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Venturi effect

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The static pressure in the first measuring tube (1) is higher than at the second (2), and the fluid
speed at "1" is lower than at "2", because the cross-sectional area at "1" is greater than at "2".

A flow of air through a Pitot tube Venturi meter, showing the columns connected in a manometer
and partially filled with water. The meter is "read" as a differential pressure head in cm or inches of
water.

File:Venturi Tube en.webmPlay media

Video of a Venturi meter used in a lab experiment

Idealized flow in a Venturi tube

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The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a
constricted section (or choke) of a pipe. The Venturi effect is named after its discoverer, Giovanni
Battista Venturi.

Contents

1 Background

1.1 Choked flow

1.2 Expansion of the section

 2 Experimental apparatus

2.1 Venturi tubes

2.2 Orifice plate

3 Instrumentation and measurement

3.1 Flow rate

3.2 Differential pressure

4 Examples

4.1 Machines

4.2 In nature

5 See also

6 References

7 External links

Background

In fluid dynamics, an incompressible fluid's velocity must increase as it passes through a constriction
in accord with the principle of mass continuity, while its static pressure must decrease in accord with
the principle of conservation of mechanical energy (Bernoulli's principle). Thus, any gain in kinetic
energy a fluid may attain by its increased velocity through a constriction is balanced by a drop in
pressure.

By measuring pressure, the flow rate can be determined, as in various flow measurement devices
such as Venturi meters, Venturi nozzles and orifice plates.

Referring to the adjacent diagram, using Bernoulli's equation in the special case of steady,
incompressible, inviscid flows (such as the flow of water or other liquid, or low speed flow of gas)
along a streamline, the theoretical pressure drop at the constriction is given by:

p 1 − p 2 = ρ 2 ( v 2 2 − v 1 2 ) {\displaystyle p_{1}-p_{2}={\frac {\rho }{2}}\left(v_{2}^{2}-

v_{1}^{2}\right)} p_{1}-p_{2}={\frac {\rho }{2}}\left(v_{2}^{2}-v_{1}^{2}\right)
where ρ {\displaystyle \scriptstyle \rho \,} \scriptstyle \rho \, is the density of the fluid, v 1
{\displaystyle \scriptstyle v_{1}} \scriptstyle v_{1} is the (slower) fluid velocity where the pipe is
wider, v 2 {\displaystyle \scriptstyle v_{2}} \scriptstyle v_{2} is the (faster) fluid velocity where the
pipe is narrower (as seen in the figure).

Choked flow

The limiting case of the Venturi effect is when a fluid reaches the state of choked flow, where the
fluid velocity approaches the local speed of sound. When a fluid system is in a state of choked flow, a
further decrease in the downstream pressure environment will not lead to an increase in the mass
flow rate. However, mass flow rate for a compressible fluid will increase with increased upstream
pressure, which will increase the density of the fluid through the constriction (though the velocity
will remain constant). This is the principle of operation of a de Laval nozzle. Increasing source
temperature will also increase the local sonic velocity, thus allowing for increased mass flow rate but
only if the nozzle area is also increased to compensate for the resulting decrease in density.

Expansion of the section

The Bernoulli equation is invertible, and pressure should rise when a fluid slows down. Nevertheless,
if there is an expansion of the tube section, turbulence will appear and the theorem will not hold. In
all experimental Venturi tubes, the pressure in the entrance is compared to the pressure in the
middle section; the output section is never compared with them.

Experimental apparatus

Venturi tube demonstration apparatus built out of PVC pipe and operated with a vacuum pump

A pair of Venturi tubes on a light aircraft, used to provide airflow for air-driven gyroscopic
instruments

Venturi tubes

The simplest apparatus is a tubular setup known as a Venturi tube or simply a Venturi (plural:
"Venturis" or occasionally "Venturies"). Fluid flows through a length of pipe of varying diameter. To
avoid undue aerodynamic drag, a Venturi tube typically has an entry cone of 30 degrees and an exit
cone of 5 degrees.[1]

Venturi tubes are often used in processes where permanent pressure loss is not tolerable and where
maximum accuracy is needed in case of highly viscous liquids.[citation needed]

Orifice plate
Venturi tubes are more expensive to construct than simple orifice plates, and both function on the
same basic principle. However, for any given differential pressure, orifice plates cause significantly
more permanent energy loss.[2]

Instrumentation and measurement

Both Venturis and orifice plates are used in industrial applications and in scientific laboratories for
measuring the flow rate of liquids.

Flow rate

A Venturi can be used to measure the volumetric flow rate, Q {\displaystyle \scriptstyle Q}
\scriptstyle Q.

Since

Q = v 1 A 1 = v 2 A 2 p 1 − p 2 = ρ 2 ( v 2 2 − v 1 2 ) {\displaystyle
{\begin{aligned}Q&=v_{1}A_{1}=v_{2}A_{2}\\[3pt]p_{1}-p_{2}&={\frac {\rho }{2}}\left(v_{2}^{2}-
v_{1}^{2}\right)\end{aligned}}} {\displaystyle
{\begin{aligned}Q&=v_{1}A_{1}=v_{2}A_{2}\\[3pt]p_{1}-p_{2}&={\frac {\rho }{2}}\left(v_{2}^{2}-
v_{1}^{2}\right)\end{aligned}}}

then

Q = A 1 2 ρ ⋅ p 1 − p 2 ( A 1 A 2 ) 2 − 1 = A 2 2 ρ ⋅ p 1 − p 2 1 − ( A 2 A 1 ) 2 {\displaystyle
Q=A_{1}{\sqrt {{\frac {2}{\rho }}\cdot {\frac {p_{1}-p_{2}}{\left({\frac {A_{1}}{A_{2}}}\right)^{2}-
1}}}}=A_{2}{\sqrt {{\frac {2}{\rho }}\cdot {\frac {p_{1}-p_{2}}{1-\left({\frac
{A_{2}}{A_{1}}}\right)^{2}}}}}} {\displaystyle Q=A_{1}{\sqrt {{\frac {2}{\rho }}\cdot {\frac {p_{1}-
p_{2}}{\left({\frac {A_{1}}{A_{2}}}\right)^{2}-1}}}}=A_{2}{\sqrt {{\frac {2}{\rho }}\cdot {\frac {p_{1}-
p_{2}}{1-\left({\frac {A_{2}}{A_{1}}}\right)^{2}}}}}}

A Venturi can also be used to mix a liquid with a gas. If a pump forces the liquid through a tube
connected to a system consisting of a Venturi to increase the liquid speed (the diameter decreases),
a short piece of tube with a small hole in it, and last a Venturi that decreases speed (so the pipe gets
wider again), the gas will be sucked in through the small hole because of changes in pressure. At the
end of the system, a mixture of liquid and gas will appear. See aspirator and pressure head for
discussion of this type of siphon.

Differential pressure

Main article: Pressure head

As fluid flows through a Venturi, the expansion and compression of the fluids cause the pressure
inside the Venturi to change. This principle can be used in metrology for gauges calibrated for
differential pressures. This type of pressure measurement may be more convenient, for example, to
measure fuel or combustion pressures in jet or rocket engines.

The first large-scale Venturi meters to measure liquid flows were developed by Clemens Herschel
who used them to measure small and large flows of water and wastewater beginning at the end of
the 19th century.[3] While working for the Holyoke Water Power Company, Herschel would develop
the means for measuring these flows to determine the water power consumption of different mills
on the Holyoke Canal System, first beginning development of the device in 1886, two years later he
would describe his invention of the Venturi meter to William Unwin in a letter dated June 5, 1888.[4]

Examples

The Venturi effect may be observed or used in the following:

Machines

Cargo eductors on oil product and chemical ship tankers

Inspirators mix air and flammable gas in grills, gas stoves, Bunsen burners and airbrushes

Water aspirators produce a partial vacuum using the kinetic energy from the faucet water
pressure

Steam siphons use the kinetic energy from the steam pressure to create a partial vacuum

Atomizers disperse perfume or spray paint (i.e. from a spray gun)

Carburetors use the effect to suck gasoline into an engine's intake air stream

Wine aerators infuse air into wine as it is poured into a glass

Protein skimmers filter saltwater aquaria

Automated pool cleaners use pressure-side water flow to collect sediment and debris
 Clarinets use a reverse taper to speed the air down the tube, enabling better tone, response and
intonation[5]

The leadpipe of a trombone, affecting the timbre

Industrial vacuum cleaners use compressed air

Venturi scrubbers are used to clean flue gas emissions

Injectors (also called ejectors) are used to add chlorine gas to water treatment chlorination
systems

Steam injectors use the Venturi effect and the latent heat of evaporation to deliver feed water to
a steam locomotive boiler.

Sandblasting nozzles accelerate and air and media mixture.

Bilge water can be emptied from a moving boat through a small waste gate in the hull. The air
pressure inside the moving boat is greater than the water sliding by beneath.

A scuba diving regulator is used to assist the flow of air once it starts flowing

In recoilless rifles to decrease the recoil of firing

The diffuser on an automobile

Race cars utilising ground effect to increase downforce and thus become capable of higher
cornering speeds.

Foam proportioners used to induct fire fighting foam concentrate into fire protection systems

Trompe air compressors entrain air into a falling column of water

The bolts in some brands of paintball markers.

In nature

Aortic insufficiency is a chronic heart condition that occurs when the aortic valve's initial large
stroke volume is released and the Venturi effect draws the walls together, which obstructs blood
flow

Hawa Mahal of Jaipur, also utilizes the Venturi effect, by allowing cool air to pass through, thus
making the whole area more pleasant during the high temperatures in summer.

Large cities where wind is forced between buildings - the gap between the Twin Towers of the
original World Trade Center was an extreme example of the phenomenon, which made the ground
level plaza notoriously windswept.[6] In fact, some gusts were so high that pedestrian travel had to
be aided by ropes.[7]
 In windy mountain passes, resulting in erroneous pressure altimeter readings[8]

The Mistral wind in southern France increases in speed through the Rhone valley.

Low-speed wind tunnels can be considered very large Venturi because they take advantage of the
Venturi effect to increase velocity and decrease pressure to simulate expected flight conditions.[9]

See also

Joule–Thomson effect

References

Nasr, G. G.; Connor, N. E. (2014). "5.3 Gas Flow Measurement". Natural Gas Engineering and Safety
Challenges: Downstream Process, Analysis, Utilization and Safety. Springer. p. 183. ISBN
9783319089485.

Cite error: The named reference wolfram was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Herschel, Clemens. (1898). Measuring Water. Providence, RI:Builders Iron Foundry.

"Invention of the Venturi Meter". Nature. 136 (3433): 254. August 17, 1935. doi:10.1038/136254a0.
"[The article] reproduces a letter from Herschel to the late Dr. Unwin describing his invention of the
Venturi Meter. The letter is dated June 5, 1888, and addressed from the hydraulic engineer's office
of the Holyoke Water Power Co., Mass. In his letter, Herschel says he tested a one-inch Venturi
Meter, under 210 ft. head: 'I am now satisfied that here is a new and pregnant principle to be
applied to the art of gauging fluids, inclusive of fluids such as compressed air, illuminating or fuel
gases, steam, etc. Further, that the shape of the meter should be trumpet-shaped in both directions;
such a meter will measure volumes flowing in either direction, which in certain localities becomes a
useful attribute...'"

Blasco, Daniel Cortés. "Venturi or air circulation?, that's the question". face2fire (in Spanish).
Retrieved 2019-07-14.

Dunlap, David W (December 7, 2006). "At New Trade Center, Seeking Lively (but Secure) Streets".
The New York Times.

Dunlap, David W (March 25, 2004). "Girding Against Return of the Windy City in Manhattan". The
New York Times.

Dusk to Dawn (educational film). Federal Aviation Administration. 1971. 17 minutes in.
AVA20333VNB1.
 Anderson, John (2017). Fundamentals of Aerodynamics (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Education. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-259-12991-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Venturi effect.

3D animation of the Differential Pressure Flow Measuring Principle (Venturi meter)

UT Austin. "Venturi Tube Simulation". Retrieved 2009-11-03.

Categories:

Fluid dynamics

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