Experiment 8

Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to investigate head loss due to friction in a pipe, and to
determine the associated friction factor under a range of flow rates and flow regimes, i.e., laminar,
transitional, and turbulent.

Apparatus:
The following equipment is required to perform the energy loss in pipes experiment:
 hydraulics bench,
 pipe friction apparatus,
 Stopwatch for timing the flow measurement,
 Measuring cylinder for measuring very low flow rates,
 Spirit level, and
 Thermometer.

Apparatus Description:
 The pipe friction apparatus consists of a test pipe (mounted vertically on the rig), a constant
head tank, a flow control valve, an air-bleed valve, and two sets of manometers to measure
the head losses in the pipe (Figure 4.1). A set of two water-over-mercury manometers is
used to measure large pressure differentials, and two water manometers are used to
measure small pressure differentials. When not in use, the manometers may be isolated,
using Hoffman clamps.
 Since mercury is considered a hazardous substance, it cannot be used in undergraduate
fluid mechanics labs. Therefore, for this experiment, the water-over-mercury manometers
are replaced with a differential pressure gauge to directly measure large pressure
differentials.
 This experiment is performed under two flow conditions: high flow rates and low flow
rates. For high-flow rate experiments, the inlet pipe is connected directly to the bench water
supply. For low-flow rate experiments, the inlet to the constant head tank is connected to
the bench supply, and the outlet at the base of the head tank is connected to the top of the
test pipe.
 The apparatus’ flow control valve is used to regulate flow through the test pipe. This valve
should face the volumetric tank, and a short length of flexible tube should be attached to
it, to prevent splashing.
 The air-bleed valve facilitates purging the system and adjusting the water level in the water
manometers to a convenient level, by allowing air to enter them.
Derivation:
Applying Bernoulli’s Equation,

In reality, the LHS of Equation is not equal to RHS because of losses. If we add losses in the RHS
then both become equal

Losses are represented by ∆h

If we neglect the elevation differences, then the Bernoulli’s equation reduces to

If
h1 = h2 ρ1 = ρ2 = ρ
Then

Dividing on both sides to get the heads by

For pipes of equal cross-section velocity, the losses will become

Friction losses are a complex function of the object's geometry in which the fluid flows, and it is
a rough approximation that the pressure loss is proportional to the square of the velocity of the
fluid through which it flows. This conclusion leads to the Dirac–Weisbach equation for frictional
head loss,

For laminar flow its approximate value is:

Where,

For turbulent flow, its approximate value is:

For transitional flow, the mean value theorem is used,

Procedure:
 Close the bench valve, open the apparatus flow control valve fully, and start the pump.
Open the bench valve progressively, and run the flow until all air is purged.
 Remove the clamps from the differential pressure gauge connection tubes, and purge any
air from the air-bleed valve located on the side of the pressure gauge.
 Close off the air-bleed valve once no air bubbles are observed in the connection tubes.
 Close the apparatus flow control valve and take a zero-flow reading from the pressure
gauge.
 With the flow control valve fully open, measure the head loss shown by the pressure gauge.
 Determine the flow rate by timed collection.
 Adjust the flow control valve in a step-wise fashion to observe the pressure differences at
0.05 bar increments. Obtain data for ten flow rates. For each step, determine the flow rate
by timed collection.
 Close the flow control valve, and turn off the pump.
 Observations & Graphs:
S. Test Test Vol. Time Temp Kinematic Manometer Manometer Head Flow Velocity Friction Reynald ln Ln Ln Ln
no. Pipe Pipe Collected. To Of viscosity. (mm) (mm) Loss rate 𝒎⁄ Factor. No. F Re h v
𝒔
Length Diameter V Collect Water µ ∆𝒉 Q F
L D (m3) (sec) ℃ (m) 𝒎𝟑
𝒔
(m) (m)

1 0.5 0.003 1.0x10-4 20 25 0.893 407 260 147 5.4x 0.8 27.01 0.0026 3.2 -5.9 4.99 -0.2
10-6

2 0.5 0.003 9.3x10-5 20 25 0.893 379 293 86 4.6x 0.6 28.08 0.002 3.3 -6.2 4.4 -0.5
10-6

3 0.5 0.003 1.1x10-4 20 25 0.893 400 266 134 5.5x 0.7 32.17 0.0023 3.4 -6 4.8 -0.3
10-6

Graph:

ln(F) vs. ln(Re)

3.45
-6, 3.4
3.4

3.35
ln(F)

-5.95, 3.3
3.3

3.25
-5.9, 3.2
3.2

3.15
-5.88 -5.9 -5.92 -5.94 -5.96 -5.98 -6 -6.02
ln(Re)
 ln(h) vs. ln(v)
-0.6

4.4, -0.5
-0.5

-0.4

4.8, -0.3
ln(v)

-0.3

4.99, -0.2
-0.2

-0.1

4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 5 5.1

0
ln(h)

Applications:
 Engineers use experiments like this to optimize pipe design, ensuring efficient fluid flow
by understanding head loss and friction factors at various flow rates.
 In municipal water systems, analyzing head loss in pipes helps ensure the reliable and cost-
effective delivery of water, considering different flow conditions.
 Industries utilize such experiments to enhance the design of piping systems for transporting
liquids, minimizing energy losses, and optimizing flow efficiency.
 Understanding head loss is crucial in designing eco-friendly wastewater systems, where
minimizing energy losses contributes to sustainable and efficient fluid transport.