat point
9C304.18 15
Discharge through venturimeter
• The concept used in finding the discharge through
venturimeter is by creating difference of pressure
between the inlet and the throat and by measuring that
pressure head using u-tube differential manometer. The
pressure tapings are to be provided one at the inlet and
the other at the starting of the throat where acceleration
takes place
Let d1 = diameter at inlet
d2 = diameter at throat
π d2
a1 = area of cross section at inlet = 1
4
π d 2
a2 = area of cross section at throat = 2
9C304.18 4 16
Discharge through venturimeter: Contd..
Consider a venturimeter as shown in fig. through which
some liquid is flowing.
Let a1 = cross-sectional area at the inlet end in sq.m.
a2 = cross-sectional area at the throat in sq.m.
P1 = pressure at the inlet end.
P2 = pressure at the throat.
v1 = velocity at the inlet end.
v2 = velocity at the throat.
H = difference of pressure head in meter of water
measured by U- Tube manometer.
9C304.18 17
Q= discharge in m3/sec.
Q= a1 v1 = a2 v2

From which v a
1
a .v  (1)
2
2
2

Applying Bernoulli’s equation to inlet and throat and taking

the central line of the pipe as datum line;

P v2 P v2
1 1  2  2 ( As z  z )
w 2g w 2g 1 2
9C304.18 18
P  p2  v  v
1
2
2
2
2
w w 2g 2g
but wP  p2  H
1
w
H v  v        (2)
2 2
2 2

2g 2g
now substituing eqn.1in 2
H  v  1  v  a
2  
2 2 
2g 2g  2 a 2 
 a 2 
H v 1 22 
2
2 

2g  a1 

9C304.18 19
  a 2
 a 2
 2g H.a 2
2g H  v 22  1 2 2  or v 22  2 1

 a 1  a 1  a 2
2

a 1 2gH
v2 
a 12  a 22
Discharge Q  a 2 v 2
 a 2gH 
Q a2 1 
 a2  a2 
 1 2 

a1 a 2
Q 2gH
a1  a 2
2 2

or
a 1 2gH
Q
2
 a1 
   1
 a2  9C304.18 20
The above equation gives theoritical discharge without the
loss of head in the meter.

Cd  a a 2g (knownasconstant)
a a
1 2
2 2
1 2

Then Q  Cd H

9C304.18 21
In the equation
• ‘H’ is theoretical head
• ‘h’ will not take into account any frictional losses
• In order to take frictional losses into account
– Coefficient of discharge ‘Cd’ is included in the
discharge equation

9C304.18 22
 Let
h = difference of head in m of liquid
actually measured by manometer .

P1 P2
Then h 
w w

Q  k C . h

• The actual measured head is known as Venturi head.

9C304.18 23
Value of ‘K’ given by U- tube differential manometer

Case 1 : Let the differential manometer contains a liquid

which is heavier than the flowing of liquid .

Sh = specific gravity of the heavier liquid .

Sf = specific gravity of the flowing liquid .

x= difference of the heavier liquid column in the

manometer
 Sh 
Then h  x   1
 Sf 
9C304.18 24
Case 2 :- If the differential manometer contains a liquid
which is lighter than the liquid flowing through the pipe
the value of h is given by

 Sl 
h  x 1  
 Sf 
where

Sl = specific gravity of the lighter liquid

Sf = specific gravity of the flowing liquid.

x = difference of the lighter liquid columns in the U- tube

. 9C304.18 25
Summary

In this session, you have learnt about

• The Practical application of Bernoulli’s Theorem

• Derivation of discharge formula for venturimeter

9C304.18 26
 Quiz
1. The range for co-efficient of discharge (d) for a
venturimeter is
(a) 0.6 to 0.7
(b) 0.7 to 0.8
(c) 0.8 to 0.9
(d) 0.95 to 0.99

9C304.18 27
Quiz
2. The angle of convergent cone is
(a) 200
(b) 400
(c) 50
(d) 70

9C304.18 28
Quiz
3. The length of convergent cone is equal to

(a) 7.5 d
(b) 5d
(c) 2.5 d
(d) 8d

9C304.18 29
Quiz
4. Venturi meter is used to measure

(a) Discharge
(b) Average velocity
(c) Velocity at a point
(d) Pressure at a point

9C304.18 30
 Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a venturi meter ? How is it useful in hydraulic

measurements?

2. What are the conditions to be satisfied to ensure

continuity of flow through venturi meter?

9C304.18 31