Summary

The behavior of a fluid, particularly with regard to energy

losses, is quite dependent on whether the flow is laminar or
turbulent. For this reason, it is required to have a means of
predicting the type of flow without actually observing it. It can
be shown experimentally and verified analytically that the
character of flow in a round pipe depends on four variables:
fluid density, fluid viscosity, pipe diameter and average velocity
of flow. Osborne Reynolds was the first to demonstrate that
laminar or turbulent flow can be predicted if the magnitude of a
dimensionless number Reynolds number (NRe) is known. Flows
having Reynolds number greater than 4000 tend to be
turbulent whereas those having Reynolds number less than
2000 tend to be laminar.

The objective of the experiment is to reproduce the

classical experiment conducted by Osborne Reynolds and to
determine the flow condition of water at different Reynolds
number.

The Reynolds number calculated from the experimental

data almost conformed to the theoretical value. Therefore, it is
possible to predict the flow condition of a fluid by determining
the magnitude of Reynolds number for the fluid flow.
Introduction

It has been long known that a fluid can flow through a

pipe or conduit in two different ways. At low flow rates the
pressure drop in the fluid increases directly with the fluid
velocity; at high rates it increases much more rapidly, roughly
as the square of the velocity. The distinction between the two
types of flow was first demonstrated in a classic experiment by
Osborne Reynolds, reported in 1883. A horizontal glass tube
was immersed in a glass-walled tank filled with water. A
controlled flow of water could be drawn through the tube by
opening a valve. The entrance to the tube was flared, and
provision was made to introduce a fine filament of colored
water from the overhead flask into the stream at the tube
entrance.

Reynolds found that, at low flow rates, the jet of colored

water flowed intact along with the mainstream and no cross
mixing occurred. The water was flowing in parallel straight lines
and the flow was laminar. When the flow rate was increased, a
velocity, called critical velocity, was reached at which the
thread of color became wavy and gradually disappeared. The
dye spread uniformly throughout the entire cross section of the
stream of water. The water moved erratically in the form of
crosscurrents and eddies and the flow was turbulent. Reynolds
studied the conditions under which laminar flow transformed to
turbulent and demonstrated that laminar and turbulent flow
can be predicted by determining the magnitude of a
dimensionless number, now called the Reynolds number (N Re)
named in his honor.
Theory

Reynolds studied the conditions under which one type of

flow changes into the other and found that the critical velocity,
at which laminar flow changes into turbulent flow, depends on
four quantities: the diameter of the tube and the viscosity,
density and the average linear velocity of the liquid.
Furthermore, he found that the four factors can be combined
into one group and the change in kind of flow occurs at a
definite value of the group. The group of values so found was ,
DV  DV
N Re 


 ... ... ... ... ... (1)

where, D= diameter of tube

V = average velocity of liquid
 = viscosity of liquid
 = density of liquid
 = kinematic viscosity of liquid

The dimensionless group of variables defined by

equation (1) is called the Reynolds number NRe. It is a
dimensionless number.

Additional observations have shown that the transition

from laminar to turbulent flow actually may occur over a wide
range of Reynolds number. In a pipe, flow is always laminar at
Reynolds numbers below 2000, and under ordinary conditions,
the flow is turbulent at Reynolds number above 4000. Between
2000 and 4000 a transition region is found where the flow may
be either laminar or turbulent, depending upon the conditions
at the entrance of the tube and on the distance from the
entrance.

Apparatus

Osborne Reynolds’ Apparatus:

The main apparatus of this
experiment is the Osborne Reynolds’ Apparatus. It consists of a
tank with a flow visualization pipe attached underneath it. Fluid
flows into it through an inlet pipe and passes through a layer of
glass marbles - which reduces the turbulence of the flow. An
overflow pipe is also attached to the tank to let the excess fluid
out. Fluid enters the visualization tube through a bell-mouth
entry and just at the entry to it a dye is added to fluid through
a hypodermic tube. The flow in the visualization tube is
regulated with a valve at the end of the tube.

Water flow rate is measured by measuring the amount of

fluid that passes through in a definite time and the type of flow
is observed simultaneously. This observation and the flow rate
is used to derive the results.

A neat sketch of the Osborne Reynolds’ apparatus is given

on the following page.
Observed Data

Internal diameter of visualization pipe D = 7.5 × 10 -3 m.

Temperature of water = 29 C.
Weight of empty bucket mw = 0.9 kg.

Table 1
Table on the visual dye condition and volume of water at
definite time intervals at different flow rates.
Weight Time of
No. of Visual Dye of water collectio
Obs. condition + bucket n
kg seconds
1 Smooth thin flow with 1.6 120
needle like diameter
2 Smooth flow with thin 1.8 120
ribbon like
appearance
3 The color forms wide 2.2 120
thin film
4 Wide film that almost 2.6 120
disappears in water
5 Uneven flow with lots 3.1 120
of disturbances
6 Color spread 3.5 120
unevenly into the
water
Calculated Data

Density of water (at 29o C)  = 997 kg/m3.

Viscosity of water (at 29o C)  = 8.0× 10-4 Pa-s.

Area of pipe A = 4.41786  10-5 m2.

Table 2
Table to determine the mass and volumetric flow rate, velocity
and Reynolds number

No. Weigh Mass Volumet Veloci Reynolds

of t of flow ric flow ty of number
Obs. water rate rate flow NRe
mw m
 Q  10-4 v -
kg kg/sec m3/sec m/sec
1 0.7 0.0058 0.0585 0.132 1236
2 0.9 0.0075 0.0752 0.170 1591
3 1.3 0.0108 0.109 0.246 2290
4 1.7 0.0142 0.142 0.322 3012
5 2.2 0.0183 0.184 0.416 3889
6 2.6 0.0217 0.217 0.492 4602
Sample Calculation

Sample calculation for observation no. 3

Weight of water + bucket mw+b = 2.2 kg.

Weight of bucket mb = 0.9 kg.
Weight of water mw = mw+b - mb = (2.2 - 0.9) kg = 1.3 kg.
Time of collection t = 120 sec.
m w 1.3
Mass flow rate m    0.0108 kg.
t 120

Density of water (at 29o C)  = 997 kg/m3.

m
 0.0108
Volumetric flow rate Q   0.10866  10  4 m3/sec.
 997

   (7.5 10 3 ) 2
Area of pipe A   D2   4.41786 10  5 m2.
4 4

Q 0.10866  10 4
Velocity of flow v    0.2459 m/sec.
A 4.41786  10 5
Dv (7.5  10 3 )  0.2459  997
Reynolds number N Re    2290
 (8.00  10  4 )
Results

The experimental result supported the theory provided

by Osborne Reynolds though some discrepancies were
observed. The first and the second data showed Reynolds
number of less than 2100 and the condition of dye indicated
laminar flow, as predicted by theory. The third set of data gave
Reynolds number of more than 2100 and this was also
observed carefully as the dye was intermediate between the
ribbon like laminar flow and the dispersed turbulent-like flow. At
this point and also at the forth observation, the dye broadened
and spread over the water in a wavy form and almost mixed
with the water.

But, since the fifth data was on the boundary of

transition and turbulent region, the condition of dye indicated
turbulent flow though the Reynolds number was below the
value of 4000 and predicted transition region.

The last data gave Reynolds number larger than 4000.

The predicted flow was turbulent and, as presumed, the dye
was completely dispersed indicating turbulent flow. Therefore,
the results obtained supported the statements under analysis.
Conclusions

From the analysis of the result obtained, it may be

concluded that the application of Reynolds number in
determining the flow condition is definitely convenient and
precise. The accuracy of the result depended much on the
determination of velocity of flow. The analysis of result also
indicated that Reynolds number gave almost accurate
predictions for flows in the boundary regions between laminar
and transition, or turbulent and transition. Reynolds number
may be determined for non-circular cross sections, open
channels, and for flow of fluid around immersed bodies though
the formula will take a different form.

Finally, it may be concluded that, the statements of

Osborne Reynolds agree to experimental results and is
applicable to real fluid flow.
References

(1) McCabe, N. L.; J.C. Smith & P. Harriot; “UNIT OPERATIONS

OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING”; Fifth Edition; McGraw-Hill
Book Company, New York; 1993; Page-48, 49, 50.

(2) Foust, A.J.; L.A. Wenzel; C.W. Clamp; L. Mous & L.B.
Anderson; “PRINCIPLES OF UNIT OPERATIONS”; Second
Edition; John Wiley and Sons Inc.; Singapore; 1980; Page-
250, 251.

(3) Mott, R. L.; “Applied Fluid Mechanics”; Fourth Edition;

Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey; 1994; Page-221, 222, 223.