Hydraulics

of Siphon
Model
Submitted By

Rakesh Sharma (2014ME10675)

Harshit Kumar (2014ME10658)

Rahul Dev Boora (2014ME10673)

Geometric Parameters of Model
Siphon height = H

Initial Water level = x1

Inlet length = l1 = x1 + H
Horizontal length = l2

Initial available Head = y

Outlet length (l3) = l1 + y x1

Total length (lt) = l1+l2+l3

Diameter of pipe = d
2
Flow velocity (v) =
1+

Independent parameters = 5 (H, x1, l2, y, d)

Other Parameters of Model

Friction coefficient of pipe = f

Atmospheric pressure = Patm

Density of water = rho

Laboratory Model
x1 = 0.2m, H =0.1m, l1 = 0.3m, l2 = 0.4m, l3 = 1.1m, y = 1m
f = 0.022, d = 0.0116m, Patm = 100000 Pa, rho = 1000kg/m3
 Analysis of Pressure variation in Pipe
x1 = 0.2m, H =0.1m, l1 = 0.3m, l2 = 0.4m, l3 = 1.1m, y = 1m
f = 0.022, d = 0.0116m, Patm = 100000 Pa, rho = 1000kg/m3

Figure 1 Variation of Pressure (Pa) along the Length (m) of Pipe.

Interpretation:
In the inlet pipe , pressure is decreasing with length due to gravity and frictional losses ,
while in the horizontal section only frictional loss contribute to pressure decrement and in
outlet pipe pressure is increasing due to gravity as we move downwards and frictional losses
counter this increment of pressure . Point of minimum pressure is at the end of horizontal
pipe i.e. at length of (l1+l2) and a height of (l1-x1= H) above water level.

Determination of maximum height at which siphon can work

Factor to consider Minimum pressure in pipe
Case1 Very ideal case

X1 = 0, l2 = 0.4, y = 0, f = 0, l1 = H, l3 = H

Figure 2 Variation of minimum pressure in pipe with height of siphon

Case 2 Laboratory Model

X1 = 0.2m, l2 = 0.4m, y = 1m, f = 0.022

Figure 3 Variation of velocity in pipe with height of siphon

 Figure 4 Variation of minimum pressure in pipe with height of siphon

Interpretation:
In ideal case, Velocity is zero (negligible) throughout all the values because we have
assumed negligible head i.e. there is no pressure loss due to kinetic energy of fluid. So, this
ideal case gives us the maximum ideal height at which a siphon can work which came out to
be 10m as above it the minimum pressure in pipe will be negative which cannot happen.
However in practical cases the achievable height will be always less than 10m because there
will some head and friction losses.

For practical lab model, as we are increasing height of siphon (head is constant), the total
length of pipe is increasing and so is the frictional losses, so we can see the decrement in
values of flow velocity. Also the point of minimum pressure is now at greater height from
atmospheric water level so with this height increment, minimum pressure keeps decreasing
and at value of 9.5m minimum pressure become zero which set limits n maximum height.
 Effect of Head on Velocity and Minimum pressure in Pipe

Case1 Very ideal case

H = 0, x1 = 0, l2 = 0.4 m, f = 0

Figure 5 Variation of flow velocity in pipe with available head

Figure 6 Variation of minimum pressure in pipe with available head

 Case 2 Laboratory Model
H = 0.1 m, x1 = 0.2m, l2 = 0.4m, f = 0.022

Figure 7 Variation of flow velocity in pipe with available head

Figure 8 Variation of minimum pressure in pipe with available head

Interpretation:

At constant water level and siphon height, if we increase the head then observed pattern of
velocity is shown. In ideal case friction factor is taken to be zero some, the total length
increment due to head increment dont have significant effect. So a pattern of head^(0.5) is
shown in graph. Now with increment in velocity the kinetic energy of fluid is increasing, so
the pressure values starts decreasing at each point in pipe and so is the minimum pressure.
So, we can see that if we take head to 10m then minimum pressure become zero that is
siphon will stop working. But if we take a look at real practical model then we will see that
velocity doesnt keep on increasing with head but start to converge to value 3.144 m/s .This
happens because of increased frictional losses. Also the pressure in pipe doesnt decrease so
sharply with head and we can see that even at head of 20m we have enough value of 8700
Pa to keep the siphon working.

Effect of Water level on Velocity and Min. pressure in Pipe

Case1 Very ideal case

H = 0, l2 = 0.4 m, y = 1 m, f = 0

Figure 9 Variation of flow velocity in pipe with Water Level

 Figure 10 Variation of minimum pressure in pipe with Water Level

Case 2 Laboratory Model

H = 0.1m, l2 = 0.4m, y = 1m, f = 0.022

Figure 11 Variation of flow velocity in pipe with Water Level

 Figure 12 Variation of minimum pressure in pipe with Water Level

Interpretation:

In ideal case with no frictional losses, water level (at constant siphon height and head) is not
going to have any effect on velocity and minimum pressure in pipe. But in lab model with
frictional losses, we see that if we are increasing the water level correspondingly we are
increasing the length of siphon inside the inlet reservoir. Due to increase in this total length
of siphon velocity starts decreasing due to frictional losses, same behaviour is observed in
minimum pressure.
 Dynamic Model
Now let us take a look, what happens with siphon once we have started it from the initial
water level of 10 m. As time passes, water level keep decreasing in reservoir and
correspondingly the head starts decreasing and siphon height start increasing.

Model parameters:

Fixed length (l1=10m, l2 =1m, l3 =20m), f = 0.022

Water level changes from 10m to 0m, correspondingly siphon height changes from 0m to
10m and head changes from 20m to 10m.

Results:

Figure 13 Variation of Velocity of Flow with Water Level in Tank

 Figure 14 Variation of Minimum Pressure in pipe with Water Level in Tank

Interpretation:

As time passes, water level keep decreasing (from 10m to 0 m) in reservoir then correspondingly the
head starts decreasing (from 20m to 10m) and siphon height start increasing (from 0m to 10m).

Due to head decrement velocity keeps on decreasing as shown from the graph. With increase in
siphon height, the minimum pressure keeps on decreasing and for water level around 5.8m i.e.
siphon height of 4.2m the minimum pressure becomes zero and siphon stops working. So, we will
be able to empty out water up to a height of 4.2m only and at this point flow velocity is 2.25m/s.
 Effect of Declination of Horizontal section of Outlet Pipe
Total pipe length constant
Geometric parameters
Siphon Head (H) = 0.1 m

Water Level (x1) = 0.2 m

L1 = 0.3 m

l2 = 0.4 m

l3 = 1.1 m

Friction Coefficient (f) = 0.022

Total pipe length (lt) = l1+l2+l3 = 1.8 m

MATLAB Code Structure:

Variation of pressure along pipe with angle:

From the figure it can be seen that in the pipe there exist a point in horizontal
section where pressure remains same irrespective of the value of the angle.
For angle 31.5 degrees pressure line comes out to be horizontal in horizontal
section, because at this value of angle the total head loss along this section is zero,
hence pressure remains constant. For values less than this angle the minimum
pressure is at starting point of horizontal section, whereas for values greater than
this the minimum pressure is at end point of horizontal section.
 Figure 15

Effect of Increment of Horizontal section at the Exit

Head remains constant, total length changes
Geometric parameters
Siphon Head (H) = 0.1 m

Water Level (x1) = 0.2 m

L1= 0.3 m

l2 = 0.4 m

l3 = 1.1 m

Friction Coefficient (f) = 0.022

MATLAB Code Structure:

Variation of flow velocity with increase in horizontal section at exit:

As there is an increment in the horizontal section at the exit, the total length
increases which result in the increase in drag force because of which the flow
velocity decreases as:
2
=

1+

 Figure 16

Effect of inclination of Vertical section of Outlet Pipe

Case 1: Total pipe length constant
Geometric parameters
Siphon Head (H) = 0.1 m

Water Level (x1) = 0.2 m

l1= 0.3 m

l2 = 0.4 m

l3 = 1.1 m

Friction Coefficient (f) = 0.022

Total pipe length (lt) = l1+l2+l3 = 1.8 m

 MATLAB Code Structure:

Divide whole Apply Bernoulli

For that angle Store Information
choose Angle from length in 70 Equation between
calculate these point to find
in matrix in each
given set evenly distributed iteration
Velocity of flow pressure.
Points

Variation of flow velocity with angle

Simulation Results

Angle(Degree) Velocity(m/s)
0 2.128673
5 2.124218
10 2.11083
15 2.08844
20 2.056929
25 2.016115
30 1.965739
35 1.905445
40 1.834737
45 1.75293
50 1.659053
55 1.551703
60 1.42876
65 1.286841
70 1.120059
75 0.916581
80 0.644885
 Figure 17

As we tilt the output pipe we changes net head of siphon. As we increase the angle net head
decreases and as velocity is directly proportional to square root of net head the velocity of flow
decreases. When net head becomes 0 then siphon stops as per geometry of our siphon it is around
84 degree.

Variation of Minimum pressure in pipe with angle

Angle(degree) Minimum pressure(pa)

0 93726.5625
5 93748.61386
10 93814.6003
15 93924.02012
20 94076.04141
25 94269.50838
30 94502.95012
35 94774.59179
40 95082.36812
45 95423.93914
 50 95796.70791
55 96197.84031
60 96624.28657
65 97072.80447
70 97539.98397
75 98022.27315
80 98516.00523

Figure 18

Minimum pressure in pipe is increasing as we are increasing the angle that is because flow velocity is
decreasing and because of that minimum pressure is increasing.
 Variation of Pressure along length in pipe at different angles

Figure 19

Case 2: Net Head constant

Geometric Parameters
Siphon Head (H) = 0.1 m

Water Level (x1) = 0.2 m

l1 = 0.3 m

l2 = 0.4 m

Net Head = 1.1 m

Friction Coefficient (f) = 0.022

We are varying total length such that net head of siphon is constant.

MATLAB Code Structure:

Store
For that angle Calculate Flow Divide whole Apply Bernoulli
choose Angle Information
Equation between
calculate Total Velocity for given length in 70 evenly these point to find
in matrix in
from given set Length Parametrers distributed Points each
pressure.
iteration
 Variation of flow velocity with angle
Angle(Degree) Flow Velocity(m/s)
0 2.128673
5 2.126756
10 2.120963
15 2.111164
20 2.097137
25 2.078552
30 2.054952
35 2.025723
40 1.990049
45 1.946846
50 1.89466
55 1.831512
60 1.754633

Figure 20

As we are increasing the angle total length is increasing as the constraint is to keep net head
constant. As the total length is increasing flow velocity decreases.
 Variation of Minimum Pressure in pipe with angle
Angle(Degree) Minimum pressure (pa)
0 93726.56
5 93736.06
10 93764.7
15 93812.96
20 93881.66
25 93971.97
30 94085.5
35 94224.31
40 94391.03
45 94588.98
50 94822.29
55 95096.13
60 95416.99

Figure 21
With the increase in the angle flow velocity is decreasing as we saw in last graph and because of that
minimum pressure is increasing with the increase in the angle.
 Variation of Pressure along length in pipe at different angles

Figure 22