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CHE150-1L Chemical Engineering Laboratory 1

4th Quarter AY 2015-2016

EQUIVALENT LENGTH OF A GATE VALVE (Fluid Flow


Set-Up)
Ricky Jay C. Gomez1
1

Student, Mapa Institute of Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

ABSTRACT
When a fluid is flowing through a pipe, the fluid experiences some resistances due to which some of the energy of
the fluid is lost. This loss of energy is classified as major energy losses, wherein the viscosity causes loss of energy in
the flows which is known as frictional loss; and minor energy losses, which is due to the change of velocity of the
flowing fluid in magnitude or direction. Minor energy losses might be caused by the bending of or sudden expansion
and contraction of pipe. [1] In this experiment, the Fanning friction factor was determined through its relationship
with the total fluid friction losses through the pipe, as well as the equivalent lengths of a globe valve set at different
openings. As the fluid pass through these, eddies are formed resulting to friction. One way of quantifying the frictional
losses due to pipe fittings is determining the equivalent length of these fittings. Equivalent length Le refers to the
length of pipe with same resistance as the fitting or valve. For this part, the equivalent length of the globe valve at
different openings which are full, , and were determined. as valve opening decreases, the value for the equivalent
length increases. This is because the fluids velocity increases when the opening decreases, same effect as for the
nozzle. Due to this high velocity, more eddies are being produced which lead to the developing friction. This large
friction is a resistance to the flow of fluid, so in order to compensate the effect of the resistances, equivalent length
should be increased.
Keywords: Fanning equation, equivalent length, valve, fitting.

INTRODUCTION

around a solid body set in the flow path, the fluid


accelerates

Valves and fittings produces friction to the fluid


flowing inside the pipe. This type of friction is form
friction. Form friction is an energy dissipation that
occurs when boundary layer separates and form wakes;
for example, flow through valves, fittings, and
obstruction such as sudden contraction or enlargement

and

significant

frictional

losses

consequently occurs because of acceleration and


deceleration of the fluid. This changes the flow pattern
of the fluid. When the fluid passes through these
valves and fittings, eddies are being formed which
results to friction. A fictitious length is being assigned
to valves and fittings to quantify the amount of

of cross section. Whenever a fluid changes path to pass


EXPERIMENT NO. 5 | GROUP 3 | MAY 24,2016

mechanical energy lost during the process. This length

The pump was primed and started in order for the fluid

is called the equivalent length. This length is equal to

to initiate flowing along the piping system. In the first

the length of the pipe that has the same nominal

trial, fully opened gate valve was used. For a time span

diameter to that of the valves and fittings. They give

of 60 seconds, the amount of water collected was

the same amount of frictional dissipation that is caused

measured and the volumetric flowrate was then

by the valve or fitting itself.

calculated. After getting the volumetric flowrate, the


temperature was determined in order to evaluated the

Fanning equation is used to compute for the


experimental frictional dissipation, wherein the length
used was the sum of the length of the pipe and the
equivalent length of the valve and fitting.
=

22
2

Reynolds Number with the corresponding fluid


properties at the temperature measured. Also, the
manometer reading was measured. The total friction
losses were calculated from the results gathered. The
total length of the pipe was measured and the

(1)

equivalent length was also calculated. The percentage


error based on the theoretical value of friction factor

For this experiment, equivalent lengths should be


compared at different gate valve openings. Also the

computed. Same procedures were done for the


remaining trials with , and gate valve openings.

familiarity on the different pipe fittings and their


functions should be considered.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

METHODOLOGY

The data gathered from the experiment are tabulated


below:

The equipment used in the experiment was the fluidflow set-up and the materials used were steel tape,
stopwatch and thermometer. Water was used as the
working fluid.

A. Properties of Water:
Temperature: 25.5 o C
Density: 996.6 kg/m3
Viscosity: 0.894 cP
B. Characteristics of the Pipe
Diameter: 0.01006 m
Length of the Pipe: 1.085 m
Cross- Sectional Area: 7.9485x10-5 m2
Relative Roughness: 1.57x10-5 m

FIGURE 1: Fluid Flow Set-Up.

EXPERIMENT NO. 5 | GROUP 3 | MAY 24,2016

Reynolds Number decreases, the value for the


Opening

Full

3/4

1/2

equivalent length increases. This just signifies that due


to the resistance experienced by the fluid as it

V, m3/s
1.1717

1.1657

1.0017

0.41764

approaches the laminar behavior, larger equivalent


length is needed to compensate the effect of this

x10-4

resistance.
U, m/s

1.4742

1.4606

1.2602

0.5254

NRe

16532

16447

14133

5892

Re vs Le

8.7794

8.7851

8.9622

10.4210

x10-3
Rm,
cmHg

2.9

2.8

2.7

1.6

Equivalent Length

2
1
0
0
-1

5000

10000

15000

20000

Reynolds Number

TABLE 1.A: Tabulated data from the experiment.


FIGURE 1: Curve of the Re vs Le for the different gate
Opening

Full

3/4

1/2

valve opening.
FIGURE 1 suggests a negative slope for the Reynolds

-P/
3.5622

3.4520

3.3165

1.9653

Number- Equivalent Length relationship. This shows


the earlier assumption that as the Reynolds Number

J/kg

increases with the increasing gate valve opening, the


LT, m
Exptl
Le, m
Theo Le,
m

0.9308

0.9189

1.1721

3.4434

value for the equivalent length decreases.

-0.1460

-0.1661

0.0871

2.3584

Just like on the previous experiment, measuring the


time of observation is one of the sources of errors.
Small deviations with the measured time has a

0.2286

0.5334

2.5908

13.716

significant effect to the calculated equivalent length.


Another is the manometer reading. Our group found a

% error

36.17

68086

96.64

82.81

hard time to correct the manometer reading measured


because with just little deviation, a dramatic difference

TABLE 1.B: cont.

on the value computed for the equivalent length was


calculated, and probably this makes some of the

From the data gathered, as the gate valve opening gets

computed equivalent length to have negative values.

smaller, its equivalent length increases. For each gate


valve opening, the friction factor calculated were
almost constant. For a constant friction factor, as the
EXPERIMENT NO. 5 | GROUP 3 | MAY 24,2016

CONCLUSION

= 4 log [0.27 (

0.9
4.5105
7
)+(
) ]
0.01006
16532

Valve and fittings have effects to the flow of fluid


f = 8.7794103

inside a pipe. These produce eddies which actually


lead to develop friction to the fluid. This will be a

resistance to the flow of fluid. Equivalent length is

= Rm (

1) ( )

calculated to quantify the amount of mechanical


2.9 13534
=(
)(
1) (9.8) = 3.5622
100 996.6

energy lost dues to the effect of the valves and fittings.


This length is equivalent to the length of the pipe
which has the same nominal diameter as that for the

valve or fitting.

22
2(8.7794103 )(1.4742)
=

(1)(0.01006)

From the results of the experiment, as valve opening

= 0.93908

decreases, the value for the equivalent length increases.


= 0.93908 1.085 = 0.1460

This is because the fluids velocity increases when the


opening decreases, same effect as for the nozzle. Due
to this high velocity, more eddies are being produced

% =

|0.2286 0.1460|
100 = 36.17 %
0.2286

which lead to the developing friction. This large


friction is a resistance to the flow of fluid, so in order

REFERENCES

to compensate the effect of the resistances, equivalent


length should be increased.

[1]

(n.d.).
Retrieved
from
http://www.jmcampbell.com/tip-of-themonth/wpcontent/uploads/2011/03/graph13.gif

[2]

(n.d.).
Retrieved
from
https://neutrium.net/fluid_flow/pressureloss-from-fittings-equivalent-length-method/

[3]

(n.d.).
Retrieved
from
http://www.enggcyclopedia.com/2011/09/ab
solute-roughness/

APPENDIX
Sample Computations:
1
7(
) 1.1717104 3
2
1000
=
=
=

59.74

1.1717104

=
= 1.4742
5

7.948510

0.01006(1.4742)(996.6)
=
= 16532
0.894

1000

Churchill Equation:

[4]
Geankoplis, C. J. (n.d.). Transport Processes
and Separation Processes Principles.
[5]
Perry, R. H., & Green, D. W. (2008). Perry's
Chemical Engineer's Handbook. McGraw-Hill
Companies.
[6]
Mapua Institute of Technology. (n.d.).
Chemical Engineering Laboratory Manual Part 1.

7 0.9
= 4 log[0.27 ( ) + (
) ]

EXPERIMENT NO. 5 | GROUP 3 | MAY 24,2016

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