3. Orifices and mouthpieces.
3.1 Introduction
An orifice is an opening in the wall or base of a vessel through which the fluid flows. The
top edge of the orifice is always below the free surface (If the free surface is below the
top edge of the orifice, becomes a weir)
A mouthpiece is an attachment in the form of a small tube or pipe fixed to the orifice (the
length of pipe extension is usually 2 to 3 times the orifice diameter) and is used to
increase the amount of discharge.
Orifices and mouthpieces are used to measure the discharge.
3.2 Classification of orifices
The orifices are classified as follows
1. According to size:
(i) Small orifice (ii) Large orifice.
• An orifice is termed small when its dimensions are small compared to the head causing
flow. The velocity does not vary appreciably from top to the bottom edge of the orifice
and is assumed to be uniform.
• The orifice is large if the dimensions are comparable with the head causing flow. The
variation in the velocity from the top to the bottom edge is considerable.
2. According to shape
(i) Circular orifice
(ii) Rectangular orifice
(iii) Square orifice
(iv) Triangular orifice.
3. Shape of upstream edge
(i) Sharp-edged orifice
(ii) Bell-mouthed orifice.
4. According to discharge conditions
(i) Free discharge orifices
(ii) Drowned or submerged orifices
a.)Fully submerged
b.)Partially submerged.
An orifice or a mouthpiece is said to be discharging free when it discharges into
atmosphere. It is said to be submerged when it discharges into another liquid.
3.3. Flow through an Orifice
• Fig. 3.1 shows a small circular orifice with sharp edge in the side wall of a tank
discharging free into the atmosphere. Let the orifice be at a depth H below the
free surface.
• As the fluid flows through the orifice, it contracts and attains a parallel form (i.e.,
𝑑
stream lines become parallel) at a distance from the plane of the orifice.
2
• The point at which the stream lines first become parallel is termed as vena-
contracta (the cross-sectional area of the jet at the vena contracta is less than
that of orifice).
• Beyond this section, the jet diverges and is attracted in the downward direction
by gravity.
Fig. 3.1. Orifice discharging free.
Considering points 1 and 2 as shown in Fig. 3.1 and applying Bernoulli's theorem,
we have:
But
Further, if the cross-sectional area of the tank is very large, the liquid at point 1 is
practically standstill and hence V1 = 0
Thus
Or
Equation (8.1) is known as Torricelli's theorem.
NB: In the problems of orifices it is convenient to work in terms of gauge pressures.
3.4. Hydraulic Co-efficients
The hydraulic co-efficients (or orifice co-efficients) are as follows:
• Co-efficient of contraction, Cc
• Co-efficient of velocity, Cv
• Co-efficient of discharge, Cd
• Co-efficient of resistance, Cr
3.4.1. Co-efficient of Contraction (Cc)
This is the ratio of the area of the jet at vena-contracta to the area of the orifice. It is
denoted by Cc.
Let, ac = Area of jet at vena contracta, and
a = Area of orifice.
Then
The value of Cc varies slightly with the available head of the liquid, size and shape of the
orifice; in practice it varies from 0.613 to 0.69 but the average value is taken as 0.64.
3.4.2. Co-efficient of Velocity (Cv)
This is the ratio of actual velocity (V) of the jet at vena-contracta to the theoretical
velocity (Vth). It is denoted by Cv, and mathematically, Cv is given as:
where, V = Actual velocity, and
H = Head under which the fluid flows out of the orifice
• The value of Cv varies from 0.95 to 0.99,depending upon the shape of orifice and
the head of liquid under which the flow takes place. For sharp-edged orifices the
value of Cv is taken as 0.98.
3.4.3. Co-efficient of Discharge
This is the ratio of actual discharge (Q) through an orifice to the theoretical
discharge(Qth). It is denoted by Cd.
• The value of Cd varies from 0.62 to 0.65 depending upon size and the shape of
the orifice and the head of liquid under which the flow takes place.
3.4.4. Co-efficient of Resistance (Cr)
This is the ratio of loss of head (or loss of kinetic energy) in the orifice to the head
of water (actual kinetic energy) available at the exit of the orifice. It is denoted by
Cr.
The loss of head in the orifice takes place, because the walls of the orifice offer
some resistance to the liquid, as it comes out. While solving numerical problems Cr
is generally neglected.
Example 1
An orifice 50mm in diameter is discharging water under a head of 10 metres. If Cd =
0.6 and Cv = 0.97, find :
(I) Actual discharge, and
(ii) Actual velocity of the jet at vena contracta.
3.5 Discharge through a large rectangular orifice
When the available head of a liquid is less than 5 times the height of the orifice, the
orifice is called a large orifice.
For a small orifice, the velocity is considered to be constant in the entire cross- section
and the discharge can be calculated by the formula
However, for a large orifice, the velocity of a liquid, flowing through the orifice, varies
with the available head of the liquid and hence Q cannot be calculated as mentioned
above, but as explained below.
Consider a large rectangular orifice in one side of the tank discharging water freely into
the atmosphere, as shown in Fig. 3.2.
Let, H1 = Height of liquid above the top of the orifice,
H2 = Height of liquid above the bottom of the orifice,
b = Breadth of the orifice, and
Cd = Co-efficient of discharge.
Consider an elementary horizontal strip of depth ‘dh' at depth of 'h' below the water level
as shown in Fig. 3.2.
Fig. 3.2. Large rectangular orifice.
Example 2
A rectangular orifice 0.6 m wide and 0.8 m deep is discharging water from a vessel.
The top edge of the orifice is 0.4 m below the water surface in the vessel.
Find: (i) The discharge through the orifice if Cd = 0.62;
(ii) The percentage error if the orifice is treated as a small orifice.
3.6 Discharge through fully submerged orifice
If an orifice has its whole of the outlet side submerged under liquid so that it
discharges a jet of liquid into the liquid of the same kind then it is known as fully
submerged (or drowned) orifice.
Consider a fully submerged orifice as shown in Fig. 3.3
Fig. 3.3. Fully submerged orifice.
Let, H1 = Height of water (on the upstream side) above the top of the orifice,
H2 = Height of water (on the upstream side) above the bottom of the orifice,
H = Difference between the two water levels on either side of the orifice,
b = Width of orifice, and
Cd = Co-efficient of discharge.
We know that theoretical velocity of water through the orifice = 2𝑔𝐻
Actual velocity of water =𝐶𝑣 2𝑔𝐻
Since in this case co-efficient of contraction is 1, therefore, taking Cd equal to Cv, we
find that the actual velocity of water = 𝐶𝑑 2𝑔𝐻
Example 3.
Find the discharge through a totally drowned orifice 1.5 m wide and 1 m deep, if
the difference of water levels on both the sides of the orifice be 2.5 m. Take Cd =
0.62.
