EM201 FLUID MECHANICS

LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 2

HEAD LOSS IN PIPE & BENDS

Name: GAN KIN LEONG

ID: 1001232660
Course: BEng. Petroleum Engineering

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND
BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SEPT 24, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

1. Introduction
a. Objective

b. Learning Outcomes

c. Introduction

3-6

2. Material and Methodology

a. Apparatus

b. Precautions

c. Procedure (Part 1 & 2)

7-8 & 14

3. Results and Discussions

a. Results & Calculations (Part 1 & 2)
b. Discussions (Part 1 & 2)

8-12 & 14-17

13 & 18

4. Conclusion

18

5. Reference

19

OBJECTIVE
1. To determine the head loss in pipe flow for different pipe diameter.
2. To estimate the friction factor for different pipe diameter.
3. To determine the head losses in bends.
4. To identify the types of flow of the fluid.
LEARNING OUTCOME
Upon completion of the experiment, students should be able to determine the head loss in pipe
flow for different pipe diameter. In addition, students are able to plot the graph of friction factor
against Reynolds number. Students should also be able to determine the head losses in each bend
and find the pressure drop along the pipe. Furthermore, they should be able to plot the graph of
H against V2/2g to obtain K for all the four bends.

INTRODUCTION
If you want to move something, there will be resistance. If you try to push a heavy box along the
ground, it will require a certain amount of effort to do it. Since the weight and the size of the box
will not change, the work required should be the same regardless of the surface it is resting
on. However, the box will be much easier to move on a smooth linoleum floor than trying to
move it on a deep pile carpet. The difference in the required effort is due to friction. The carpet
has a higher resistance to the movement of the box than the smooth floor.
To move a given volume of liquid through a pipe requires a certain amount of energy. An energy
or pressure difference must exist to cause the liquid to move. A portion of that energy is lost to
the resistance to flow. This resistance to flow is called head loss due to friction.

In fluid dynamics, head is a concept that relates the energy in an incompressible fluid to the
height of an equivalent static column of that fluid. From Bernoulli's Principle, the total energy at
a given point in a fluid is the energy associated with the movement of the fluid, plus energy from
pressure in the fluid, plus energy from the height of the fluid relative to an arbitrary datum. Head
is expressed in units of height such as meters or feet.
Head loss is the measure of the reduction in the total head of the liquid as it moves through a
system. The total head is the sum of the elevation head, velocity head and pressure head. Head
loss is unavoidable and is present because of the friction between the fluid and the walls of the
pipe and is also present between adjacent fluid particles as they flow along the pipe. Head loss is
a measure of the reduction in the total head (sum of elevation head, velocity head and pressure
head) of the fluid as it moves through a fluid system. This is unavoidable in real fluids.

Head loss is the combination of different types of losses.

1- Friction loss occurs as the fluid flows through the straight pipes.
2- Minor losses are head losses that occur due to bends, elbows, joints, valves, and other fittings
in the systems.
Whenever there is a change in the direction of flow or a change in the cross-sectional area a head
loss will occur.
Friction losses are very dependent upon the viscosity of the liquid and the amount of
turbulence in the flow. Head loss due to friction can be calculated by using the Darcy-Weisbach
equation. Darcy's equation can be used to calculate frictional losses. A special form of this
equation can be used to calculate minor losses. Friction loss is that part of the total head loss that
occurs as the fluid flows through straight pipes. The head loss for fluid flow is directly
proportional to the length of pipe, the square of the fluid velocity, and a term for fluid friction
called the friction factor. The head loss is inversely proportional to the diameter of the pipe.
When calculating heat transfer or pressure and head loss it is important to know if the fluid flow
is laminar, transitional or turbulent.
There are in general, three types of fluid flow in pipes

laminar

turbulent

transient

Laminar flow
Laminar flow generally happens when dealing with small pipes and low flow velocities. Laminar
flow can be regarded as a series of liquid cylinders in the pipe, where the innermost parts flow
the fastest, and the cylinder touching the pipe isn't moving at all.

Transitional flow
Transitional flow is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow, with turbulence in the center of the
pipe, and laminar flow near the edges. Each of these flows behave in different manners in terms
of their frictional energy loss while flowing, and have different equations that predict their
behavior.
Turbulent flow
In turbulent flow vortices, eddies and wakes make the flow unpredictable. Turbulent flow
happens in general at high flow rates and with larger pipes. Turbulent or laminar flow is
determined by the dimensionless Reynolds Number.

Reynolds Number
The Reynolds number is important in analyzing any type of flow when there is substantial
velocity gradient (i.e. shear.) It indicates the relative significance of the viscous effect compared
to the inertia effect. The Reynolds number is proportional to inertial force divided by viscous
force. The flow is:

laminar when Re < 2300

transitional when 2300 < Re < 4000

turbulent when 4000 < Re

APPARATUS
Pipe Friction Apparatus, The Hydraulics Bench, its various accessories and the associated
experimental equipment as well as a stopwatch.

PRECAUTIONS
1. The manometer tube is ensured to be free from air bubbles and that readings are taken after the
water level has been stabilized.
2. The units of the values taken should be converted from millimeters (mm) to meters (m) for
standardized calculation.
3. The eye level when recording data should be parallel to the measurements. This is to prevent
parallax error.
PART 1: HEAD LOSS IN PIPES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETER
PROCEDURE (Part 1)

1. The LS-18001-15 Pipe Friction Apparatus was placed on the hydraulic bench.

2. The water inlet and outlet nipples are connected with flexible hose.
3. The quick coupling is connected to the copper wire of 11mm inner diameter.
4. The water pump is switched on and the hydraulic bench is closed over flow slowly.
5. The valves at the copper pipe are opened and the air gap in the manometer are removed by
pressing the relief valve, which is located at the top of the manometer. The flow rate is measured
by a measuring beaker and a stopwatch.
6. The reading at the manometer is recorded.
7. Steps 4-6 are repeated with different flow rate and the reading of the manometer is taken.
8. Steps 3-7 are repeated for one other different diameter pipe of my choice.
8

9. A graph of friction factor against Reynolds number is plotted.

RESULTS & CALCULATIONS (Part 1)
Flowrate=

e.g, :

e.g, :

5
=0.2998 L /s
16.67

Velocity=

flowrate
area

0.2998
D2
pi x
4

= 3.155 m/s

e.g, :

volume
time

( velocity x diameter )
viscosity

3.155 x 0.011
9.04 x 107

= 38390

Friction factor =

e.g, :

h
L
v2
x
d
2g

( )( )

0.037
0.425
3.1552
x(
)
0.011
19.62

= 1.888

i) 11 mm

ii) 8.3 mm

iii) 5.3 mm

10

11

12

13

DISCUSSIONS (Part 1)
According to the results obtained, it can be said that the head loss gets larger when the crosssectional area of the pipe decreases. The 5.3mm pipe showed the largest head loss value.
From the calculations, the velocity and Reynolds number for 11mm pipe is the lowest among all
the three (3) different sizes of the pipes showing values of less than 40000, which are shown in
the graph of friction factor against Reynolds number as plotted above. Therefore, with less than
2400 of Reynolds number, the fluid flowing through the 11mm pipe would be laminar flow
where the fluid will move in a straight path. Whereas for the 8.3mm pipe, the Reynolds number
is in between laminar flow and turbulent flow with 2600 and 4000, which is transitional flow. In
this flow, the fluid will flow in a medium velocity. As for the 5.3mm pipe, with the highest
Reynolds number calculated of more than 4000, the fluid will flow in a turbulent flow with high
velocity. From the graph, it can deduced that the friction factor is high when the total head loss is
high and low when the total head loss is low.

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PART 2: HEAD LOSS IN A BEND

PROCEDURE (Part 2)
1. The inlet valve is connected to the hydraulic bench supply.
2. The inlet and outlet valve are fully opened and water flow rate is controlled from the
hydraulic bench.
3. The flow rate of water is measured by a measuring beaker and a stopwatch. The water flow
rate is set to a suitable value.
4. After the flow rate is steady, if the water level in the manometer tubes is too low, the air relief
valve, which is located at the top of the manometer, is pressed.
5. The water level of every tube in the manometer is recorded.
6. Steps 4-5 are repeated for different flow rates.
7. A graph of H against V2/2g to obtain K for all the four bends is plotted.

RESULTS & CALCULATIONS (Part 2)

Taking the first reading as an example:
volumetric flowrate=

water collected
time

volumetric flowrate=

5
=0.2053 L/s
24.35

velocity=

velocity=

volumetric flowrate
x 0.001
area
0.2053
X 0.001=0.937 m/s
D2
4

reynolds number=

velocity x diameter
viscosity

15

reynolds number=

0.937 x 0.0167
=17310
7
9.04 x 10

friction factor=0.0016 ln ( x )+ 0.0028

friction factor=0.0016 ln ( 17310 ) +0.0028=7.19 x 103

loss coefficient , K=

loss coefficient , K=

h
v2
2g
0.0386
=0.86
0.9372
2 ( 9.81 )

For flow rate of 0.2053 L/s

16

For flow rate of 0.2053 L/s

For flow rate of 0.1738 L/s

For flow rate of 0.1047 L/s

For flow rate of 0.0699 L/s

17

18

DISCUSSIONS (Part 2)
From the results obtained, it can be shown that values of the reading from tube 1 to tube 10
decreases. The readings recorded on the manometer decrease as the flow rate and velocity are
lowered. As shown in the manometer, tubes 1 & 2, 3 & 4 and 7 & 8 as well as 9 & 10 are used to
measure the head losses for the pipes with 90 degrees large radius bend, 90 degrees small radius
bend, 90 degrees small elbow bend and two (2) 45 degrees bends respectively while readings
from tubes 5 & 6 are used to measure the sudden contraction and enlargement in large diameters.
Based on the calculations in Part 2, the total head loss is highest with the volumetric flow rate.
Analyzing the graph plotted, we can see that the head loss in 45 degrees bend is higher than the
90 degrees bend, whereas the head loss in sudden contraction in the pipe diameter is higher than
for sudden enlargement in pipe.

CONCLUSION
The objectives of the experiment have been achieved. In conclusion for Part 1, the experiment
allowed us to determine the head losses in the different cros-sectional areas of the pipes. By
calculating the Reynolds number and plotting the values with friction factor, we were able to
identify the types of flow of the fluid whether the fluid is laminar flow, transitional flow or
turbulent flow.

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In conclusion for Part 2, the experiment allowed us to identify the head losses in different types
of pipe bends and the pressure drop along the pipes ranging from different angles of bending and
sudden contraction and enlargement. Calculating the results recorded to obtain value of total
head losses, the values are plotted in a graph to obtain loss coefficient, K.

REFERENCES
1. Merie Potter (2007). Schaums Outline of Fluid Mechanics. McGraw-Hill
2. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/reynolds-number-d_237.html
3. http://www.hydromatic.com/ResidentialPage_techinfopage_headloss.aspx

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