Experimental Validation of a Custom Venturi Meter for Water Flowrate Measurement Based on Bernoulli’s Equation

Abstract

Accurate water flow measurement is essential in fluid mechanics for designing and analyzing hydraulic systems, yet commercial Venturi meters remain cost-prohibitive for educational and low-cost laboratory applications. To address this, this study designed, fabricated, and experimentally validated a low-cost, transparent acrylic Venturi meter featuring a 25 mm upstream pipe, a 16mm throat, and two vertical piezometer tubes. Tested under steady, incompressible flow conditions, the actual volumetric flow rates were determined via the volume–time method by collecting 1000cm of water, while theoretical values were derived from Bernoulli’s and Continuity equations. The results across three trials showed that pressure differentials increased with velocity, yielding actual flow rates of 228.3 cm3, 160.8 cm3, and 101.3 cm3 that closely matched the theoretical predictions of 240.3 cm3, 169.3 cm3, and 106.6 cm3. A consistent discharge coefficient of approximately 0.95 indicated minimal energy losses from friction and turbulence, confirming that this fabricated apparatus provides a reliable, accessible alternative for fluid mechanics instruction and research.