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Lab Report

Advanced Theromodynamics: Frictional loss along a
pipe
Khawaja Asad Akhtar(1010B11195)
Group Member:
Muhammad Mohaymen Khan

School of Engineering
Taylors University
Malaysia
3
rd
June 2013






Table of content
Topic Page number
Abstract 3
Introduction 3
Experimental design 5
Procedure 5
Results and discussion 7
Conclusion and recommendation 11
References 11






Abstract
This experiment is aimed at calculating the energy losses that occur when a fluid flows along the
pipe due to frictional forces and then will be compared to the theoretical values. In this
experiment head loss is likely to occur due to the presence of friction. Also two fluids, which are
water and mercury will be used to determine what effect might density have on the resultant
friction. Graphs and calculations both will be analyzed and also error analysis will be performed
to study the accuracy involved in the experiment.
Introduction
When a fluid flows through a pipe, it encounters friction which forces the fluid to loose some
energy. When taking into account the amount of energy lost, it is dependant upon the frictional
force itself and the time period for which it is exposed to that friction. From application point of
view, this experiment holds quite an importance, any industry that employs the use of pipe and is
concerned with pipe flow of a fluid. The energy lost is directly related to the economic losses
that occur and cost reduction is an important aspect. This is the reason why experiments are
conducted to calculate the head losses. The basic aim of any application that involves pipe flow
is to minimize these losses and achieve a suitable condition.
The frictional loss that occurs in the pipe is measured by the calculation of the friction factor. On
a small scale, the experiment is conducted manually and also calculated in order to compare the
difference between experimental and the analytical results. This way the factors that can affect
the head loss are considered and then minimized. The piezometer is used in most experiments.
The difference in its levels of A and B account for the total head loss along the pipe.
The rate of loss of the total head along a pipe is generally referred to as the hydraulic gradient,
dh/dl. This is also known as i.
Experiments with different pipes of different diameters with water as the fluid and at different
temperature as well led to Reynolds number. This number takes into account the main parameter
and properties that affect fluid flow.
where: R= (*u*D)/ [1]


R correspond to the Reynolds number.
u is the velocity of the fluid flow, measured in m/s.
D correspeond to the diameter of the pipe, measures in meters (m).
is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid, measured in kg/(m s)
is the density of the fluid (kg/m).
To determine whether the flow of the fluid is turbulent or laminar, Reynolds number is used.
It depends upon the value of are which is less than or greater than a critical value. To
determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent different equations are considered.
For Laminar flow: i u
For Turbulent flow: i u^n ( the value of n varies between 1.7 and 2 depending upon the
value of R and the resistance of the wall of the pipe)
Another relation used in this experiment will be the Poiseuilles equation, which is
represented by,

This equation will also be used in the experiment to calculate the viscosity of the fluid at
different instances.
To calculate the experimental value for the frictional loss f, Darcys equation will be
employed:

The above equation is another form of Darcys equation which will be used in this
experiment.
The frictional loss is dependant upon the value of R and the pipe roughness.
Another equation that will be used in this experiment to calculate the analytical value is the
Blasiuss equation. This equation will help us determine the analytical values for f. This
equation is applied when the pipe is smooth and the flow is turbulent. In the practical every pipe
has some roughness or resistance offered, hence this equation will provide a theoretical value
only.
[2]

i= (32* *u)/ (*g*D^2)
i= (4*f*u^2)/(D*2*g)

f=0.079*R^-0.25



Experimental design
1) Stop watch
2) Volumetric hydraulic bench
3) Equipment to measure friction loss
Apparatus

Figure 1: The figure above shows the apparatus used to conduct the experiment.

Procedure
The apparatus is set on a level bench with manometers in vertical positions. The water
mamometer is then introduced into the system towards the relevant connecting pipe. Till a steady
flow is reached down the supply tank the bench supply valve is opened and adjusted. The needle
valve is partly opened to allow some water to flow into the system. Through some changes in the
flexible pipe the trapped air is removed. The needle valve is then closed and hence the inverted
tubes are at the same level.


The differences in the head levels mean that the readings are better to be taken in two sets. For
lower flow rates water is used and for higher flow rates mercury is used.
Water manometer readings:
1) The needle valve should be opened fully and till a differential head of 400mm is
obtained.
2) Take a measuring cylinder in order to collect the water.
3) Set h1 as 220mm to start off with
4) Switch on the stopwatch
5) Collect the water for 300ml of volume in the measuring cylinder and stop the stopwatch
6) Take the reading h2.
7) Stop the water flow after recording the time.
8) Repeat the experiment for values upto 340mm with an increase of 20 mm every time.

Mercury manometer readings:
1) Change the supply pump to mercury manometer.
2) Switch off the water tap.
3) Take a measuring cylinder in order to collect the water.
4) Set h1 as 220mm to start off with
5) Switch on the stopwatch
6) Collect the water for 300ml of volume in the measuring cylinder and stop the stopwatch
7) Take the reading h2.
8) Stop the water flow after recording the time.
9) Repeat the experiment for values upto 320mm with an increase of 20 mm every time.






Results and Discussion
Given information: length of pipe between piezometer tapping: 524 mm
Diameter of pipe,D :0.003m
Cross sectional area of the pipe: 7.06E-6 m
2
Q, volumetric flow rate=V/t (V=volume(m
3
)and t= time(s)
I
h2o
=(h1-h2)/l
I
Hg
=(h1-h2)(13.6-1)/l
v, velocity=Q/A
Tables:

Table 1: Involves the calculations made in a tabulated form.
Water
Qty (m^3) t(s) u(m/s) h1 (mm) h2 (mm) h1-h2(mm) i((h1-h2)/l) (C) Logi Logu Flowrate,Q(m^3/s)
0.0003 118 0.36 220 164 56 0.1069 24 -0.971 -0.444 2.54E-06 8.19E-04
0.0003 65 0.653 240 138 102 0.195 24 -0.71 -0.185 4.61E-06 8.24E-04
0.0003 57 0.746 260 120 140 0.267 24 -0.573 -0.127 5.27E-06 9.87E-04
0.0003 55 0.7727 280 98 182 0.347 24 -0.46 -0.112 5.46E-06 1.02E-03
0.0003 53 0.802 300 60 240 0.458 24 -0.339 -0.0958 5.66E-06 1.58E-03
0.0003 49 0.867 320 38 282 0.538 24 -0.269 -0.0619 6.12E-06 1.71E-03
0.0003 45.5 0.934 340 12 328 0.626 24 -0.203 -0.0297 6.59E-06 1.85E-03
Mercury
Qty (m^3) t(s) u(m/s) h1(mm) h2(mm) h1-h2(mm) i((h1-h2)(13.6-1)/l) (C) Logi Logu Flowrate,Q(m^3/s)
0.0003 37 1.149 220 183 37 0.8896 24 -0.05 0.0603 8.11E-06 2.96E-03
0.0003 27 1.57 240 164 76 1.827 24 0.262 0.196 1.11E-05 4.45E-03
0.0003 18 2.36 260 145 115 2.77 24 0.442 0.373 1.66E-05 4.49E-03
0.0003 17.1 2.49 280 136 144 3.46 24 0.539 0.396 1.76E-05 5.32E-03
0.0003 15 2.83 300 108 192 4.62 24 0.665 0.452 2.00E-05 6.24E-03
0.0003 14 3.04 320 91 229 5.51 24 0.741 0.483 2.15E-05 6.93E-03



Reynold's Number,Re f from Darcy's experiment f from Blasiu's equation Difference
1318.7 0.01214 0.0131 0.00096
2377.43 0.00673 0.01131 0.00638
2267.5 0.007056 0.0114 0.004344
2272.65 0.00855 0.01144 0.00289
1522.78 0.01045 0.01264 0.00219
1521.05 0.01053 0.01265 0.00212
1514.6 0.01056 0.01266 0.0021
Table 2: frictional factors calculated experimentally and theoretically along with their difference for water

Reynold's Number, R e f from Darcy's experiment f from Blasius's equation Difference
15837.6 0.009916 0.00704 0.002876
14394.6 0.0109 0.007212 0.003688
21445 0.00732 0.00653 0.00079
19096.24 0.00821 0.00672 0.00149
18503.8 0.00849 0.00677 0.00172
17897.8 0.00877 0.00683 0.00194
Table 2: frictional factors calculated experimentally and theoretically along with their difference for mercury





Graphs

Graph 1: relationship between log i and log u for water

Graph 2: relationship between log i and log u for mercury


The graphs for both water and mercury resemble a similar sort of pattern. They are not exactly
linear but as these are experimental results this is likely to happen. The inaccuracy due to several
factors must have affected the graphs. Also the graph tells us that mercury travelled at a higher
velocity than that of water.
The head losses in circular pipes for turbulent flow are calculated using Darcys equation.
Blasiuss equation has based upon the assumption that the pipe is smooth and the flow is
turbulent. The friction factor itself depends upon the velocity of the flow, the density of the fluid,
viscosity of the fluid and also the roughness of the pipe. For higher range of values for Reynolds
number and for larger head loss Moody chart is a better option. The Moody chart would help us
obtain more accurate values.
A very important reason for conducting this experiment is to also find out how experimental and
analytical values vary. If we take water into consideration first he difference between the
frictional losses varied from 0.00096 to 0.0021. This is a percentage increase of more than 118%.
Though the change itself doesnt seem significant the percentage change does.
If Mercury is now taken into account the change in the difference between the experimental and
analytical values ranges from 0.00079 to 0.00368. This means that the percentage difference
stands as more than 365%. This figure is important as when the corresponding water percentage
is compared to it, which is 118% shows us that a percentage a fluid with higher density, viscosity
travelling at a higher velocity and hence a higher Reynolds number undergoes more friction and
hence the head loss is higher. This from the application point of view is very important as these
factors are very important when designing pipes for industrial use.
The changes in differences that take place are probably due to some human errors made and also
due to the fact that Blasiuss equation assumes that the pipe is smooth or in other there is no
roughness presented by the pipe. This is surely not the case in the real world, as the pipes present
some resistance through roughness and hence the difference occurs in the calculations.
If the diameters are varied by 0.03mm, we will now look at as to how will this affect the
viscosity of the fluid passing through the pipe.


The following is a table of one value of the Reynolds number for each of the fluids used and
their percentage error calculated as a result of the change in the diameter of the pipe.
Fluid Reynolds
number
U,
velocity
( with
D=3.03mm)
( with
D=3.00mm)
( with
D=2.97mm)
Error
percentage
Water 1318.7 0.36 8.27E-4 8.19E-4 8.11E-4 +/-0.977
Mercury 21445 2.36 4.53E-3 4.49E-3 4.45E-3 +/-0.883

Formula used to find out: (change in viscosity/ viscosity at d=3 mm)*100%
Conclusion and recommendation
It is quite clear at the end of the experiment that friction has a significant effect on the fluid flow
of the pipe. Also this experiment gives a fair idea of as to how much of an importance does head
loss have experimentally and application wise as well. Also this experiment considers two
different types of fluids and how does friction affect each of them based upon their respective
viscosities. Also a comparison between experimental and theoretical values signifies the
importance of accuracy.
The water level adjustment during the experiment was quite tough as it kept fluctuating and it
would have surely had an effect on the accuracy of the experiment. Temperature should have
been recorded at regular intervals as this would have improved the accuracy. The experiment
should have been conducted a few times in order to find out the average and make the data more
reliable.

References
[1] Reynolds Number. Available:http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/reynolds-
number-d_237.html. Last accessed 4th June 2013.
[2]"blasius" Friction
factor. Available:http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=352613. Last
accessed 5th June 2013.