Experiment Title : Fluid Flow Friction and Fitting Loss

Subject : UEME2123 Fluid Mechanics I

Course : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil Engineering

Name of Student : Pang Jet Wei

Student ID No : 1401158

Year and Trimester : Y1 T2 Received by:-

Date of Experiment : 22 June 2015 ________________________

Lab Assistance / Lab Officer
Name of Lecturer : Tan Yin Qing
Date :

Receipt of Lab Report Submission (to be kept by student)

Experiment Title : Fluid Flow Friction and Fitting Loss

Subject : UEME2123 Fluid Mechanics I

Course : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil Engineering

Name of Student : Pang Jet Wei

Student ID No : 1401158 Received by:-

Year and Trimester : Y1 T2

________________________
Date of Experiment : 22 June 2015 Lab Assistance / Lab Officer
Date :

.
1. Title:
Fluid Flow Friction and Fitting Loss

2. Objective:
To determine the pressure or head loss in different diameters pipes, joints and valves.

3. Brief introduction / theory:

When a fluid flows through pipes, energy is lost inevitably due to frictions which occurs as a result of
viscous drag. Fluid friction produces eddies and turbulence, and these form of kinetic energy are
eventually converted into thermal energy. Losses in energy can be expressed in term of pressure or
head loss.
The total head, H, for a fluid flowing across a pipe is being derived based on Bernoullis principle and
is expressed as follow:

For laminar flow, (Re<2000), energy loss is given by Hagen-Poiseuilles Equation:

Where,

Pf = Pressure loss due to friction

= Fluid viscosity
l = Pipe length
d = Pipe diameter
Q = Volumetric flow-rate

For turbulent flow (Re > 4000).t he pressure lo s can be calculated based on Darcy's
Equation:

Where,
R = Shear stress acting on the wall
= Fluid density
V = Fluid velocity

The dimensionless (R/V 2) can be grouped as , known as the friction factor. Thus the equation
would be simplified to:
Effect of Pipe diameter on energy losses

Different pipe diameters would result in different amount of energy losses depending on the regime of
flow- The head loss is inversely proportional to the diameter of the pipe

Energy losses due to sudden change in pipe diameter

Consider a sudden enlargement in pipe flow area from A1 to A2 the head loss is

Head loss at sudden contraction

Eddies that formed between the 'vena contracta' and the pipe wall caused the most energy dissipation.
Between the vena contracta and the downstream section (2) a flow pattern similar to that occurring
after an abrupt enlargement is formed and thus loss occurs once again as

Where,

Kc = coefficient of friction for contraction

Energy losses in fittings

Energy is lost whenever the direction of flow in a pipe is altered. The magnitude of these losses is
mainly dependent on the radius of curvature of the bend. A pipe bend, elbow or junction therefore
causes an additional head loss. The extra loss is expressed as

Where,

K = coefficient of frictions for fittings

Losses in valves
Valves that are installed in a piping system are causing additional losses of head. For turbulent f low,
the head loss can be represented by
4. Apparatus:

Pressure meter
Fluid friction trainer

5. Procedures:
1. The water tank is made sure full.
2. All the valves of the trainer are shut off.
3. The trainer main power supply is switched on. The water pump is ensured it is running.
4. The by-pass( BV) and flow regulating valve (FRV) is adjusted to obtained the desired liquid
flow rate.
5. All valves except V1 are turned off; the pressure meter is connected to measure the head loss
across the 8mm copper pipe.
6. V1 is turned off, V2 is switched on, with the rest of the valves remain closed , the head loss
across the contraction, 12 mm PVC pipe and the enlargement portion is measured.
7. V2 is turned off, V3 is switched on, and the head loss across 15.5 mm pipe is measured.
8. V3 is turned off, V4 is switched on, and the head loss across 18 mm pipe, ball valve, 45 Y-
joint and 90 bend is measured.
9. V4 is turned off, globe valve is fully turned on, and the head in 90 elbow, 90 T-joint, in-line
strainers, gate valve and globe valve are measured.
10. The experiment is repeated using different flow rate.
11. All the data obtained is recorded to the table provided.
6. Result:
Pressure Drop (mH2O)
4.0 (GPM) 5.0 (GPM) 6.0 (GPM) 7.0 (GPM) 7.5 (GPM)
Fitting
0.00025 0.00031 0.00037 0.00044 0.00047
(m3/s) 3
(m /s) (m3/s) (m3/s) (m3/s)
Straight Pipes
8 mm (copper tube) 0.23 0.66 1.05 1.46 2.42
12 mm (PVC) full 0.12 0.16 0.23 0.29 0.34
15.5mm (PVC) 0.03 0.06 0.09 0.11 0.13
18 mm (PVC) 0.08 0.11 0.15 0.18 0.21
Sudden enlargement 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03
Sudden contraction 0.08 0.14 0.19 0.25 0.30

Bends
90Bend -0.03 -0.02 -0.01 0.01 0.02
90 Elbow -0.04 -0.01 0.00 0.03 0.04
90 T-ioint -0.02 -0.01 0.01 0.03 0.06
45 Y-joint -0.08 -0.08 -0.08 -0.08 -0.08

Valve
Gate 0.04 0.06 0.07 0.10 0.12
Ball 0.09 0.14 0.20 0.26 0.32
Globe 0.45 0.75 1.02 1.40 2.03
In-line strainer 1.16 1.80 1.89 3.26 4.22

Fitting Flowrate: 4.0 GPM, 0.00025 m3/s

Straight pipes h l/d V 2/2g K
8 mm (copper tube) 2.3x10-5 125.0 1.237 1.86x10-9 -
12 mm (PVC) full 1.2x10-5 83.3 0.244 7.38x10-9 -
15.5mm (PVC) 3.0x10-6 64.5 0.088 6.61x10-9 -
18 mm (PVC) 8.0x10-6 55.6 0.048 3.75x10-8 -
Sudden enlargement 1.0x10-6 - -
Sudden contraction 8.0x10-6 - -

Bends h l/d V 2/2g K

90Bend -3.0x10-6 - 0.088 -
90 Elbow -4.0x10-6 - 0.088 -
90 T-ioint -2.0x10-6 - 0.088 -
45 Y-joint -8.0x10-6 - 0.088 -

Valve h l/d V 2/2g K

Gate 4.0x10-6 - 0.088 -
Ball 9.0x10-6 - 0.088 -
Globe 4.5x10-5 - 0.088 -
In-line strainer 1.2x10-4 - 0.088 -
Fitting Flowrate: 5.0 GPM, 0.00031 m3/s
Straight pipes h l/d V 2/2g K
8 mm (copper tube) 6.6x10-5 125.0 1.902 2.77x10-8 -
12 mm (PVC) full 1.6x10-5 83.3 0.376 6.39x10-9 -
15.5mm (PVC) 6.0x10-6 64.5 0.135 8.61x10-9 -
18 mm (PVC) 1.1x10-5 55.6 0.074 3.34x10-8 -
Sudden enlargement 2.0x10-6 - -
Sudden contraction 1.4x10-5 - -

Bends h l/d V 2/2g K

90Bend -2.0x10-6 - 0.135 -
90 Elbow -1.0x10-6 - 0.135 -
90 T-ioint -1.0x10-6 - 0.135 -
45 Y-joint -8.0x10-6 - 0.135 -

Valve h l/d V 2/2g K

Gate 6.0x10-6 - 0.135 -
Ball 1.4x10-5 - 0.135 -
Globe 7.5x10-5 - 0.135 -
In-line strainer 1.8x10-4 - 0.135 -

Fitting Flowrate: 6.0 GPM, 0.00037 m3/s

Straight pipes h l/d V 2/2g K
8 mm (copper tube) 1.1x10-4 125.0 2.709 4.06x10-9 -
12 mm (PVC) full 2.3x10-5 83.3 0.535 6.45x10-9 -
15.5mm (PVC) 9.0x10-6 64.5 0.192 9.08x10-9 -
18 mm (PVC) 1.5x10-5 55.6 0.106 3.18x10-8 -
Sudden enlargement 2.0x10-6 - -
Sudden contraction 1.9x10-5 - -

Bends h l/d V 2/2g K

90Bend -1.0x10-6 - 0.192 -
90 Elbow 0.0 - 0.192 -
90 T-ioint 1.0x10-6 - 0.192 -
45 Y-joint -8.0x10-6 - 0.192 -

Valve h l/d V 2/2g K

Gate 7.0x10-6 - 0.192 -
Ball 2.0x10-5 - 0.192 -
Globe 1.0x10-4 - 0.192 -
In-line strainer 1.9x10-4 - 0.192 -
Fitting Flowrate: 7.0 GPM, 0.00044 m3/s
Straight pipes h l/d V 2/2g K
8 mm (copper tube) 1.5x10-4 125.0 3.831 3.92x10-9 -
12 mm (PVC) full 2.9x10-5 83.3 0.757 5.75x10-9 -
15.5mm (PVC) 1.1x10-5 64.5 0.272 7.84x10-9 -
18 mm (PVC) 1.8x10-5 55.6 0.149 2.72x10-8 -
Sudden enlargement 3.0x10-6 - -
Sudden contraction 2.5x10-5 - -

Bends h l/d V 2/2g K

90Bend 1.0x10-6 - 0.272 -
90 Elbow 3.0x10-6 - 0.272 -
90 T-ioint 3.0x10-6 - 0.272 -
45 Y-joint -8.0x10-6 - 0.272 -

Valve h l/d V 2/2g K

Gate 1.0x10-5 - 0.272 -
Ball 2.6x10-5 - 0.272 -
Globe 1.4x10-4 - 0.272 -
In-line strainer 3.3x10-4 - 0.272 -

Fitting Flowrate: 7.5GPM, 0.00047 m3/s

Straight pipes h l/d V 2/2g K
8 mm (copper tube) 2.4x10-4 125.0 4.371 5.49x10-9 -
12 mm (PVC) full 3.4x10-5 83.3 0.863 5.91x10-9 -
15.5mm (PVC) 1.3x10-5 64.5 0.310 8.13x10-9 -
18 mm (PVC) 2.1x10-5 55.6 0.171 2.76x10-8 -
Sudden enlargement 3.0x10-6 - -
Sudden contraction 3.0x10-5 - -

Bends h l/d V 2/2g K

90Bend 2.0x10-6 - 0.310 -
90 Elbow 4.0x10-6 - 0.310 -
90 T-ioint 6.0x10-6 - 0.310 -
45 Y-joint -8.0x10-6 - 0.310 -

Valve h l/d V 2/2g k

Gate 1.2x10-5 - 0.310 -
Ball 3.2x10-5 - 0.310 -
Globe 2.0x10-4 - 0.310 -
In-line strainer 4.2x10-4 - 0.310 -
7. Sample calculation:
g = 10.0 m/s2
Q = VA
Enlargement:
h = V1 2/ 2g [1 (A1 / Ac)]2 = V1 2/ 2g (KL)
Contraction:
h = V2 2/ 2g [(A2 / Ac) 1]2 = V2 2/ 2g (KC)
Bends and valves diameter: 15.5 mm

1. Flow rate, Q in 3 /
4.54609 0.0013 1
= 4 = . 3 /
1 1 60
2. Head loss,
2
= 8 ( )
2
2
= 8 ( )
2

=

0.23
=
1000(10.0)
= .
3. Calculate /

=
1
= =
0.008
4. Calculate velocity head, 2 /2
=

=
=
=
=
0.00025
= = = . /
0.008 2
( )
2
*diameter used to calculate area for sudden contraction and enlargement0.012m
*diameter used to calculate area for bands and valve 0.0155
 2 4.9742
= = .
2 2(10.0)

5. Calculate friction factor,

2
= 8 ( )
2
0.000023
= = .
8(125)(1.237 10.0)
6. Calculate coefficient of frictions for fittings, K
Example from 4GPM sudden enlargement:

2
= ( )
2

(0.000001)
= = .
1.24
8. Discussion:

Precaution steps:
The pressure meter must be calibrated before starting the experiment.
The pressure meter must be put on flat table before the reading is taken to ensure the most
accurate reading is taken.
Ensure that the pipe do not have leakage. Leakage causing the loss in water pressure which
results in inaccurate readings.
Assumptions:
Assume that the water inside the trainer has steady flow and incompressible.

Flowrate against fitting loss: This is because when flow rate increases, the volume of liquid flows
through the pipe also increases in a same period of time, more liquid molecule pass through the
pipe causing more friction forces to be produced between water molecule and wall of the pipe,
thus the water pressure decreases or the fitting loss increases.

Diameter vs fitting loss:The reason is because the larger the cross sectional area will allow more
liquid molecule to pass through in the same period of time causing the velocity of liquid decreases.
The lower the liquid velocity, causing less friction force between water and wall of the pipe. Thus,
the fitting loss decreases.

Compare with all the graphs plotted above. we may deduce some conclusions. The higher the flow
rates of liquid, the larger the fitting loss. Besides, we can also say that the larger the diameter of
the pipe, the lower the head loss or fitting laws.

Negative value means pressure increase (valve), (bend from in to out), due to velocity same (flow
rate same), going downward, gravity create some pressure for all downward vertical direction.

GPM from 4 to 7.5 causing result not obvious. If increase to 20++ it will be more obvious changes.

90 bend -0.03 to + result, y? pressure drop again, pressure drop due to fitting laws is higher than
the pressure increase due to the gravity. At small GPM gravity is larger, then fitting laws increase
due to the increase of GPM.

Trend of fitting, when flow rate increase, the larger the fitting laws (pressure drop). The volume of
water increase , more water molecule causing the higher fitting laws.

From the graph of head loss against flow rate for straight pipes, we can observe that the 8mm pipe has
a larger head loss.
Moreover, the different type of walls also affects the head loss. As shown in data, the PVC pipe has
lower head loss compared to copper tube. This is cause by the roughness of inner pipe wall. PVC has a
smooth inner wall which contributes to small boundary layer.
The friction factor, , coefficient of friction for fitting, K, and coefficient of friction for contraction,
are not a constant and depends on the parameter of the pipe and the velocity of the fluid flow, but it is
known to high accuracy within certain flow regimes. Thus, from the result calculated, , and K is
similar in every different flow rate.
The precaution that taken during the experiment is prevent the leakage of water from the pipes. This is
because if the water leak out, the pressure will be affected and this will affect the result of the
experiment and errors occur.
There are some application based on the fluid friction and head loss. This knowledge is widely applied
in industrial area to design the pipe system and choosing the type of pipe used to control the energy
lost.

9. Conclusion:
To determine the pressure or head loss in different diameters pipes, joints and valves.
As a conclusion, the higher the fluid flow friction, the larger the fitting loss.

10. References:

1. FRICTION FACTORS FOR SINGLE PHASE FLOW IN SMOOTH AND ROUGH TUBES.
2014. FRICTION FACTORS FOR SINGLE PHASE FLOW IN SMOOTH AND ROUGH
TUBES. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.thermopedia.com/content/789/. [Accessed 18 July
2014].
2. Pressure drop in pipe fittings and valves | equivalent length and resistance coefficient.
2014. Pressure drop in pipe fittings and valves | equivalent length and resistance coefficient.
[ONLINE] Available at:http://www.katmarsoftware.com/articles/pipe-fitting-pressure-
drop.htm. [Accessed 18 July 2014].
3. Head Loss in Piping Systems . 2014. Head Loss in Piping Systems . [ONLINE] Available
at:http://www.hydromatic.com/ResidentialPage_techinfopage_headloss.aspx. [Accessed 18
July 2014].
4. http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-

66322003000400012

5. http://www.eng.fsu.edu/~alvi/EML4304L/webpage/experiment_5.htm

6. http://staff.fit.ac.cy/eng.fm/classes/amee202/Fluids%20Lab%20Friction%20losses

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