Viscous Flow in a Pipe
ME 436 Aerothermal Fluids Laboratory
Raymond Wong
Report 5, Group 4
May 1st, 2019
Mechanical Engineering Department
The City College of New York, USA
Abstract
In this lab experiment, it was meant to demonstrate
the distributions of the pressure in the diameter of the
pipes, the velocity and also the flow rate flow rate.
The lab was used with the following measure
instrument. The instruments are inclined manometer,
Pitot tube, and Venturi meter. In order to find the
pressure distribution along the pipe and the velocity,
the instruments listed above would be really helpful
to find what we needed. The pitot tube within the
measurement, the reading from pipe surface is about -
2.5 to2.5 in. Then, the effects of the viscous forces is
demonstrated by the velocity distribution. Also with
the pressure along the pipe with distribution. Then
once the experiment is done, the max flow velocity is
known to be 10.58 m/s with the average speed of
8.24 m/s.
Introduction
The main objective of this lab experiment is to show
the volumetric flow rate. Also, to determine the
pressure distribution and to determine the velocity.
And lastly comparing the experimental results and
theatrical results on MATLAB.
The fluid are always bound by the solid surface in the
pipe flow in every direction. The process such as the
flowing process, the pressure drop can be seen as the
turbulent flow and the friction that are bounded to the
surface. Then the max flow velocity can be been
showed through the center of the fluid flow.
By using the inclined manometer, it can help to
indicate and determine the pressure distribution . It
can also determine pressure along the distance of the
pipe at a specific distance. The equation shown
below shows velocity vs pressure relationship.
2 ∗ ∆𝑃𝑃𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑡
𝑢(𝑟) = √
𝜌 on the blower at an arbitrary voltage, the blower will
To calculate the theoretical velocity profile of the fluid,
the formula shown below can be used to solve it.
where r = radial distance of the pipe radial distances
from the center to the surfacefrom the pipe. n is the
constant of the flow and R is the total radius of the
pipe
1
𝑟2 𝑛
𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 (𝑟) = 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 2 )
𝑅
To determine the flow rate of air, the following
instrument can be used such as the pitot tube and the
venturi meter. The equation shown below indicated
the mean flow velocity relationships with pressure.
With Venturi meter and Pitot tube, we can determine
the flow rate of the air. The results from each are
compared. The following equation shows the
relationship of pressure and the mean flow velocity.
𝑑𝑏 is the diameter of the Venturi tube, Δ𝑃𝑉𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖 is the
pressure drops in the Venturi pipe 𝑈𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 is the mean
flow speed, 𝑑𝑎 is the diameter of the pipe
2 Δ𝑃𝑉𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖
𝑈𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 = ( )
√ 𝑑𝑎 4 𝜌
( ) −1
𝑑𝑏
Once the mean flow velocity is found, the flow rate
can then be calculated. First multiply, the mean flow
velocity with the cross section area from the pipe.
𝑄 = 𝑈𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 ∗ 𝐴rea of the pipe
To find the flow rate from the pitot tube, it can be
found by integrating the velocity time and multiple it
by the radius from the cross sectional of the pipe.
r=wall
Q pitot = 2π ∫ ur dr
r=0
Experimental Setup and Procedure
This lab experiment has a pipe and acrylic plastic
material to observe from the internal flow. The air
enters though the flow straighteners. Once by turning
suck the air from the rear. It’s adjustable for the
radial distance from the surface of the pipe to record
several different pressure changes pipe. The pitot
tube is initially placed at the surface of the pipe and
increase fromin the interval of 0.5 inches until it
reaches to the opposite of thesurface. The radial
distancesfrom the center ofthe pipe forthe
measurements = -2.5, -2, -1.5, -1, -0.5, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5,
2, 2.5 in. The pressures are thenmeasured with
theinclined manometer in in. of water
Results

Figure 1 showsthe pressure changes throughout the

pipe that were measured with inclined manometer,
oncethe air is passed the downstream of the flow
straightener. Theair flows steady throughoutthe pipe.
Figure 2 showsthe comparison between theoretical
and experimental results. For velocity distribution,
the maximum velocity was located at the center of Figure 1: Plot of pressure vs. distance along the pipe.
the pipe, and the lowest lent was toward the
surfacefrom the pipe.. This is because of the shear
force decreasing from the flow velocity
Figure 3 shows the uncertainty analysis. The error
bar shows isn’t relatively as big. The uncertainty of
the measurement didn’tcreate such a huge negative
impact for the accuracy of the experimental result.
Conclusion
In this lab experiment, in order to find the influence
of turbulent in the result of pressure loss, further
testing in computational fluid dynamic (CFD) is
required.
It was friction that led to the result of thepressure
Figure 2: Graph for the velocity and radial distance
loss. But the location wise for pitot tube also shows
from the center of the pipe determined experimentally
the difference between thecomputational volumetric
and theoretically.
flow rate and measured pitot rate. The pitot tube was
located off the center. Future experimentations
should lengthen the pipe to increase the effects of
major head loss. And then adds more pressure taps to
add quality and increase the resolution of the data.
Therefore, the parabolic shape was not as perfect.
Most importantly, one can prevent the air to bcome
the turbulent state which result in pressure drop and
accuracy of the experimental result.
List of References
[1] Goushcha, O. Aero-Thermal Fluids Laboratory
ME 43600. The City College of New York
Appendix A

Figure 3: Graph of the uncertainty analysis of the

raidus and the pressure

Appendix B

Pitot Tube Calculation:

 0.0254 𝑚 Uncertainty of Flow Rate measured by Venturi Tube
𝑟 = 1.0 𝑖𝑛 ( ) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟓𝟒𝒎
1.0 𝑖𝑛
𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.01 ("𝐻2𝑂)
2∆Ppitot 2(67.1868) 𝑚 . 01(248.84)
𝑢(𝑟) = √ =√ = 10.582 𝛿𝑃(𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛) = = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟒𝟒𝟐 𝑷𝒂
𝜌 (1.2) 𝑠 2
𝛿𝑃𝑉𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖
2 2
𝑟=𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑟=0.635𝑚
𝛿𝑃(𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛) 𝛿𝑃(𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛)
= √( 𝜕𝑃) + ( 𝜕𝑃)
𝑄𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑡 = 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑢 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 = 2𝜋 ∫ 𝑢 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃
𝑟=0 𝑟=0𝑚
2 2
𝒎𝟑 = √(1[𝛿𝑃(𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛) ]) + (−1[𝛿𝑃(𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛) ])
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟏𝟖𝟕
𝒔 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟓𝟗𝟓𝑷𝒂
248.84 𝑃𝑎
∆𝑃𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑡 = .27 ("𝐻2𝑂) ( ) = 67.1868 𝑃𝑎 𝛿𝑈𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛
1 ("𝐻2𝑂)
2
1
2

Theoretical Velocity Profiles : 1 2 1 1

= ( ) 4 ( ) (233.9)−2 (1.7596)
2 145 1.2
𝑚 ( ) −1
𝑈 max = 10.5819 90
𝑠 ( )
√( )
𝑚
𝑑 0.145𝑚 = 0.031
𝑅= = = 0.0725𝑚 𝑠
2 2
𝛿𝑄 = = √(𝐴𝛿𝑈𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 )2 = √((0.01266)(0.031))2
n=7: 𝑟 = 0.0254𝑚; 𝒎𝟑
= 𝟑. 𝟗𝟐𝟓𝟒(𝟏𝟎−𝟒 )
1 1 𝒔
𝑟2 𝑛 0.02542 5
𝑢(𝑟) = 𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − 2 ) = 9.874 (1 − ) Appendix D
𝑅 0.07252
𝒎
= 𝟗. 𝟔𝟗𝟏𝟒 clear all;
𝒔
close all;
Venturi Tube Calculation:

ΔPventuri = 𝑃𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑃𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑃(10) − 𝑃(9) %plot

= (706.7056) − (472.796)
= 𝟐𝟑𝟑. 𝟗𝟎𝟗𝟔 𝑷𝒂
plot(X,P,'color','k',
'LineWidth',1,
𝑈𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 =
2
(
Δ𝑃𝑉𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖
)
'LineStyle','-.',
√ 𝑑𝑎 4
( ) −1
𝜌 'Marker',...
𝑑𝑏

=
2
(
233.9096
) 's','MarkerSize',8);
√ 0.145 4
1.2
( ) −1
0.090
= 𝟖. 𝟐𝟒𝟑 𝒎/𝒔
title ('Pressure vs
Distance of the tube',
𝑄𝑉𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖 = (𝑈𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 )(𝜋 ∗ 𝑟 2 )
= (8.243 )(𝜋 ∗ 0.06352 )
'FontName','Times','Fon
𝒎𝟑 tSize',20)
= 𝟎. 𝟏𝟑𝟔𝟏
𝒔
xlabel('Distance (in)', 'FontName','Times','Fon
'FontName','Times','Fon tSize',20);
tSize',19);
ylabel('Pressure (Pa)', plot(U,R);
'FontName','Times','Fon xlabel('velocity
tSize',19); (m/s)',
'FontName','Times','Fon
tSize',20);
Pmax=P(1,9);
Pmin=min(P); ylabel('r (in)',
'FontName','Times','Fon
delat_P=abs(Pmax-Pmin); tSize',20);
q=1.2; hold on;
Umax=max(U);
da=145; R2=2.5;
db=90; n=7;

'FontName','Times','Fon
flow_rate=U_mean* tSize',20);
pi*(da/(2*1000))^2; xlabel('velocity
(m/s)',
U_mean=sqrt((2/(((da/db U_Theortical=Umax*((1-
)^4)-1))*(delat_P/q)); (R.^2/R2^2)).^(1/n));
plot(U_Theortical,R);
ylabel('r (in)',
U=sqrt((2/q)*(delta_P2) ('Experimental','Theore
); tical data',
r=R*0.0254; 'Location', 'best')
Q_pitot=2*pi()* trapz
(r(6:11),U(6:11).*r(6:1 'FontName','Times','Fon
1)); tSize',20);
plot(delta_P2,r); legend
ylabel('r (in)', fprintf(1,'Umean=%4.3f,
'FontName','Times','Fon Umax=%4.3f,Pitot
tSize',20); Flow=%4.3f, Venturi
xlabel('Delta_Pressure Flow=%4.3f,\n'...
(Pa)',
 ,U_mean,Umax m = ((N*sum(x.*Y))-
,Q_Pitot,Q_Venturi) sum(x)*sum(Y))/((N*sum(
x.^2))-sum(x)^2);
%linear regression
uncertainity=0.01; slope calculation
b = 1/N*sum(Y-m*x);
Area_pipe=3.14*max(R)*. dmdx = -
0254*max(R)*.0254; 1/(N*sum(x.^2)-
sum(x)^2)*(N*sum(Y)-
UN_pressure=((uncertain sum(Y))+...
ity*248.84)/2); (N*sum(x.*Y)-
UN_pressure_Venturi sum(x)*sum(Y))*...
=sqrt((UN_pressure^2) (-1/(N*sum(x.^2)-
+((-UN_pressure)^2)); sum(x)^2)^2)*(N*sum(2*x
UN_FlowRate_Venturi=sqr )-2*sum(x));
t((3.14*((max(R)*.0254) dmdy = -(sum(x) -
^2)*UN_velocity_Venturi N*sum(x))/(N*sum(x.^2)
)^2); - sum(x)^2);
dbdx = -m/N;
dbdy =1/N;
UN_velocity_Venturi=sqr
t(((.5)*((2/(((da/db)^4 %errors of slope and
-1)) interceps
*1/q)^(1/2))*(delat_P)^ um
(- =sqrt((dmdx*ux)^2+(dmdy
1/2)*(UN_pressure_Ventu *uY)^2);
ri))^2); ub
=sqrt((dbdx*ux)^2+(dbdy
*uY)^2);

x = [0:0.5:2.5]; %errors in fitted line:

Y = 1./delta_P2(6:11); uYFit =
ux = 0.125; sqrt((x.*um).^2+(ub)^2)
uY = 0.01; ;

%Calcaulations %output
N = length(x); figure
plot(x, Y, 'Marker',
'o', 'MarkerSize', 6,
'Color', 'k', ...
'MarkerFaceCOlor',
'k', 'LineStyle',
'none')
'FontName','Times','Fon
tSize',20)
set(findall(fig,'-
property','FontSize'),'
FontSize',12);
set(findall(fig,'-
property','FontSize'),'
FontName','Times')

hold on
plot(x, m*x+b,
'LineWidth', 4,
'Color', [0.7 0 0.65])
errorbar(x, m*x+b,
uYFit, 'LineWidth', 2,
'Color', [1 0 0])
legend('Raw data',
'Fitted Line')
xlabel('radius (in)',
'FontName','Times','Fon
tSize',20)
ylabel('Pressure
("H2O)',