Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Bayamon Campus
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MECN 4600 - Mechanical Measurements and Instrumentation
Spring - 2013
Professor: Omar Meza
Laboratory6: Flow Measurements with Venturi Tube, Orifice Plate and Rotameter
A. Main Goals:
a. The object of this experiment consists in measure the mass flow rate using
two apparatus: the Venturi Tube and the Orifice Plate. Also, the student will
establish the calibration curve of the rotameter using the gravimetric
method as a comparison.
B. Equipment: HI0 Flow Measuring Apparatus, HI Mk V Hydraulic Bench,
Chronometer, Thermometer.
C. Reading assignment for this laboratory: Chapter 3, pages 174-181 in the
textbook “Fluids Mechanics” Frank M. White.
D. Prior Concepts: Energy, Continuity, Bernoulli Equation and manometry.
E. Procedure:
a. First, open the apparatus valve until the rotameter shows a reading of
210mm.
b. Record' the readings of the manometers of the Venturi Tube and the Orifice
Plate. Also, measure the mass flow from the hydraulic bench using the
gravimetric method.
c. Repeat the procedure decreasing 20mm in the reading of the rotameter
until the-final reading reaches-50mm in the rotameter.
d. Take the temperature of the water in each reading.
e. Compute and tabulate the mass flow measured by the Venturi Tube and by
the Orifice Plate using the Bernoulli's equation.
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Rotameter
hR
Venturi Tube
hA
hB
Plate Orifice
hE
hF
f. Plot the head versus mass flow rate of the Venturi Tube and Orifice Plate.
Compare and comment the results. Also, plot the rotameter scale reading
versus the mass flow rate from the gravimetric method. This curve is the
calibration curve of the rotameter.
g. The rotameter is the Standard Value. Determine the Zero shift and
Sensitivity Shift
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