Jahanzaib Faraz 22-CH-29 14-2-24

Experiment No. 03
Title:
Osborne Reynolds Demonstration Apparatus
Objective:
To observe laminar, transitional and turbulent pipe flow by calculating Reynolds’s No.

Apparatus:
• Hydraulic Bench
• Orifice and Jet free apparatus
• Thermometer (to check the temperature of water)
• Stopwatch (to determine time for flow rate)
• Sight Glass (to measure volume)

Reagents:
• Water
• Dye (KMnO4)

Theory:
The flow velocity V averaged over the cross section at which laminar pipe flow changes
to transitional flow, or transitional flow changes to turbulent flow, is believed be a function
primarily of the pipe diameter d, and fluid kinematics viscosity υ. In mathematical terms,
V=V (d, ρ, υ).

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Using dimensional reasoning, one can show that the relation among the parameters must be
𝐼𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝜌𝑉𝑑 𝑉𝑑
𝑅𝑒 = = =
𝑉𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 µ 𝜐

Re = Reynolds number
ρ = Density of Fluid
d = Characteristic Diameter
V = Flow velocity
μ = Dynamic viscosity of the fluid
υ = Kinematic Velocity (µ/ρ)
The Reynolds number is a dimensionless number which is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous
forces within a fluid which is subjected to relative internal movement due to different fluid
velocities. As (Re) increases, the inertial forces grow relatively larger, and the flow gets
destabilized into full-blown turbulence. The Reynolds Experiment determines the critical
Reynolds number at which laminar flow becomes transitional, and transitional flow becomes
turbulent. The advantage of using a critical Reynolds number, instead of a critical velocity, is
that the result of the experiment is applicable to all Newtonian fluid flow in round in pipes of all
diameters.
Laminar Flow:
When the viscos forces are dominating the flow is describe as laminar flow. In laminar
pipe flows the fluid behaves as if concentric layers are sliding over each other with a maximum
velocity on the axis, zero velocity at the tube wall and a parabolic velocity distribution. Dye
injected carefully at a point in a laminar pipe flow will be stretched out by the flow to form a
clear well-defined line. The only mixing that can occur is by molecular diffusion.
Transition Flow:
There is an in-between stage, transitional flow, in which a dye stream will appear to
wander about and will show intermittent bursts of mixing, followed by a more laminar behavior.
Turbulent Flow:
When the inertia forces are dominating, the flow is known as turbulent flow. In turbulent
pipe flow, dye injected at a point is rapidly mixed due to the substantial lateral motion in the
flow and the dye behavior appears chaotic or even it may seem to be mixed with the fluid. These
motions appear random and arise from the growth of instabilities in the flow.

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Working Principle:
Water enters a constant head tank (reservoir) above the test tube and passes
through a diffuser and stilling bed. It then passes through the test tube. This
arrangement ensures a steady, uniform flow at entry to the test tube. A thermometer
measures the temperature in the constant head reservoir. A fixed overflow pipe in the
reservoir connects to a suitable drain. At the bottom of the test pipe is a valve which
controls the flow rate through the pipe, without disturbing the flow. Adjusting this valve,
we can adjust flow speed, that change fluid profile form laminar to transition and to
turbulent as inertial forces dominates. A known quantity of water in a measured time to
find the flow rate. To see the pattern of flow in the pipe, a dye injector is used to inject a
fine filament of dye into the top of the tube. The dye injector is a dye reservoir
connected to a fine hypodermic tube.

Applications:
The Reynolds number has many practical applications, as it provides engineers with
immediate information about the state of flow throughout pipes, streams, and soils, helping them
apply the proper relationships to solve the problem at hand. It is also very useful for dimensional
analysis and similitude. As an example, if forces acting on a ship need to be studied in the
laboratory for design purposes, the Reynolds number of the flow acting on the model in the lab
and on the prototype in the field should be the same.

Procedure:
• Open the bench control valve slightly until water tickles from the overflow pipe.
• Open the outlet control valve fractionally and adjust the dye control valve until a slow
flow with clear dye indication is achieved.
• In order to observe the velocity profile in laminar flow, close the bench valve and open
the dye control valve to deposit a drop of dye at bell mouth entry. When the outlet control
valve is opened observe the dye as it deforms to take up a three-dimensional parabolic
profile.

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• Measure the volume flow rate (measure at least three values of volume filled in seconds
and then takes the average) and measure the outflow temperature (of fluid gathered in the
measuring cylinder).
• Measure the kinematic viscosity (from Table 1.1) and check the Reynolds number is less
than 1800.
• Increase the flow rate by opening the apparatus flow control valve and repeat the dye
injections to visualize transitional flow and then, at the highest flow rates, turbulent flow
as characterized by continuous and very rapid mixing of the dye.
• Note that at intermediate flows it is possible to have a laminar characteristic in the upper
part of the test-section, which develops into transitional flow lower down. This upper
section behavior is described as an “inlet length flow”, which means that the boundary
layer has not yet extended across the pipe radius.

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Precautions:
• Ensure proper working of Residual current circuit breaker (RCCB).
• Wear laboratory coats and closed shoes in laboratory premises.
• Ensure proper working of miniature circuit breakers (MCB).
• Do not start the hydraulic bench without supply water.
• Thermometer should be dealt with care.
• Use appropriate way to inject dye in dye reservoir.
• Dyes should be handled carefully (KMnO4).

Observation and Calculation:

• The diameter of the test tube is 0.01m.
•
𝜋𝑑² 3.14(0.01)2
Cross sectional area (A) = = = 7.854x10-5m2
4 4
• For the velocity; firstly, take average of calculated flow rates for each of the flow
profile and then for velocity;
Velocity = Volumetric flow / Area
• And then calculate the Reynold number.
vd
Re =
υ
• Where υ is the kinematic viscosity that is at 19oC have value 1.027x10-6 m2/s.
• The Temperature measured is 19oC.
• Density of water is 1000 kg/m3.

Average
Volumetric Reynold
No. of Volumetric Velocity Type of
Flow Rate Number
Observation Flow Rate (m/s) Flow
(mL/s) (Re)
(m3/s)
1 2.5648
2 2.5714 2.3834x10-6 0.0305 296.98 Laminar
3 2.0140
4 9.0171
5 9.3458 9.2835x10-6 0.1182 1150.92 Transition
6 9.4877
7 23.0415
8 23.9808 23.876x10-6 0.30399 2959.98 Turbulent
9 24.3902

Discussion and Results:

The Reynolds number "Re" measures the importance of energy dissipation by viscous
effects. Mathematically, we can write;

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Re = Inertial forces/ Viscous forces = (Duρ)/µ

Newtonian fluids in pipes exhibit two distinct types of flow, i.e.; "laminar " (streamline) and
"turbulent." However, sometimes we observe a "transition" regime with uncertain and fluctuating
flow. We obtained the following frames for different volumetric flow rates of water;
Laminar
Re = 296.98 at arg. volumetric flowrate 2.83*10-6m3/s
Transitional
Re = 1150 at arg. volumetric flowrate 9.28*10-6m3/s.
Turbulent
Re = 2959.98 at avg. volumetric flowrate 23.87*10-6m3/s.
We have observed all these types of flow for Reynolds experiment. However, we found through
calculation that our value does not tally with the theoretical demonstration done by Osborne
Reynold's may be due to various errors. These errors might be due to density difference for
mixed dye water or kinematic viscosity change (for water) at different temperatures.

Conclusional Statements
Experimentally, we observed that when the flow is represented by large Re it means
viscous effects are relatively unimportant and contribute less energy dissipation. Similarly,
smaller "Re" means that viscous forces dominate.

Reference:
• https://www.tecquipment.com/osborne-reynolds-apparatus.
• https://uta.pressbooks.pub/appliedfluidmechanics/chapter/experiment-7/.

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