Laboratory Experiment No.
5 Losses in Pipes, Pipe Bends and Pipe
Fittings
Objectives
• To determine fluid friction coefficient and Reynolds’ number for flow of water through a pipe having
smooth bore.
• Head loss due to fluid friction and velocity for flow of water through smooth pipes.
• Head loss coefficients due to pipe fittings and pipe bends.
Introduction
Transmission of fluid through pipe is a practical problem faced by engineers. Distributions of water for
domestic purposes, flow of liquid in processing industries, pumping of water and oil, passing of steam in
thermal plants and flow gas through pipes to consumers are some examples of flow of fluid through conduit.
Flow of fluid through pipes is associated with loss of energy. The basis of designing pipes for above uses
in the accurate determination of the loss of energy incurred during flow. In water distribution system,
estimation of frictional loss is essential to decide on the height of overhead tank and the size of supply
mains so that a specified residual head remains at the end of the distribution system. The estimation of
frictional loss also enables us to determine the type and capacity pump required and the power consumption.
This experiment enables us to determine frictional loss is closed conduit.
For a circular pipe flowing full, the head loss due to friction may be calculated from the formula:
h
f
4fLV2 D2g Where L is the length of the pipe between tappings, D is the internal diameter of the pipe, V
is the mean velocity of water through the pipe in m/s, g is the acceleration due to gravity in m/s2 and f is
the pipe friction coefficient.
Reynolds' number, Re, can be found using the following equation:
R
e
=
ρVD μ
VD ν where μ is the dynamic or absolute viscosity while ν is the kinematic viscosity and ρ is the density.
Materials
• Pipe Network Apparatus
• Volumetric tank
• Stopwatch
• Thermometer
• MODDY DIAGRAM (to be provided by each student; must include max of Re of 107)
Procedure
1. Prime the pipe network with water. Open and close the appropriate valves to obtain flow of water
through the required test pipe. 2. Measure flow rates using the volumetric tank. 3. Take readings at
three different flow rates for each pipe, altering the flow using the control valve
on the hydraulics bench.
=
=
4. Major Head losses measurements:
• Measure the internal diameter of each test pipe sample.
• Measure head loss between the tappings using the attached piezometer on the ends of the pipe.
• Using the corresponding pipe lengths estimate f using Darcy-Weisbach equation.
• Find f using Moody diagram. 5. Minor Head loss measurement
• Measure head loss between the tappings on ‘n’ provided fittings and bends using the attached
piezometer.
Important Contents for Analysis and Interpretation of Data and Result
For Major Losses
1. Plot a graph of pipe friction coefficient versus Reynolds number (log scale) for each size of pipe. 2.
Plot a graph of head loss versus velocity for each size of pipe. State if the flow is laminar,
transitional or turbulent.
For Minor Losses:
1. Plot a graph of V2/2g versus head loss for each fitting. Fit the curve with a straight line.
Determine the value of K from the slope of the line. Compare with available data from any valid research.
Technical Specifications of the Pipe Network Apparatus
RED PIPE 1 – inflow; 2 – outflow; STANDARD 90° BEND 3 – inflow; 4 – outflow; 914mm length of
13.6mm diameter STRAIGHT PIPE (Friction Loss) 5 – inflow; 6 – outflow; 90° MITRE (abrupt 90° bend
pipe fitting)
BLUE PIPE 7 – inflow; 8 – outflow; SUDDEN EXPANSION from 13.6mm to 26.2 mm diameter 9 –
inflow; 10 – outflow; SUDDEN CONTRACTION from 26.2mm to 13.6mm diameter 11 – inflow; 12 –
outflow; 100mm mean radius BEND 13 – inflow; 14 – outflow; 150mm mean radius BEND 15 – inflow;
16 – outflow; 50mm mean radius BEND
Preliminary Data Sheet
Pipe Number
f (DWEq)
f (Moody)
RED 3-4
Pipe Fitting
Volume Time Q Velocity Re Headloss
Pipe
Pipe Diameter 1
Diameter 2
headloss
RED 1-2
RED 5-6
BLUE 7-8
BLUE 9-10
BLUE 11-12
BLUE 13-14
BLUE 15-16
Volume Time Q
CALCULATIONS:
1. Friction Loss, f (Darcy-Weisbach Eq.)
f=
h
f
2gD 4LV2
2. Reynold’s Number
R
e
=
ρVD μ
Where,
ρ = current density at room temperature
μ = absolute viscosity in Pa-s
3. Loss coefficient for sudden expansion. Ke
K
e
=
h
Ve
1
2A
Where,
he = loss of head for sudden expansion
4. Loss coefficient for sudden expansion. Kc
K
c
=
h
Vc
2
2A
Where,
hc = loss of head for sudden contraction
5. Loss coefficient for pipe bends and pipe fittings
K
b
=
h
Vb
2
2A
Where,
hb = loss of head for pipe bends and fittings
Laboratory Experiment No. 5 Losses in Pipes, Pipe Bends and Pipe Fittings
Final Data Sheet
Name:
Group Volume Time Q Velocity Re Headloss f (DWEq) f (Moody)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Group
Fitting Pipe
Loss Coefficient
1
RED 1-2
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
7
Group
Fitting Pipe
Loss Coefficient
1
RED 5-6
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
RED 5-6 7
Group
Fitting Pipe
Loss Coefficient
1
BLUE 7-8
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
7
Group
Fitting Pipe
Loss Coefficient
1
BLUE 9-10
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
7
Pipe Group
Fitting
Loss Coefficient
1
BLUE 11-12
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
7
Group
Fitting Pipe
Loss Coefficient
1
BLUE 13-14
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
7
Group
Fitting Pipe
Loss Coefficient
1
BLUE 15-16
Volume Time Q Velocity Headloss
2
3
4
5
6
7
Group No.:
Leader : Member 1: Member 2: Member 3: Member 4: Member 5: Member 6: Member 7:
Experiment Approved by:
