OSBORNE REYNOLDS DEMONSTRATION

CHE 331 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

INSTRUCTOR : ENCIK ZAIRUL HISHAM
GROUP : A3

PLANNER : MIRDZA FAROUK BIN MURHAN MUKHOYIDDIN (2012629846)

EXPERIMENTER : AMALINA BINTI ABDUL HALIM (2012434292)
ANALYZER : MOHAMMED AINUL SHAFEEQ BIN AINUL AZMAN (2012428874)
CONSULTANT : ERMA LIANA BINTI MARJOHAN (2012285474)

Date of experiment performed : August 7, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 OBJECTIVES
3.0 THEORY
4.0 DIAGRAM AND DESCRIPTION OF APPARATUS
5.0 EXPERIMENT PROCEDURES
6.0 RESULT
7.0 SAMPLE CALCULATION
8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
9.0 REFERENCES
10.0 APPENDICES

INTRODUCTION
The Reynolds number can be defined for several different situations where a fluid
is in relative motion to a surface. These definitions generally include the fluid properties
of density and viscosity, plus a velocity and a characteristic length or characteristic

dimension. This dimension is a matter of convention for example radius and diameter
are equally valid to describe spheres or circles, but one is chosen by convention. For
aircraft or ships, the length or width can be used. For flow in a pipe or a sphere moving
in a fluid the internal diameter is generally used today. Other shapes such as rectangular
pipes or non-spherical objects have an equivalent diameter defined. For fluids of
variable density such as compressible gases or fluids of variable viscosity such as nonNewtonian fluids, special rules apply. The velocity may also be a matter of convention in
some circumstances, notably stirred vessels.
Osborne Reynolds Demonstration (Model: FM 11) has been designed
for students experiment on the laminar, transition and turbulent flow. It consists of a
transparent header tank and a flow visualization pipe. The header tank is provided with a
diffuser and stilling materials at the bottom to provide a constant head of water to be
discharged through a bell mouth entry to the flow visualization pipe. Flow through this
pipe is regulated using a control valve at the discharge end. The water flow rate through
the pipe can be measured using the volumetric tank (or measuring cylinder) of a
Hydraulics Bench. Velocity of the water can therefore be determined to allow for the
calculation of Reynolds number. A dye injection system is installed on top of the header
tank so that flow pattern in the pipe can be visualized
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the experiment are to observe the characteristics of the flow if a
fluid in pipe, which may be laminar or turbulent flow by measuring the Reynolds number

and the behavior of the flow. Next is to calculate the range for the laminar and turbulent
flow. Last but not least, to prove that the Reynolds number is dimensionless.

THEORY
Reynolds is defined as a dimensionless number of the ratio of the inertial forces
and viscous forces.

Reynolds number is named after Osborne Reynolds, a British

engineer who discover the variables that can be used as a criterion to distinguish
between

laminar

and

turbulent

flow. Reynolds numbers frequently arise when

performing dimensional analysis of fluid dynamics and heat transfer problems, and as
such can be used to determine dynamic similitude between different experimental
cases.

They

are

also

used

to

characterize

different

flow

regimes,

as laminar or turbulent flow.

For flow in a pipe or tube, the Reynolds number is generally defined as:

Where

V is the mean fluid velocity in (SI units: m/s)

D is the diameter (m)

is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pas or Ns/m)

is the kinematic viscosity ( = / ) (m/s)

is the density of the fluid (kg/m)

Q is the volumetric flow rate (m/s)

A is the pipe cross-sectional area (m)

such

Pipe flow condition

For Reynolds number that is less than 2100, the pipe flow is categorized as
laminar flow. For Reynolds number between 2100 and 4000, the pipe flow will be
considered as transitional flow. Turbulent flow will occur when the Reynolds number is
greater than 4000.
Laminar Flow
Laminar flow denoted a steady flow condition where all streamlines follow
parallel paths, there being no interaction (mixing) between shear planes. Under
this condition the dye observed will remain as a solid, straight and easily
identifiable component of flow. The motion of the particles of the fluid is very orderly
with all particles moving in straight lines parallel to the pipe walls.
Transitional Flow
Transitional flow is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow with turbulence
in the center of the pipe, and laminar flow near the edges. Each of these flows
behaves in different manners in terms of their frictional energy loss while flowing,
and have different equations that predict their behavior.
Turbulent Flow
Turbulent flow denotes an unsteady flow condition where streamlines
interact causing shear plane collapse and mixing of the fluid. In this condition,

the dye observed will become disperse in the water and mix with the water. The
observed dye will not be identifiable at this point.