A venturimeter is a device used for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid flowing

through a pipe .It consist of following three parts

1) short converging part
2) Throat
3) Diverging part
The inlet section of venturimeter is same as the diameter of pipe which is
followed by the convergent cone. The convergent cone is a short pipe which
tapers from the original size of the pipe to that of throat of venturimeter .the
throat is a short pipe of uniform diameter usually smaller than diameter of pipe.
The divergent cone of venturimeter is gradually diverging pipe with its cross
sectional area increasing from throat to original size of cone.
The convergent cone of venturimeter has total included angle of 211 and its
length parallel to the axis approximately equal to the 2.7(D+d) where D=dia. Of
inlet pipe and d=dia. Of throat .Length of throat is equal to d. The divergent
cone has a total included angle between 5 to 15 (preferably about 6) .this
result in convergent cone to be of smaller length than its divergent cone.

Rate of flow through venturimeter

Consider a venturimeter fitted in a horizontal pipe through which a fluid in
flowing as it is shown in fig.
Let

d =dia. at inlet or at section 1

p=pressure at section 1
v=velocity of fluid at section 1

and d ,p,v are the corresponding values at section 2.

Applying Bernoullis Equation at section and
2

p
v
p
v
+ z +
= + z +
w
2g w
2g

As the pipe is horizontal

But

z =z

p p v
v
=
+
w
2g 2g
p p
w

is the difference of pressure heads at section 1 and 2 .and it is

equal to the h
p p
v 2
v 2
=h=

w
2g 2g

By continuity equation .
a v =av
v1= a v /a
h=

v
a v

2 g 2. g . a 2

v 2
a 2

1 2
2. g
a

V 2= 2.g . h

)
a1

a a
2

2
2

Discharge , Q =a.v
Q=

a1 . a2

a 2a 2

2. g . h

The above equation gives discharge under ideal condition and is called
theoretical discharge .but in actual practice ,there is always some losses of
energy as the fluid flows through venturimeter ,on account of which actual
practice discharge will be less than theoretical discharge .

The actual discharge may therefore be obtained by multiplying theoretical

discharge by a factor

cd

called coefficient of discharge of venturimeter .

Coefficient of discharge is defined as the ratio between the actual discharge and
theoretical discharge of venturimeter.
cd =

Qact .
Q th.
Qact .=c

Qact . =c d

a 1 . a2

a a
2

Qth.

2. g . h

value of h given by differential U-tube manometer

case-1 let the differential manometer contains a liquid which is heavier than
liquid flowing through pipe. let
sh

=sp.gr. of heavier liquid

s =sp. gr. of liquid flowing through pipe

x=difference of manometric liquid column in U-tube . Then,
h=x

sh
1
s0

( )

Case 2- IF the differential manometer contains a liquid which is lighter than

liquid flowing through the pipe, then

[ ]

h= 1

sl
s0

Inclined Venturimeter with differential U-tube manometer

Case 3 Let the differential manometer contains heavier liquid then,

( pw + z )( pw + z )=x ( ss 1)
1

h=

Case 4 Let differential manometer contains a liquid ligther than liquid flowing
through the pipe,

( pw + z )( pw + z )=x (1 ss )

h=