FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

ABSTRACT:

This experiment is about the measurement of flow of water by notches and weirs which
has been conducted on 6th October 2012 at Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, UiTM Shah Alam.
Basically, the experiment that had conducted is to discuss about the flow characteristics of water
over the different notches. The notches that used to examine the flow are rectangular and
triangular (V) notches. Besides, the experiment here is also to define the discharge coefficient of
the fluid flow. In order to achieve the objectives, all the data are recorded while conducting the
experiment. The manipulated variables from this experiment are the height of water level and
also the types of notches. Thus, for the easier calculation, the amount of volume is set at the
constant level which is 3 litres.

Based on the data that had been recorded, we construct a graph to analyzing the
characteristics of the flow. From the rectangular graphs, we can observed that the discharge
coefficient decrease slowly and it almost have a constant value for the rest. Different with the
rectangular notch, the discharge coefficient for the triangular notch is smoothly but the value still
higher than the rectangular notch.

Thus, we can conclude that the triangular notch showed the higher discharge coefficient
rather than the rectangular notch.

INTRODUCTION:

Nowadays, if we can see a structure that used to dam up a stream or river, over which the
water flows is known as weir and also can used notch. But the different between the weir and notch
is the structure. A weir is an opening in the sidewall of the tank at the top. Besides, the notch and
weir almost the same except the former is a small structure and has sharp edges. A weir is generally
an overflow structure, with a broad crest, built across an open channel. The top of weir wall over
which the liquid flows is known as the sill or crest. While the head under which the weir is
discharging is measured from the crest to the free surface. Basically, a weir and notch is used for
measuring the flow of liquids.

For this experiment, the rectangular weir and triangular weirs are been used. Both of these
weirs are often used in water supply, wastewater and also sewage systems. They consist of a sharp
edged plate with a rectangular, triangular or v-notch profile for the water flow. In dam spillways, the
broad-crested weirs can be observed where the broad edge is beneath the water surface across the
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

entire stream. Flow measurement installations with broad-crested weirs will meet accuracy
requirement only if they are calibrated.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To observe the flow characteristics over a rectangular and triangular (Vee) notches.
2. To determine the discharge coefficient of the fluid flow.

THEORY:

With the different types of notch, then the method of calculating the discharge coefficients of the
fluids flow is also different. There are some theories that will discussing about the reasoning of two
different notches which are:

1) RECTANGULAR NOTCH
A rectangular notch is a thin square edged weir plate installed in a weir channel as shown in
figure 1 below.

Figure 1 Rectangular notch

Based on the figure above, consider that the flow in an element of height H at a depth, h
below the surface. Then, assume that the fluid flow everywhere normal to the plane of the weir and
that the free surface remains horizontal up to the plane of the weir.

When the flow through the notch is not parallel then it will be not normal to the plane of the
weir. If the free surface is not horizontal the result for the viscosity and surface tension will have an
effect. There will be a considerable change in the shape of the nappe as it passes through the notch
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

with curvature of the stream line in both vertical and horizontal plane. In particular, the width of the
nappe is reduced by the contraction at each end.

Figure 2 Shape of the nappe

The formula for the discharge coefficient of rectangular is:

Qt = Cd √
Where;

Qt = volume flow rate (m/s)

H = height above notch base (m)

B = width of rectangular notch (0.03m)

Cd = the discharge coefficient which has to be determined by the experiment

The discharge from the rectangular notch will be considerably less, approximately 60% of the
theoretical analysis due to these curvature effects. A coefficient of discharge, Cd is therefore
introduced so that :

Cd =
√

However, Cd is not a true constant tending towards a constant only for large heads and a low
velocity of approach in the weir channel.
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

2) TRIANGULAR NOTCH

Figure 3 triangular notch

The formula for the triangular notch is:

Qt = Cd √
Where;

Qt = volume flow rate

H = height above notch base

B = width of rectangular notch

θ = angle of the Vee in the triangular notch

Cd = the discharge coefficient which has to be determined by experiment

Thus ,

Cd =
√

For the rectangular notch the rate of discharge is proportional to the liquid depth raised to power
1.5 and for the triangular notch to a power 2.5. a triangular notch will therefore handle a wider range
of flow rates. It can be shown that the notch must have curved walls giving a large width to the
bottom of the notch and a comparatively small width towards the top. The weir is frequently for
controlling the flow within the unit itself, for instance in a distillation column or reactor.
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

1. SOLTEX ® flow over weirs (Model: FM 26)- Appendix

2. Water
3. Hydraulics bench
4. Weir channel
5. (V) Vee notch weir
6. Hook & point gauge
7. Basket of glass sphere
8. Volumetric measuring tank
9. Rectangular weir

4
4
2

3 6
1

Figure 1 : flow over weirs – Figure 2 : flow over weirs –

Vee notch weir rectangular notch weir

PROCEDURES:

1. Place the flow stilling basket of glass sphere into the left end of the weir channel and attach
the hose from the bench regulating valve to the inlet connection into the stilling basket.
2. Place the specific weir plate which is to be tested and hold it using the thumb nuts. Ensure
that the square edge of the weir faces is upstream.
3. Start the pump and slowly open the regulating valve until the water level reaches the crest
of the weir and measure the water level to determine the datum level Hzero.
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

4. Adjust the bench regulating valve to give the first required head level of approximately 3m3.
Measure the flow rate using the volumetric tank until 3m3.
5. Increase the height of the crest by 1cm and open the valve wider. Then, measure the flow
rate.
6. Repeat the experiment by increasing the height by 1cm and until the water reach the
maximum height.
7. Close the regulating valve, stop the pump, and then replace the weir with the next weir that
need to be tested. Repeat the test procedure.

RESULT AND CALCULATION:

i) RECTANGULAR WEIR

Height of datum = 0.03m

Trial Volume Time of Volume Height of

collected, collection, flow rate, water Q2/3 Log H Log Q Cd
V (m3) t (s) Qact (m3/s) level, H
(m)
1 0.003 7.0 4.29x10-4 0.00 0.000 0.000 -3.368 0.000

2 0.003 4.8 6.25x10-4 0.01 0.007310 -2.000 -3.203 7.055

3 0.003 4.0 7.50x10-4 0.02 0.008083 -1.699 -3.125 2.900

CALCULATION:

Q = Cd B √

Width of the weir, B = 0.03m

Gravity, g = 9.81 m2/s

Volume flow rate, Qact =

 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

Trial 1

Qact

= 4.29 x 10-4 m3/s

Q = Cd b √

4.29x10-4 = Cd x x 0.03 x √ x (0)3/2

Cd =0

Q2/3 = (0 x x 0.03 x √ x (0)3/2 )2/3

=0

Trial 2

Qact =

= 6.25 x 10-4 m3/s

Q = Cd b √

6.25x10-4 = Cd x x 0.03 x √ x (0.01) 3/2

Cd = 7.055

Q2/3 = (7.055 x x 0.03 x √ x (0.01)3/2 )2/3

= 0.007310
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

Trial 3

Qact =

= 7.25 x 10-4 m3/s

Q = Cd b √

7.50x10-4 = Cd x x 0.03 x √ x (0.02) 3/2

Cd = 2.9

Q2/3 = (2.9 x x 0.03 x √ x (0.02)3/2 )2/3

= 0.008083

ii) V - NOTCH WEIR

Trial Volume, V Height, H Time, t Flow rate, Qact Q2/3 Cd

(L) (m) (s) (m3/s)
1 3 0.00 73.00 4.11 x 10-5 0 0
2 3 0.01 22.00 1.36 x 10-4 0.0284 5.757
3 3 0.02 11.45 2.63 x 10-4 0.0369 1.961
4 3 0.03 5.45 5.5 x 10-4 0.0497 1.494

CALCULATION:

( √ )

= 90o

g = 9.81 m2/s

Volume flow rate, Qact =

 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

Trial 1

Qact

= 4.11 x 10-5 m3/s

4.11 x 10-5 m3/s = √

Cd =0

( √ )

= ( √ )

=0

Trial 2

Qact

= 1.36 x 10-4 m3/s

1.36 x 10-4 m3/s = √

Cd = 5.757
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

( √ )

= ( √ )

= 0.0284

Trial 3

Qact

= 2.62 x 10-4 m3/s

2.62 x 10-4 m3/s = √

Cd = 1.961

( √ )

= ( √ )

= 0.0369

Trial 4

Qact

= 5.5 x 10-4 m3/s

 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

5.5 x 10-4 m3/s = √

Cd = 1.494

( √ )

= ( √ )

= 0.0497
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

GRAPH:

i) RECTANGULAR WEIR

Log H Log Q
0.000 -3.368
-2.000 -3.203
-1.699 -3.125

3.5

2.5
logQ

2
Q

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
log H

Slope = (3.368 – 3.200) / ( 0.0-2.0)

= -0.084
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

ii) V - NOTCH WEIR

Log H Log Q
0.00 -4.386
0.01 -3.866
0.02 -3.580
0.03 -3.260

4.5

3.5

3
Log Q

2.5
Y-Values

1.5

0.5

0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035
Log H

Slope = ( 4.386 – 3.26) / (0-0.03)

= -37.53
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

DISCUSSION

A notch is an opening in the side of a measuring tank or reservoir extending above the free
surface. A weir is a notch on large scale. Weirs are structures consisting of an obstruction such as a
dam or bulkhead placed across the open channel with a specially shaped opening or notch. The weir
results an increase in the water level, or head, which is measured upstream of the structure.

For rectangular weir, when the flow approaches the edge of the notch, there is a
contraction because the velocity at the edge is not normal to the plane of the notch. This produces a
reduction in the cross section and some friction in the flow. The volume flow rate, Q for rectangular
weir:

Q = Cd b √

The volume flow rate Q, for V – notch wier:

( √ )

From the result, we observed that the coefficient of discharge, Cd for rectangular
weir is in variations. This is because of the inconsistent low height increment. For V – notch, we
observed that the higher the height of water level, the shorter the time taken to collect 3 L of water.
This resulted in the coefficient of discharge, Cd as it decreased when the volume of flow rate, Q
increased.
 FACULTY OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING October 16, 2012

CONCLUSION

From both experiment, it were clearly shown that the coefficient of discharge is
dependent on the volumetric flow rate and its height (head) of water level from the base of notch.
The coefficient of discharge corresponds differently to the height of the water level (head) to the
type of notch used. For triangular notch, the coefficient of discharge also depends on the angle of
the v shape. Then it can be concluded that the experiment is a success.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. In this experiment, many trials should be made so that we can observe the trend of the
coefficient of discharge more accurately.

2. Each increment of the height of the water level should be made carefully and accurately.
Parallax error should be avoided.

3. The time taken for the experiment

REFERENCE

Yunus, A. Cengel. & John, M. Cimbala. (2006). Fluid Mechanics Fundamental and Applications. (2nd
ed.). New York: MC Graw Hill