LESSON OUTCOMES

DEFINE THE VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION

IN A PIPE BASED ON
- STREAMLINE FLOW
- TRANSITIONAL FLOW
- TURBULENT FLOW

IDENTIFY MISCELANEOUS FRICTION

LOSSES
- SUDDEN ENGLARGEMENT
- SUDDEN CONTRACTION
- PIPE FITTING
VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN A
PIPE

The velocity over the cross-section of a fluid

flowing in a pipe is NOT UNIFORM.
Thus its distribution over a diameter different
in different flow system such as follows;

1. STREAMLINE FLOW
2. TRANSITIONAL FLOW
3. TURBULENCE FLOW
1. VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF
STREAMLINE FLOW IN A PIPE
DERIVATION OF EQ 3.27-3.31

1 P 2 P d 2
u max uCL r
4 l l 16

Average velocity;

Q r 2 P P d 2 uCL
u
r 2
8 l l 32 2
2. VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF
TRANSITIONAL FLOW IN A PIPE
In a pipe, a critical condition occurs at a
Reynolds number of about 2100.
In connection with transition, RYAN and
JOHNSON have proposed the stability
parameter Z.
If Zc is exceeded at any point on the cross
section of the pipe, then turbulence will ensue.
Based on a concept of a balance between
energy supply to a perturbation and
energy dissipation, Z defines as;
ru x dux
Z
R dy
3. VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF
TURBULENT FLOW IN A PIPE
No exact mathematical analysis of the
conditions within a turbulent fluid has yet been
developed.
The velocity at any point in the cross-section
will be proportional to the one seventh power of
the distance from the wall; 1
ux y 7

Where;
uCL r
Ux is the velocity at a distance y from the wall

Ucl the velocity at the axis of the pipe.

Sometimes refered to as the Prandtl one-

seventh power law
3. VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS OF
TURBULENT FLOW IN A PIPE
Mean velocity of flow;
Q 49
u 2 u CL 0.817 uCL
r 60

This relation holds provided that the one-

seventh power law maybe assumed to apply
over the whole of the cross-section of the pipe.

This is strictly the case only at high Reynolds

numbers.
STREAMLINE VS TURBULENT
VELOCITY DISTRIBUTION

Variation of (u/umax) with Reynolds Number

Flatter for streamline (using eq 3.38)

Sharp changes between 2000-3000

Incline for turbulent (refer eq 3.64)

VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS IN A PIPE
PARAMETER STREAM LINE TRANSITION TURBULENT
FLOW FLOW FLOW
U (max)

U (average)

Total Kinetic
Energy
MISCELLANEOUS FRICTION LOSSES

SUDDEN ENLARGEMENT
SUDDEN CONTRACTION

PIPE FITTINGS
 1. SUDDEN ENGLARGEMENT

-The effective area available for flow gradually increases from

smaller pipe to larger pipe.

- Thus, fluid with high velocity will be injected into relatively slow
moving fluid.
 1. SUDDEN ENGLARGEMENT

The change in pressure -Pf is therefore given by;

The loss of head hf is given by;

Taken U1A1=U2A2

Optimum of taper
1. Circular pipe = 7o
2. Rectangular duct = 11o
2. SUDDEN CONTRACTION
Vena Contracta- Short distance when a
sudden contraction is approached, then
flow continues to decrease.
After vena contracta the flow area
gradually approaches the smaller pipe.

The change in pressure -Pf is therefore given by;

-Pf =

The loss of head hf is given by;

hf =

For common value of Cc of 0.67;

EXERCISE 1:
Water flow at 3.6 m3/h through a sudden
enlargement from a 30 mm to a 40 mm diameter
pipe. What is the loss in head?
PIPE FITTINGS
Most pipes are fabricated from steel with or without small
alloying ingredients, and they are welded or drawn to give
a seamless pipe.

The normal metal piping is supplied in standard lengths of

about 6 m and these are joined to give longer lengths as
required.

A very large range of pipe fittings is available to enable

branching and changes in size to be incorporated into
industrial pipe layouts.

Typical pipe-fittings are shown in C&R book, Figures 3.17

and 3.18 and details of other valve types are given in
Volume 6.
Table 3.2: Friction losses in various pipe fittings for turbulent flow of fluid and are
expressed in terms of the equivalent length of straight pipe with the same
resistance.
EXERCISE 1:
2.27 m3/h water at 320 K (=0.65 mNs/m2) is pumped
in a 40 mm i.d. pipe through a distance of 150 m in a
horizontal direction and then up through a vertical
height of 10 m. In the pipe there is a control valve for
which the friction loss may be taken as equivalent to
200 pipe diameters and also other pipe fittings
equivalent to 60 pipe diameters. Also in the line is a
heat exchanger across which there is a loss in head of
1.5 m of water. If the main pipe has a roughness of
0.2 mm, what power must be supplied to the pump to
achieve 100 per cent efficient?
 EXERCISE 2: 12m A
B

0.2 m3/s recycle water containing hardness (=1250kg/m3 and = 1.5

mNs/m2) is pumped to the top of washing tank to remove hardness
through a 50 m pipe length (id=200mm). Water flow in and out from
washing tank through a get valve and the fittings is using elbow
standard radius.

a) Calculate reynold number and define the flow pattern

b) Determine pressure loss due to friction from A to B (consider friction
by the washing tank is 200 times pipe diameter.
c) Determine the power required to pump the water due to the head loss
cause by the total friction.