Department of Aerospace Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Low Speed Lab

AS2510

AJAY KANNA

AE22B024
Flow through a Perpendicular Bend (Exp - 3)

1
Contents
1 Objective: 3

2 Theory: 3

3 Apparatus: 4

4 Procedure: 4

5 Results and Discussion: 5

5.1 Result: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.2 Known Data: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.3 Discussion and Interpretation: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6 Sources of Error: 6

7 Conclusion: 7

8 Appendix: 7

List of Figures
1 Points where pressure are measured . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 The setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 The Pressure distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2
1 Objective:
• To analyse the pressure variation across the perpendicular bent duct
• To compare the pressure distribution for 2 different values of fan speed.

• To compare the effects of the two different free stream velocities on the reynold’s number

2 Theory:

Figure 1: Points where pressure are measured

In the analysis of fluid flow through curved geometries, such as a bent pipe, understanding the behavior
of fluid particles and the resultant pressure distribution is crucial. We are getting into the fundamental
principles governing the flow dynamics and pressure variations in a 90° bent pipe, focusing on the influence
of the curvature on fluid particles and the subsequent pressure changes across the pipe’s cross-section.

As fluid flows through a curved path, its velocity vector at any point is tangential to the path, defined
within a coordinate system where s represents the tangential distance and n the normal distance from a
point of origin. In such a system, an infinitesimal segment ds along the streamline can be considered part
of a local circle with radius R, with the arc ds subtending an angle dθ. The change in direction of the
fluid’s velocity vector over ds leads to a differential equation for the velocity field, given as:
Given the velocity vector ⃗u = uîs , the change in velocity along the streamline can be expressed as:

∂ u2 u2
 
(⃗u · δ)⃗u = îs − în
∂s 2 R
Applying the steady Euler equation, we obtain two components of the flow field equations:
For the s component:
∂ u2
 
1 ∂p
+ =0
∂s 2 ρ ∂s
For the n component, incorporating the centrifugal force effect:

u2 1 ∂p
− + =0
R ρ ∂n
This formulation highlights the presence of a centrifugal component due to the bend, influencing the
pressure distribution across the pipe’s cross-section.
In a 90◦ bent pipe, as the flow navigates the bend, centrifugal forces cause a pressure increase on
the outer wall and a decrease on the inner wall, establishing a pressure gradient. This gradient can be
quantitatively described by the Coefficient of Pressure (CP ), defined as:
P − P∞
CP = 1 2
2 ρU∞

3
 where P is the pressure at a point on the wall, P∞ is the free-stream pressure, ρ is the fluid density,
and U∞ is the free-stream velocity. The CP value encapsulates the non-dimensionalized pressure difference
induced by the flow’s curvature and is a pivotal parameter in characterizing the flow dynamics within
curved pipes.

3 Apparatus:

Figure 2: The setup

The experimental setup for investigating flow through a 90° bent pipe under suction involves a series of
apparatus:
• a suction pump with a low Mach number compressor to ensure incompressible flow conditions.
• a convergent nozzle for air intake to accelerate the subsonic flow, and a 90° bent pipe through which
the air is directed.
• Pressure measurements are facilitated by a Digital Pressure Manometer connected to pressure nodes
located at 0°, 45°, and 90° on both the inner and outer walls of the bend to record differential pressures.

4 Procedure:
• Begin by inspecting the experimental setup to ensure all components are correctly assembled and
functional.
• Verify the connection of the suction pump, the alignment of the convergent nozzle, and the secure
placement of the digital pressure manometer to t.he designated pressure nodes on the 90° bent pipe.
• Once the apparatus is confirmed to be in order, activate the suction pump to initiate air flow through
the system.
• Adjust the pump to set the airflow to a desired velocity, ensuring the flow remains incompressible
and subsonic.
• Use the digital pressure manometer to measure the atmospheric pressure at the inlet for baseline
data, then proceed to record the pressure at 0°, 45°, and 90° locations along both the inner and outer
walls of the bend to capture differential pressures.
• After completing measurements at the initial suction speed, adjust the pump to a different velocity
setting and repeat the pressure and velocity measurements to observe changes under varied flow
conditions.

4
5 Results and Discussion:
5.1 Result:

Gauge Pressures at various points

Outer Wall Gauge Pressure (Pa) for fan speed = 13.9 m/s
Angle (degrees) Gauge Pressure (Pa)
0 -102
45 -76
90 -93

Inner Wall Gauge Pressure (Pa) for fan speed = 13.9 m/s
Angle (degrees) Gauge Pressure (Pa)
0 -168
45 -203
90 -184

Outer Wall Gauge Pressure (Pa) for fan speed = 20.02 m/s
Angle (degrees) Gauge Pressure (Pa)
0 -215
45 -164
90 -208

Inner Wall Gauge Pressure (Pa) for fan speed = 20.02 m/s
Angle (degrees) Gauge Pressure (Pa)
0 -349
45 -413
90 -322

5.2 Known Data:

• Ambient temperature: 28.6◦ C = 301.6 K

• The viscosity of air at 30◦ C is µ = 1.872 × 10−5 kg m−1 s−1 .

• Diameter of the duct = 34 mm = 0.034 m
ρU∞ D
Re = µ

Re is the Reynolds number, a dimensionless quantity that helps predict flow patterns in different fluid flow
situations.
ρ is the density of the fluid (in kg/m3 ).
U∞ is the free-stream velocity of the fluid (in m/s), which is the velocity of the fluid far from the object’s
surface in the flow.
D is the diameter of a pipe. µ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid (in Pa·s or kg/(m·s)).

5
 Table 5: Fan Speed (v/s) Reynolds Number
Fan Speed (m/s) Reynolds Number
13.9 m/s 29219.892
20.02 m/s 42085.054

5.3 Discussion and Interpretation:

Figure 3: The Pressure distribution

• We can observe that as fan speed (free stream velocity) increases, the Reynolds number also increases.
This indicates a transition from laminar to turbulent flow, which affects the pressure distribution
around the pipe due to the increased mixing and momentum transfer in the boundary layer.
• The pressure measurements on the inner and outer walls of the pipe show a distinct difference at
various angles, highlighting the impact of centrifugal forces on fluid particles. As fluid navigates the
bend, those closer to the inner wall are subjected to higher acceleration, leading to a lower pressure
compared to the outer wall, in accordance with Bernoulli’s principle.
• The curve fitting for pressure distribution suggests a quadratic relationship with the angle of bend,
which is consistent with theoretical expectations. This pattern underscores the significance of geo-
metric factors on flow characteristics and the resultant pressure fields within curved systems.
• Comparing the results obtained from different fan speeds reveals the influence of flow velocity on the
centrifugal effects experienced by the fluid. At higher speeds, the pressure differential between the
inner and outer walls becomes more pronounced, indicating a stronger influence of flow inertia and
emphasizing the role of Reynolds number

6 Sources of Error:
• Leakages in the Suction System: Minor leaks in the suction pump or connections can lead to inaccurate
pressure measurements.
• Instrument Calibration: Inaccurate calibration of the digital manometer or pressure gauges can in-
troduce measurement errors.
• Human Error: Misreading values, incorrect placement of pressure taps, or errors in recording data
can affect results.

6
 • Environmental Conditions: Variations in temperature or humidity can influence the properties of the
air, affecting viscosity and density measurements.

• Flow Disturbances: Turbulence or non-uniform flow at the inlet or around the measurement points
can lead to erratic pressure readings.

7 Conclusion:
The experiment successfully demonstrated the influence of fluid velocity and pipe curvature on pressure
distribution. As predicted, the Reynolds number increased with fan speed, highlighting the transition to
turbulent flow. Pressure variations across the pipe’s inner and outer walls confirmed theoretical predictions
about centrifugal effects in curved flow paths.

8 Appendix:

Listing 1: Python code for plotting the points

p 1 o u t s i d e = [101223 , 101249 , 101232]
p 1 i n s i d e = [101157 , 101122 , 101141]
p 2 o u t s i d e = [101110 , 101161 , 101117]
p 2 i n s i d e = [100976 , 100912 , 101003]
theta = [ 0 , 45 , 90]

rho = 1 . 1 5 ; u i n f = [ 1 3 . 9 , 2 0 . 0 2 ] ; D = 0 . 0 3 4 ; mu = 0 . 0 0 0 0 1 8 6
r e 1 = round ( ( rho ∗ u i n f [ 0 ] ∗ D) /mu, 3 )
r e 2 = round ( ( rho ∗ u i n f [ 1 ] ∗ D) /mu, 3 )
print ( re 1 , re 2 )

import m a t p l o t l i b . p y p l o t a s p l t
from s c i p y . o p t i m i z e import c u r v e f i t
import numpy a s np

def p o l y f i t (x , a , b , c ) :
r e t u r n a ∗ x ∗∗2 + b ∗ x + c

params p1 out , = curve fit ( poly fit , theta , p 1 outside )

params p1 in , = curve fit ( poly fit , theta , p 1 inside )
params p2 out , = curve fit ( poly fit , theta , p 2 outside )
params p2 in , = curve fit ( poly fit , theta , p 2 inside )

theta f i t = np . l i n s p a c e ( 0 , 9 0 , 1 0 0 )
fit p1 o u t = p o l y f i t ( t h e t a f i t , ∗ params p1 out )
fit p1 i n = p o l y f i t ( t h e t a f i t , ∗ params p1 in )
fit p2 o u t = p o l y f i t ( t h e t a f i t , ∗ params p2 out )
fit p2 i n = p o l y f i t ( t h e t a f i t , ∗ params p2 in )

p l t . f i g u r e ( f i g s i z e =(12 , 6 ) )

plt . subplot (1 , 2 , 1)
plt . p l o t ( theta , p 1 o u t s i d e , ’ o ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e o u t e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 1 3 . 9 m
plt . p l o t ( theta , p 1 i n s i d e , ’ s ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e i n n e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 1 3 . 9 m/
plt . plot ( theta fit , f i t p 1 o u t , ’ − ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e o u t e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 1 3 .
plt . plot ( theta fit , f i t p 1 i n , ’ − − ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e i n n e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 1 3 .

7
plt . t i t l e ( ’ P r e s s u r e D i s t r i b u t i o n f o r both t h e w a l l s f o r f a n s p e e d = 1 3 . 9 m/ s ’ )
plt . x l a b e l ( ’ Theta ( D e g r e e s ) ’ )
plt . y l a b e l ( ’ P r e s s u r e ( Pa ) ’ )
plt . legend ()
plt . g r i d ( True )

plt . subplot (1 , 2 , 2)
plt . p l o t ( t h e t a , p 2 o u t s i d e , ’ o ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e o u t e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 2 0 . 0 2 m
plt . p l o t ( t h e t a , p 2 i n s i d e , ’ s ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e i n n e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 2 0 . 0 2 m
plt . p l o t ( t h e t a f i t , f i t p 2 o u t , ’ − ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e o u t e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 2 0 .
plt . p l o t ( t h e t a f i t , f i t p 2 i n , ’ − − ’ , l a b e l =’ P r e s s u r e on t h e i n n e r w a l l f o r f a n s p e e d = 2 0 .
plt . t i t l e ( ’ P r e s s u r e D i s t r i b u t i o n f o r both t h e w a l l s f o r f a n s p e e d = 2 0 . 0 2 m/ s ’ )
plt . x l a b e l ( ’ Theta ( D e g r e e s ) ’ )
plt . y l a b e l ( ’ P r e s s u r e ( Pa ) ’ )
plt . legend ()
plt . g r i d ( True )

plt . tight layout ()

p l t . show ( )