Energy Equation in a Venturi Tube

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Student name: Andrei Divinagracia

Student number: 301360608

Experiment date: March 11, 2019

Report due date: March 25, 2019

ENGINEERING THERMODYNMICS AND HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY REPORT

MECHATRONICS SYSTEM ENGINEERING
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

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Theory Formatted: Font: 18 pt

The main objective of this lab is to analyze and observe what the Bernoulli’s Equation states
about streamline flow in a venturi tube by comparing measured and calculated velocities. In
addition, we aim to determine the flow rate factor of water in the venturi tube.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 1 displays how the apparatus is set up and figure 2 is a cross section of the venturi tube. Formatted: Font: 12 pt

It consists of 6 pressure gauges connected to the main venturi tube that represents pressure at Formatted: Left, Space After: 10 pt

different places of the tube. Opening the inlet and outlet valves and switching on the pump
allows the vent valves of the water pressure gage to be opened. Once the pressure gauges are
flushed, we regulate water level such that neither upper nor lower range limit is overshot or
undershot. After recoding pressures and head values, we move the measurement probe to
proceed measuring next pressure points. Formatted: Font: 12 pt, English (United States)

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 Formatted: Centered

For introductory fluid mechanics, Bernoulli’s equation (1) describes the flow of a streamline.
We are assuming that the fluid is flow, steady, inviscid and incompressible, in addition to no
heat or work transfer occurs. Each term can be represented as a head constant where the total
head corresponds to the height to which liquid would rise in a Pitot tube attached to the flow, thus,
a measure of the total energy head. So, two equations that follow from it are

Piezometric head is measured by a piezometer. It includes only the elevation and pressure heads of
the flow. The difference between piezometric head and total energy head at each location, we can
calculate the velocity in the cross-section.

To calculate velocity, we use continuity equation and the volumetric rate of flow which is measured
during the experiment. We can use the head equations (2) and (3) to find that velocity.

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Following that, the flow rate factor K can be found.

Lastly, volumetric flow rate and equation of continuity can lead us to the theoretical velocity.
𝑄 Formatted: Left, Indent: Left: 2", First line: 0.5"
𝑣𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐 = 𝐴 (6)
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Results
Note that:

𝑉 10𝐿
𝑄= = = 0.1031
𝑡 97𝑠
And Formatted: Superscript

ℎ𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜 = ℎ𝑡𝑜𝑡 − ℎ𝑝𝑖𝑧𝑜

1 2 3 4 5 6 t for Q Formatted: Centered

10L (s) (L/s)
hpiz (mm) 110 100 20 69 76 79 Formatted: Right
Formatted: Centered
htot (mm) 120 112 112 98 91 87 Formatted: Centered
97 0.103 Formatted: Centered
vmeas (m/s) 0.433 0.485 1.344 0.754 0.542 0.396 Formatted: Right
Formatted: Right
vcalc (m/s) 0.305 0.461 1.217 0.605 0.457 0.304 Formatted: Right
Formatted: Right
Since all calculations would be done similarly, sample calculations for column 1 is provided. Formatted: Right

Note that vcalc attained its values for A from Figure 2. Formatted: Right
Formatted: Right
Formatted: Right
𝑣𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠 = √2𝑔(ℎ𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜 ) = √2𝑔(ℎ𝑡𝑜𝑡 − ℎ𝑝𝑖𝑧 ) = √2(9.81)(. 120 − .110) = 0.443𝑚/𝑠
Formatted: Right
Formatted: Right
𝑄 0.103
𝑣𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑐 = = = 0.305𝑚/𝑠 Formatted: Right
𝐴 0.3386 Formatted: Right
Formatted: Right
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 Formatted: Centered
Vmeas and Vcalc vs Venturi Tube Position Formatted: Font: 12 pt

Vmeas Vcalc

1.6
1.4
Vmeas and Vcalc (m/s)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Venturi Tube Position

Head Values vs Venturi Tube Position

140

120
Head Values (m2/s2)

100

80
hpiz
60
htot
40 hvelo
20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Venturi Tube Position

Δ𝑃 = 𝜌𝑔(ℎ𝑝𝑖𝑧,𝑚𝑎𝑥 − ℎ𝑝𝑖𝑧,𝑚𝑖𝑛 ) = (998)(9.81)(0.110 − 0.020) = 881.132 𝑃𝑎

𝑄 0.103 ∗ 10−3 𝜇𝐿
𝐾= = = 3.470
√Δ𝑃 √881.132 𝑠√𝑏𝑎𝑟

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Discussion Formatted: Font: 18 pt

Q1. Why does the energy grade line slope downward in the direction of flow? What are the
assumptions that lead to a horizontal total energy line?
The energy gradient line slopes downwards because there exists a head loss in the pipe. As seen in
(4), velocity is proportional to the head loss. Thus, as average velocity increases, the head loss per
unit length will increase. The assumptions that lead to a horizonal energy line is that there is no
head loss, where there is no frictional loss in the pipe.

Q2. Is it possible for the pressure to increase in a uniform pipe flow? What happens in the case of a
contracted pipe?
No, if the pipe area stays the same and the velocity is uniform, the Bernoulli equation (1) states that
pressure will not change. However, a contracted pipe changes the cross-sectional area of the pipe
which, using the continuity equation for cylindrical coordinates, we know that there will be an
increase of fluid speed. In addition, pressure will increase because of the inverse relationship with
the cross-sectional area.
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Q3. What is the effect of decreasing the flow rate on the pressure loss, ΔP? How will it affect the
form factor, K?

Smaller flow rate will lead to a smaller velocity head

𝑄 ′ = 𝑄 − ∆𝑄

𝑄′ ∆𝑄
𝑉′1 = = 𝑉1 −
𝐴1 𝐴1

∆𝑄
=> 𝑉′3 = 𝑉3 −
𝐴3

Bernoulli’s equation where ∆z = 0. So we can write ∆P this way, same as ∆P’

𝜌 2
∆𝑃 = [𝑉 − 𝑉12 ]
2 3
𝜌
∆𝑃 − ∆𝑃′ = [(𝑉 2 − 𝑉12 ) − (𝑉32 − 𝑉12 )]
2 3
Combining the above equations and simplifying, we get

𝜌∆𝑄 1 1
∆𝑃 − ∆𝑃′ = ( − )(2𝑄 − ∆𝑄)
2 𝐴23 𝐴12

Thus, 
If ΔQ >Q/2 then ΔP<ΔP and If ΔQ < Q/2 then ΔP>ΔP’ Formatted: Font: 12 pt
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Reduction in pressure loss will result in increase in k as they are inversely proportional to each
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other.
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Q4. How can flow separation in a pipe be avoided?

Flow separation is observed when there is even a small change of pressure especially when it is
fluctuating too fast. To avoid it, the velocity change must be smooth and slow, in a sense,
continuous flow. We can do this by changing having the cross-sectional area of the tube/pipe to
change as smoothly as possible.

Q5. In what circumstances would cavitation occur in a flow?

It occurs when the liquid in a pump turns into water vapor at low pressure, in other words, it occurs
when vapour pressure is higher than the local static pressure at the given temperature.

Q6. Calculate the Reynolds numbers at A3 (r3 = 5.2 mm) & A6 (r6 = 10.4 mm). Using the Moody
chart in White’s book, determine whether it’s laminar or turbulent.

Assuming the water is at 20 degrees C

𝜌𝑉𝑑 (998)(1.344)(2 ∗ 0.0052)

𝑅𝑒𝑑3 = = = 13.95 × 103
𝜇 (0.001)

𝜌𝑉𝑑 (998)(0.396)(2 ∗ 0.0104)

𝑅𝑒𝑑6 = = = 8.22 × 103
𝜇 (0.001)

According to the Moody chart, these Reynold’s numbers correspond to laminar flows. This
makes sense as well since there was no disruptive flow that cause any pipes to oscillate in the

lab. Experiment title

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Conclusion
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Bold, Not Italic
As Bernoulli state high velocity of fluid flow result in low pressure and based on continuity Formatted: Heading 2, Left
equation, smaller area results in high velocity. Thus, the result proved both equations could be Formatted: Font: 12 pt
used to determine the velocity of fluid flow in manometer. Even the value is not exactly the Formatted: Font: 12 pt
same, but the pattern of increasing and decreasing at the converging and diverging portion is Formatted: Font: 12 pt
the same. So that, as the velocity increases, the total head pressure also increases for both Formatted: Font: 12 pt

convergent and divergent Student name: Formatted: Font: 12 pt

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Student number: Formatted: Font: Not Italic

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Experiment date:

Report due date:

ENGINEERING THERMODYNMICS AND HEAT TRANSFER LABORATORY REPORT

MECHATRONICS SYSTEM ENGINEERING

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Theory (10%)
The first part of the report includes:

Background (3%)

Governing equations which are used in your calculations (3%)

Brief description of the experiment (4%)

In this part, please do not copy from the instruction of the experiment. Your own descriptions of the
experiment are required and try to prepare this section briefly.

Results (45%)
Report the measured data in a table and calculate the requested parameters. Prepare tables and plots
as requested in the Lab guideline. In general, this part includes:

Data table (15%)

Calculations for the requested parameters (30%)

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Discussion (45%)
The most important part of the Lab report is “discussion”. In the discussion section please answer to the
given questions and discus the results and if it is required compare experimental results with theory or
model. This part includes:

Answer to the given questions (15%)

Discus the results (20%)

Comparing with theory or model, if it is requested (10%)

Useful recommendations or novel ideas about the experiment are appreciated and up to 10% will be
added to the final mark of the report.