Laboratory Manual

FLUID MECHANICS
ME 211

C. M. Megaridis and W. J. Minkowycz Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Illinois at Chicago August 2003

EXPERIMENT #5
FRICTION LOSS IN FLOW THROUGH PIPES Objective In this experiment, the laws governing friction losses in pipe flows are studied by measuring the friction factor as a function of the Reynolds number. Both laminar and turbulent flows are investigated. Theoretical background The frictional resistance to which a fluid is subjected as it flows along a pipe creates a continuous loss of energy or total head as the fluid moves downstream. Figure 1 below illustrates this by the difference in manometer levels between stations A and B. If these manometers are open to the ambient and l denotes the distance between A and B, the height h represents the static pressure drop dp= g h occurring along this length. If V is

Fig. 1: Schematic illustrating static pressure loss due to friction along a pipe. the mean velocity in the pipe (which remains constant for a pipe of fixed cross section), and D is the pipe inner diameter, the friction factor f is defined by f = 2 ghD dp = 1 l lV 2 2 V 2 D (1)

The Reynolds number is given by Re =

VD 4 Q = D

( 2)

where Q denotes the volume flow rate, and the fluid viscosity. This quantity varies with temperature; see Table 1 listing values for water. The Reynolds number determines whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. For typical flows in smooth pipes, laminar flow conditions correspond to Re<2100, while turbulent flow corresponds to Re>4000. The laminar/turbulent transition regime corresponds to 2100<Re<4000. It is noted, however, 1

that the transition values of Re from one regime to the other depend on the smoothness of the pipe. Therefore, these values may be different from those listed above. Equation (2) can be used to determine the range of flow rates Q corresponding to specific flow characteristics in a tube of fixed diameter. For example, laminar flow is attained when Re = 4 Q D < 2100 Q < 525 D (3)

On the other hand, turbulent flow is expected when Re > 4000 Q >1000D/ (4)

For laminar flow in a pipe, theory shows that f=64/Re. For turbulent flow, f depends both on Re and the ratio /D, where denotes the surface roughness of the pipe wall. The dependence of the friction factor f on both Re and /D is defined by the Moody chart, which is given below (Fig. 2) and is valid for steady, fully developed, incompressible pipe flows.

Fig. 2: Friction factor f as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness ( /D) for round pipes the Moody Chart.

Experiment outline 1. Review apparatus description and overall procedure. 2. Measure, calculate, or obtain the quantities listed in the attached tables. 3. Plot the theoretical prediction and experimental data as instructed below. 4. Discuss possible causes for differences between experimental and theoretical results. 5. Follow the lab report write-up format given in this manual.

Apparatus Figure 3 shows the apparatus for this experiment. This apparatus features a straight flow tube tapped for two different pressure manometers at two locations separated by l=0.524m. The inner diameter of the tube is D=0.295cm. The setup also includes a needle valve at the downstream end of the tube; this valve is used to adjust the flow rate so as laminar, transition or turbulent flow can be attained. The apparatus is operated either in the laminar, transition or turbulent flow regime by using different means of water supply. For laminar or transitional flow, a constant-head tank is used. For turbulent or transitional flow, a water pump supplies the water. In the former case, the pressure drop along the tube is measured by means of an inverted U-tube manometer. For the latter case, the pressure drop is measured using a U-tube mercury manometer. Finally, the experimental setup includes a graduated cylinder to collect water, a timing device and a thermometer.

Related measurements The mean velocity V of the pipe flow is obtained by Q V (5) = A tA V = volume of fluid collected in graduated cylinder t = time of collection A = pipe cross sectional area (D2/4) V =

where

For laminartransition flow, where an inverted U-tube manometer is utilized, the friction coefficient can be determined from Eq. (1). In the case of transitionturbulent flow, where a mercury U-tube manometer is used, the friction coefficient can be determined from the following relationship

(6) 1 2 l V 2 D where m and w denote the densities of mercury and water, respectively.

f =

dp

2 gDh m ( 1) lV 2 w

Fig. 3: Apparatus for measuring friction loss along a pipe.

Procedure 1. Level the apparatus so that the manometers stand vertically. 2. By directing the levers on the manometer taps, select either the water manometer (for laminartransition flow) or the mercury manometer (for transitionturbulent flow). 3. For laminar flow, open and adjust the bench supply valve until there is a steady flow down the supply tank overflow pipe. For turbulent flow, apply the full pump pressure by connecting directly to the bench water supply. 4. By partly opening the needle valve to allow flow through the system, remove any trapped air by plucking the flexible hoses. When all air bubbles have been removed from the system, close the needle valve completely. This should bring the manometer fluids (water for laminar flow or mercury for turbulent flow) to the same level. The height of the fluid level in the manometer may be moved to a suitable level by adjusting the air in the manifold at the top of the apparatus (see Fig. 3). 5. Take the first reading of head loss and flow rate by opening the needle valve. Time and collect suitable quantities of water in the graduated cylinder, making sure that the flow pipe does not penetrate the surface of the liquid collected in the cylinder. Furthermore, the measuring cylinder should be held below the bottom of the apparatus (see Fig. 3). Failure to observe the above requirements will cause inaccurate reading of flow rate, especially at the lower flow rates. Such failure may also cause fluctuations of the manometer level. Take subsequent readings by gradually closing the needle valve to obtain pipe flows corresponding to lower flow rates. Record the water temperature and use it to find the viscosity from Table 1. 6. Enough data points (different flow rates) should be obtained to enable one to draw a reasonable curve through the data for different Reynolds numbers. It is desirable to take some measurements using the water manometer in a range which overlaps with the range of the mercury manometer. 7. Discuss the friction factor data, especially in the transition regime. Compare the measured values of f on a log-log graph (similar to that of Fig. 2) with the values found from f=64/Re for laminar flows, or those found from the Moody chart (Fig. 2) for nonlaminar flows.

Questions 1. From your data, can you estimate the ratio /D? If yes, what will be the value of the roughness ratio for the pipe of your experiment? If not, why? Does the air pressure on top of the manometer column make any difference in the calculation of the pressure drop along the pipe? Explain. Determine (as a percentage) the errors in the value of f, if the following errors are made: a) Error of 1mm in the measurement of the length of the pipe, and b) error of 0.04mm in the measurement of the diameter of the pipe. Compare the values of f which you have measured with those obtained from the equation f = 0.316 Re0.25 which was proposed by Blasius for turbulent flow in smooth pipes.

2.

3.

4.

TABLE 1 VARIATION OF WATER VISCOSITY WITH TEMPERATURE T [C] 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

10 4 [Pa . s]
10.007 9.815 9.576 9.384 9.145 8.954 8.762 8.570

Experiment#5 Friction Loss in Flow Through Pipes

TABLE 2

LAMINAR FLOW: Run 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

T= t [s] V [m/s]

= h [m]

(from Table 1) f Eq. (1) Re

[cc]

TABLE 3

TURBULENT FLOW: Run 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

T= V [m/s]

= h [m]

(from Table 1) f Eq. (6) Re

[cc]

t [s]

Experiment#5 Friction Loss in Flow Through Pipes

DATA TAKING SHEET Conversions 1 lbm = 0.4536 kg 1 in. = 0.0254 m Mercury/water density ratio m/w = 13.6

LAMINAR FLOW Run

[cc]

t [s] [in]

h [m]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

TURBULENT FLOW Run

[cc]

t [s] [in]

h [m]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8