Major and Minor Energy Loss

Lab

Purpose: To determine experimental values for loss

coefficients for pipes and fittings, and to compare them
to commonly accepted values.
For steady uniform flow (laminar or turbulent)
through a conduit of constant size,the energy
equation between two sections can be written as:

p1
v12 p2
v22
z1
z2 hL

2g
2g

in which hL is head loss due to friction in the pipes,

referred to as major energy loss.
The momentum equation for the pipe is written as

F v V A
s

p1 A1 p2 A2 Wsin 2 rs 0

sin

z1 z2
s

Replaci W As and
in the momentum equation
ng
yields
the following equation for a constant diameter pipe:
p1 p2
2 rs 2s
z1 z2

A
r

r d

z
Solving for shear stress:

2 ds
For a full flowing pipe of radius r0 and s =L, we can
p1 p2
2L
write
z1 z2 0

r0
Energy equation for uniform flow and constant size pipe
can be rewritten as
pp
hL hf 1 2 z1 z2

Thus, hf

2 0 L
r0

This equation applies for either

laminar or turbulent flow.

Pipe flow is classified as laminar, transitional or turbulent.

Laminar flow is dominated by molecular viscous forces
whereas turbulent flows are marked by higher velocities
characterized by random and chaotic motion. Osborne
Reynolds showed in his experimental work that Reynolds
number is basic parameter that relates to the type of
vD vD
flow.
Re

Based on experimentation:
Re < 2000
Re > 3000
2000 < Re < 3000

laminar flow
turbulent flow
transitional

f 2
flow
0 as
v
Wall shear can be expressed (experimentally verified)
8

where f = resistance coefficient or friction factor

Substitute expression for shear stress into equation for

headloss, we get the Darcy-Weisbach equation:
2
L v
hL hf f
D 2g
Friction factor,f, has been extensively investigated
experimentally. Moody Diagram can be used to determine
the friction factor. It covers all types of flows.
In addition to head losses due to frictional resistance in
pipes, there are losses due to local disturbances of flow
in conduits such as changes in cross-section, elbows,
valves, etc. These types of losses are termed minor
losses, hm.
Whenever velocity of flowing stream is altered either in
direction or magnitude, eddy currents are set up and
there is loss of energy created in excess of pipe friction
in that same length of pipe. The magnitude of this
v2 to
localized loss is proportional
the abruptness
of coefficient
the
where
K = minor loss
hm K
velocity change. Head loss
produced by inlets,
2g that
for is
fitting
outlets or fittings is expressed by

Analysis/Discussion
1. For each pipe size and fitting or valve in the table
(posted on BlackBoard), measure the pressure head and
flowrate. Repeat for 3 different flowrates.
2. Include computations and graphs to determine the
various major and minor loss coefficients. Compare with
commonly accepted values by computing relative
errors.
3. Discuss results obtained.
4. Note: To begin the Discussion part of your lab, first
summarize results before answering Discussion
questions.