The Orifice, Flow Nozzle, and Venturi Meter for Pipe Flow Measurement

The term pipe flow rate is often used to refer to flow rate for any closed conduit flow under pressure. The closed conduit is often circular, but may also be square or rectangular, such as a heating duct. The other major category of flow is open channel flow, which occurs when there is a free liquid surface open to atmospheric pressure. Pipe flow measurement is often done with a differential pressure flow meter like the orifice, flow nozzle, and ventruri meter, which are discussed in this article.

A general equation for a differential pressure flow meter is given at the right, where

Q = flow rate through pipe and meter, cfs,

C = discharge coefficient for the particular meter, dimensionless,

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A₂ = constricted area perpendicular to flow, ft²,

P₁ = undisturbed upstream pressure in the pipe, lb/ft²,

P₂ = Pressure in the pipe at the constricted area, A₂, lb/ft²,

β = D₂/D₁ = (diam. at A₂/pipe diam.), dimensionless,

ρ = fluid density, slugs/ft³,

An Excel spreadsheet works well for differential flow meter calculations. For downloadable Excel templates to use for calculations with this equation, see the article, "Excel Templates for Venturi and Orifice Flow Meter Calculations."

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The entrance to a venturi meter is a converging cone with a 15^o to 20^o angle. It converges down to the throat, which is the point of minimum cross-sectional area, maximum velocity, and minimum pressure in the meter. The exit portion of the meter is a diverging cone with an angle of 5^o to 7^o, which completes the transition back to full pipe diameter. The diagram at the left shows a typical venturi meter configuration with the parameters, D₁, D₂, P₁ and P₂ identified. Because of the smooth gradual transition down to the throat diameter and back to the full pipe diameter, the friction loss in a venturi meter is quite small. This leads to the value of a venturi meter discharge coefficient, C, being nearly one. Typical discharge coefficient values for a venturi meter range from 0.95 to as high as 0.995.

The orifice meter is the simplest of the three types of differential flow meters

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With any of these three types of meters for pipe flow measurement, a means is needed to measure the pressure difference across the meter, p₁ - p₂. Also the meter and pipe dimensions must be known and a value for the discharge coefficient is needed. The latter is typically available from the meter manufacturer.

Images - drawn by H. Bengtson

References for further information:

1. Munson, B. R., Young, D. F., & Okiishi, T. H., Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics, 4th Ed., New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 2002.

2. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 2001 revised, 1997 third edition, Water Measurement Manual, available for on-line use or download at: http://www.usbr.gov/pmts/hydraulics_lab/pubs/wmm/index.htm

3. International Organization of Standards - ISO 5167-1:2003 Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices, Part 1: Orifice plates, nozzles, and Venturi tubes inserted in circular cross-section conduits running full. Reference number: ISO 5167-1:2003.

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