Prediction of discharge coefficient for venturi flowmeter with arbitrary geometric profile

This paper presents a method for predicting the discharge coefficient of a venturi flowmeter with an arbitrary geometric profile. The discharge coefficient can be determined accurately by an expedient combination of a potential flow and a one-dimensional viscous flow consideration. As to the potential flow calculation, an accurate computational technique is used to evaluate the wall pressure at throat tap by assuming that the total pressure is equal to the average one at throat. The average total pressure is connected with the inlet pressure by use of the generalized empirical equation for one-dimensional viscous flow. The accuracy of the method is verified by comparing with the published experimental data and by calculating the discharge coefficients of the standard venturi flowmeters.