Reynold Experiment

1. Introduction:
The flow of real fluids can basically occur under two very different regimes, namely
laminar and turbulent flow. The laminar flow is characterized by fluid particles
moving in the form of lamina sliding over each other, such that at any instant the
velocity at all the points in particular lamina is the same. The lamina near the flow
boundary move at a slower rate as compared to those near the center of the flow
passage. This type of flow occurs in viscous fluids, fluids moving at slow velocity
and fluids flowing through narrow passages. The turbulent flow, on the other hand
is characterized by constant agitation and intermixing of fluid particles such that
their velocity changes from point to point and even at the same point from time to
time. This type of flow occurs in low density fluids, flow through wide passage
and in high velocity flows.
Reynolds conducted an experiment for observation and determination of these
regimes of flow. By introducing a fine filament of dye in to the flow of water through
the glass tube, at its entrance he studied the different types of flow. At low
velocities, the dye filament appeared as straight line through the length of the tube
and parallel to its axis, characterizing laminar flow. As the velocity is increased the
dye filament becomes wavy throughout indicating transition flow. On further
increasing the velocity the filament breaks up and diffuses completely in the water
in the glass tube indicating the turbulent flow.
Reynolds concluded that the parameters which were involved in the flow
characteristics were:
ρ the density of the fluid kg/m3
v the velocity of the flow of the fluid m/s
d Diameter of pipe m
μ the coefficient of viscosity of the fluid Ns/m2
He arrived at a dimensionless constant (Reynolds number)
Re=𝜌𝐷𝑣/𝜇
The value of which was concerned with the fluid motion. Fluid motion was found to
be laminar for Re numbers below 2100, turbulent flows for Re greater than 4000,
and transitional for Reynold’s number in between.
Laminar flow is the type of fluid flow in which particles move in a straight line in
the form of thin parallel sheets. This flow denotes a steady condition where all stream
lines follow parallel paths. The dye under this condition remains identifiable as a
solid core. The calculated Reynold’s number for laminar flow is always less than
2,100.
As the velocity is increased, a disturbance in the flow is created in which the
resulting Reynold’s number may range from 2,100<Re<4,000. This type of flow is
considered to be transitional.
Gradual increase in volumetric flowrates gradually influences the Reynold’s number
as well. Fluids with Reynold’s number greater than 4,000 is considered turbulent.
Turbulent flow denotes unsteady conditions where streamlines interact causing shear
plans to collapse and mixing occurs.

Figure 1.1: Laminar flow

Figure 3.2: Transient Flow

Figure 2.3: Turbulent flow

2. Objectives:
The main objective of this study is to determine the characteristic flow of the liquid,
whether it is laminar, turbulent or transitional fluid flow, in the improvised
Reynold’s apparatus which is also used to determine the Reynold’s number for each
state of flow.

3. Apparatus

Dye Injection Vessel

Water Inlet

Dye Injector

Clear Glass Tube

Baffles

Overflow pipe

Discharge Valve

Head Height measurement

Water Storage tank

Beakers

Dye

Stop watch
 4. Procedure

Setting up the apparatus

The tank in the apparatus was filled with water while keeping the discharge valve
closed first. After the tank was full, a purple liquid dye was then mounted into the
dye injector to start the experiment.
Measuring the Volumetric Flow Rate and Velocity
The flow rate of water was measured through the apparatus and achieved by
collecting a sample of discharged water after an interval of 10 seconds and measured
using 1 L beakers. The recorded volume of water was then divided by the time of 10
seconds. The resulting volumetric flow rate was divided by the cross-sectional area
of the glass pipe. Thus, the fluid’s velocity was calculated.
Demonstration of the difference between laminar and turbulent
This experiment demonstrated the visually laminar (streamline) flow and its
transition to turbulent flow at a particular velocity.

I. The apparatus is set up with the dye transparent tube and filled with a steady flow of
water through the inner tube.
II. A needle connected to the transparent tube was used to permit dye to flow from the
nozzle at the entrance to the channel. The colored dye will be visible along the
passage. If the dye accumulates around the nozzle, the velocity of the water flow in
the passage has to be increased or regulate the flow from the dye reservoir. The
adjustments of the dye flow are made up by using the tube outlet tap.
III. The stream will be visible along the whole length of the passage under laminar flow
conditions. If it not so, the water flow is reduced until continuous stream of dye is
visible along the passage.
IV. The water flow rate is increased by raising the height of the variable head tank and
the condition of the fluid in the channel carefully note, for example, the streamline
and turbulent. The height of head tank is increased until instability of water flow
leading to the breakup of the dye system is occurred.
V. The break up position in the passage is noted and the corresponding value of the
flow rate is measured by timing the collection of known amounts of water in the
volumetric measuring tank.
 VI. The dose is maintained and the observation of the passage is continued further
increasing the flow rate until the whole system is turbulent with no visible dye stream
at any point.
5. Observations and Calculations:

No. of Obs. Volume V Time t Flow Flow rate Q Velocity v Re=vd/υ

(mL) (s) (m^3/s) (m/s)
*10^-6 *10^-2

1 15 10 Laminar 1.5 1.91 214.20

2 18 10 Laminar 1.8 2.30 257.94

3 24 10 Transient 2.4 3.06 343.20

4 25 10 Transient 2.5 3.20 358.87

5 71 10 Turbulent 7.1 9.04 1013.80

6 73 10 Turbulent 7.3 9.30 1042.96

Diameter of the glass tube=d=0.010m

Therefore, 𝐴=7.854*10^-5 m^2
Flow rate Q=Av
Therefore v=Q/A
Re= vd/υ (where υ is kinematic viscosity of water and at Room temperature i.e. at
25 degree C, υ= (8.917*10^-7 m^2/s)
Sample Calculation:
E.g. for Q=2.5*10^-6 m^3/s
v=(Q/A) = (2.5*10^-6 m^3/s /7.854*10^-5 m^2) = 3.20*10^-2 m/s
Re= (vd/υ) = ((3.20*10^-2 m/s) *(0.010m))/ (8.917*10^-7 m^2/s) = 358.87
6. Discussion:
The experiment was carried out to determine the characteristic flow of the fluid in
the improvised Reynold’s apparatus which is also used to determine the Reynold’s
number for each state of flow. The above calculations show that the slower the
velocity of the fluid is, the lesser is its corresponding Reynold’s number.