LOGO

TOPIC 4
REYNOLDS NUMBER AND
ENERGY LOSSES DUE TO
FRICTION
CC303 - HYDRAULIC 1

( PLO1;CLO1;LD1;C3 )

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students should be
able to:
Explain clearly the basic principles and
characteristics of fluid mechanics, and fluid flows in
pipe and open channel (C3)

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( PLO1;CLO1;LD1;C3 )
4.1 Understand the behaviour of fluids
flowing in pipes

4.1.1

Define steady flow and unsteady flow

4.1.2

Explain laminar flow, turbulent flow and

transition flow

4.1.3

State the Reynolds number formula

4.1.4

Identify the limiting values of the Reynolds number

4.1.5 Calculate the Reynolds number

Type of Flow
i- Laminar flow.

- Laminar flow is when the particles of fluid

moving in straight lines.
Fluid particle path
- Low velocity which call streamline in the pipe

Diagram
4.1

ii- Transition flow.

When the flow changes from laminar flow to turbulent
flow conditions,

iii- Turbulent flow

The particles is bent and curved lines that cross each
other.

iv. Uniform flow

Uniform flow is when the velocity of the fluid and
particles in the pipe section is the same at all side.

V1

V1=V2

V- Non-Uniform flow
Nota:V V1

V1

Non-uniform flow is the velocity of fluid particles is different from

one section to another.

iv- Steady flow

The steady flow is the flow which have a flowrate
(volume flow per second) which is the same throughout the pipe
Nota:V

V1

V1

Q1 =
A1V1 =

vi- Non-Steady flow

Irregular flow / non steady flow is the flow which have a flowrate
(volume flow per second) is not the same throughout the pipe.

Q2
A2V2

To State and Use of Reynolds Number

Formula
Re
or

Vd

Re

=vd

Reynolds found for;

Re <2000 laminar flow
2000 <Re <4500
transition flow
Re> 4500 turbulent flow
Note:- Flow in pipe depend on :
= Density of fluid
= kinematic viscosity (m2/s)

V = velocity of flow (m/s)

d = diameter of pipe (m)

= Dynamic viscosity (Ns/m2@kg/ms)

Reynolds number
Experimental Reynolds
- The experiment is designed to see how the flowing in
a pipe, ie whether it is laminar, turbulent or
intermediate.
- This experiment was
initiated by the :
Prof. Osborne Reynold
- Prof. Osborne conclude that
flow condition be affected by
dynamic viscosity, density, diameter & velocity

Example 1
Fluid flow in a pipe diameter of 30 cm with a
velocity of 0.21m/s and the kinematic
viscosity 1.14mm2/s, calculate the Reynolds
number and specify the type of flow

Re

vd

0.21x0.30
1.14 x10 6

= 55263

It is a turbulent flow because, Re > 2000.

Example 2
Diameter of 300 mm and a length of a pipe
which passes by with a discharge 0.053
m3/s, density of oil is 950 kg/m3 and
kinematic viscosity is 2.1 x 10 m2/s.
Determine the Reynolds number and type of
flow.
Given :
2

d = 300 mm
Q = 0.053 m3/ s
= 2.1 x 10 m2/s
A = 0.3 = 0.071 m2
3

Get the velocity of flowing first :V = Q/A = 0.053/ 0.071 = 0.75 m/s
Re = vd = 0.75(0.3)

2.1x10 4

= 1071 ( < 2000 aliran lamina)

( PLO1;CLO1;LD1;C3 )

4.2.1
4.2.2

Explain main losses and minor losses in a pipe system

Define the friction factor

4.2.3

Explain Darcys equation for computing the energy

loss due to friction for either laminar or turbulent flow

4.2.4

Explain the Hagen-Poiseuille equation for

computing the energy loss due to friction in laminar flow

4.2.5

Determine the friction factor using Moodys Diagram

4.2.6

Determine the energy loss due to friction

Contents

2 types of losses in a pipe system

Darcy-Weisbach formula

Places where minor head losses may

possibly occur (entry & exit area, suddenly
enlargement, suddenly reduction, bend and
valve

Flow rate in pipe system

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HEAD LOSS
2 TYPES OF HEAD LOSS

MAIN LOSSES
- Darcy-Weisbach
formula
- Hf= 4fLV2
2gd
= fLQ2
3d5

MINOR LOSSES
- Entrance loss
- Exit loss
- Suddenly
enlargement
- Suddenly
Contraction
- Bend
- Valve
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FORMULA
MAIN LOSSES:
- Energy losses due to friction in pipe system

- Darcy-Weisbach formula
Hf= 4fLV2
2gd
@

= fLQ2
3d5

f = friction coefficient
l = pipe length (m)
v = velocity (m/s)
d = pipe diameter (m)
Q = flowrate (m3/s)

EXAMPLE 1
Calculate the head loss (energy) due to friction in the
pipe 500 m long and 20 cm diameter when water flow
with a velocity of 3m/s. Take f (coefficient of friction) =
0.01.
Given:

length of pipe (l)

Diameter (d)
Velocity (v)
Friction coeff(f)

=
=
=
=

500 m
20 cm
3 m/s
0.01

Used formula

hf =
hf = 4 ( 0.01) ( 500) ( 3 )2
2 x 9.81 (0.2)
= 45.87 m

EXAMPLE 2
Calculate the head loss (energy) as the
resistance to friction in the pipe 300 m long
and 150 mm diameter when the flow rate is
2.75m3/min. (f = 0.01 )
Length of pipe
Diameter
=
Flowrate
=

=
300 m
150 mm
2.75 m3/ min

EXAMPLE 3
Calculate the head loss (energy) as the resistance to friction in
the pipe 300 m long and 150 mm diameter when the flow rate
is 2.75m3/min. (f = 0.01 )
Length of pipe
Diameter
Flowrate

=
=
=

300 m
150 mm
2.75 m3/ min

4. f .l.v 2
Used formula hf =
2 gd
From formula flowrate Q = AV
V = Q/A
= 0.046
( 0.15)2/4
= 2.6 m/s.
hf =

4 (0.01)(300 )(2.6 )2
2(9.81)(0.15)

27.56 m

Q = 2.75 m3/min
Change into m3/s
Q = 2.75 m3/60 s
= 0.046 m3/s

EXAMPLE 4
Head difference between the two end pipes
of 300mm diameter, 250m long and is 1.5m.
calculate the flow rate through the pipe if
the coefficient of friction is 0.01.
Given: a head difference (hf) = 1.5 m
The pipe length = 250 m
Diameter = 0.3 m

Solution :
f .l.Q
hf = 3d
1.5 = 0.01( 250 ) Q2
3 ( 0.3 )5
Q = 0.0661 m3/s
2

EXAMPLE 5
A tank was built four miles of a student
dormitory that can accommodate 5000
students. Water delivered from the tank to
the hostel with a pipe. Every student in a
dormitory with 200 liters per day. Water is
pumped to the hostel for 20 hours a day. If
the head losses due to friction is 20m of
water and the pipe friction coefficient is
0.008, calculate the diameter of the pipe
used.
Given: a head difference (hf) = 20 m
The pipe length = 200 m
The coefficient of friction = 0.008

 hf

fl Q2
3d5
20 = 0.008(4000)(0.01389)
3 (d )5
d =
Kadaralir Q = 5000x200
= 1 x 106 liter
= 1x106 x103

20 jamx60 x60

= 0.01389m3/s

4.2.4 Explain the Hagen-Poiseuille equation

for computing the energy loss due to
friction in laminar flow
Hagen-Poiseuille equation defines the flow
through a tube and how this flow is affected by
the attributes of the tube, the length and radius,
and the attributes of the fluid and also the
viscosity.
The Hagen-Poiseuille formula
hf = 32 Lv
gd2

Where,

L -- length
Dynamic viscosity
of pipe
v - velocity

acc. of gravity

d - diameter

4.2.5 Determine the friction factor using

Moodys Diagram

 A Moody Diagram can be used to estimate

friction coefficients

The Moody friction factor - (or f) - is used in

the Darcy-Weisbach major loss equation. The
coefficient can be estimated with the diagram
above.
If the flow is transition - 2300 < Re < 4000 - the
flow varies between laminar and turbulent flow
and the friction coefficient is not possible to
determine. The friction factor can usually be
interpolated between the laminar value at Re =
2300 and the turbulent value at Re = 4000.

EXAMPLE 1
Water with a dynamic viscosity 1.49x10-3 Ns/m2 flows
through a pipe of 0.3 cm in diameter with a velocity of
0.9m/s. The length of the pipe is 9m. Given f =16/Re
a) Calculate the Reynolds number and state the type of
flow
b) Calculate the head loss due to friction, using HagenPoisulle formula
c) Calculate the head loss due to friction, using DarcyWeisbach formula

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