Flow Through Piping Network: Objectives of The Experiment

Flow through piping network
Objectives of the experiment:
1. To measure the pressure drop in the straight section of smooth, rough and fitting as a function of flow
rate.
2. To calculate Reynolds number and fanning friction factor using measured flow rate and pressure
drop.
3. To calculate roughness parameter using calculated experimental fanning friction factor.
4. To understand the effect of Reynolds number and roughness on friction factor.
Experimental setup:
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the experimental setup
Experimental procedure:
1. Ensure all valves are closed and outlet and bypass valves (see Fig. 1) of the pipe system are open.
Ensure that pressure tapings are proper connected to the subject pipe, without air bubble.
2. Turn on the centrifugal pump and let water initially circulated back through bypass.
3. Open the first pipe inlet valve completely and operated direct the water flow appropriate flow meter.
4. Switch on the centrifugal pump, flow meter and pressure gauge.
5. Re ensure that there are no air bubbles in the tubes connected to the pressure tapings, remove if any air
bubbles are present.
6. Wait for one minute for the flow to reach steady state, although it may have fluctuation, however
fluctuation between constant bound.
7. Record the corresponding flow rate (liter per min) and pressure readings (bar) (Note: If flow rate is
more than 10 lpm use flow meter 1(less precise) otherwise if flow rate is below 10 lpm then use flow
meter 2(more precise)). Caution: While changing the flow meters, turn both the flow meters on, first
and then turn off with is not required. In any case, high flow rate should not go the more precise meter.
8. Vary the flow rate by manipulating the bypass valve and record 5 such readings at various flow
rates (flow rates could be altered by inlet valves as well, however, bypass valve is to be most commonly
used.)
9. Repeat the above steps for rest of the pipes.
10. For measurement of pressure drop of pipe bend, connect the pressure taping to bend and repeated the
procedure for pipe (Any inlet valve could be kept open).
11. Once all readings are recorded, switch off centrifugal pump, flow meter and pressure gauge and fully
open the bypass valve. Inlet valve of all the pipes are to be turned off.
Observations:
Pipe diameters:
Pipe no Inner diameter (m)
1 0.003175
2 0.00635
3 0.009525
4 0.015875
5 0.009525
Pipe bend 0.032
Data:
Density of water (ρ) =1000 kg/m3
Viscosity of water (μ) = 0.001 Pa.s
Distance between pressure taps (L) = 0.85 m
Least counts: ∆L=1mm, ∆D=0.001mm, for physical constant least count is 0, for readings least count is
lowest digits (ex, for a reading 2.024, least count for the meter would be 0.001)
Observation table:
Pipe no Flow rate (lpm) Pressure drop (bar) Average Average
Flow rate Pressure
Max Min Max Min Qavg (m3/s) drop
∆Pavg(Pa)
1
2…
Calculations:
The equations used for calculation are:
Average velocity,
Reynolds number,
Experimental friction factor,
Theoretical friction factor:
For laminar flow,
For turbulent flow,
Friction factor due to fitting:
Error propagation or uncertainty:
Uncertainty in Reynolds number,
Uncertainty in friction factor, Results

and Discussions:
Final tables: Applicable for all pipes

Theoretical
Pressure Reynolds Percent Experimental Percent
Flow rate friction
S no drop number error in friction error in factor
(m3/s)
(N/m2) (Re) Re factor (fexp) fexp
(ftheo)
1
2…
For pipe no 3:
Pressure Reynolds Experimental
Flow rate Roughness,
S no drop number friction
(m3/s) (Re) ϵ (m)
(N/m2) factor (fexp)
1
2…
For pipe bend:

Pressure Reynolds Fitting
Flow rate
S no drop number friction
(m3/s) (Re)
(N/m2) factor (ffitting)
1
2…
Graphs:
1. For all pipes: plot theoretical and experimental friction factor vs Reynolds number
2. Plot experimental friction factor (pipe no. 3 and 5) vs Reynolds number
3. Plot roughness (ϵ) vs experimental friction factor for pipe no. 3
4. Plot fitting friction factor (ffitting) vs Reynolds number
Note:
1. Use inner diameter for all calculations

2. Put all tables and sample calculations in appendix.
3. Bring the hard copy of this manual while coming to lab.
Reference:
Chapter 5, Incompressible flow in pipes and channels, Unit operations of chemical engineering by McCabe,
Smith and Harriott, McGraw-Hill (international edition), 2001

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Flow through piping network

Objectives of the experiment:

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the experimental setup

Density of water (ρ) =1000 kg/m3

Viscosity of water (μ) = 0.001 Pa.s

Distance between pressure taps (L) = 0.85 m

The equations used for calculation are:

Experimental friction factor,

Theoretical friction factor:

For laminar flow,

For turbulent flow,

Friction factor due to fitting:

Error propagation or uncertainty:

Uncertainty in Reynolds number,

Uncertainty in friction factor, Results

Final tables: Applicable for all pipes

For pipe bend:

1. Use inner diameter for all calculations

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