ABSTRACT

The objective of this experiment was to study the flow of fluid by investigating the effects of
flowrate on pressure losses using different types of fittings and using water as a fluid. During
the experiment some procedures were followed as follows. The flow rate of 10 m3 /h was set
by adjusting valve FV1.The flow rate was fixed and the pressure drop measured before and
after the calibrated orifice on the differential pressure gauge were recorded. Flow rate of liquid
was varied by adjusting the pneumatic valve and pressure drop was detected. Valve V46 was
then opened. The venture tube was selected then V7 was opened and V6 was closed. V20
,V21,V44 and V45 were opened.V44 and V45 were then closed and V24 and V25 were open.
V46 was closed.Flow rate of 10 m3/h was again set by adjusting valve FV1 .Therefore , flow
rate was fixed and the pressure drop measured before and after the calibrated orifice plate , on
differential pressure gauge were recorded. The flow rates of liquid was varied by adjusting the
pneumatic valve and pressure drop was detected .Valve V46 was then opened.The same
operation was carried out on venture tube , Stainless steel DN tube and tube of glass DN .Valve
V10 was then opened .V9 was then opened and the plug of the tank D2 was then removed
.Valve V9 was partially opened .Valve V1 was then adjusted to obtain a regular flow of the
laminar flow.

The properties of the fittings were summarized in Figure…….. The background of different
equations such as the Bernoulli equation and Darcy-Weisbach equation for head loss due to
friction were fully analysed since were important for calculations. The significant Frictional
losses and pressure drop can be obtained from Bernoulli equation. Pressure drop is the
difference in total pressure between two points of the fluid carrying a network. The main
determinants of resistance to fluid flow are fluid velocity and fluid viscosity. Friction losses
are a complex function of the system geometry, the fluid properties and the flow rate in the
system. The function of the Reynolds Number was also indicated as it is one of the fundamental
dimensionless group in viscous flow which is used to determine the type of flow.

The results indicated that the relationship between flowrate and pressure is directly
proportional (as flowrate increased the pressure drop also increases). The frictional factors for
Tube of stainless steel DN15 and Tube of Glass DN15 were calculated also the discharge
coefficients for Calibrated Orifice Plate and Venturi tube were calculated for all the runs. The
values of the frictional factor for the Stainless Steel decreased ranging from 381,8806 to
373,4441 with the increasing flowrate The values of the frictional factors for the Glass Tube
decreased ranging from 311,5576 to 289,4560, the sudden increase obtained on the 8000 L/s
flowrates for both fittings were likely because of presence of air and probably due to error
associated with the equipment. The values of discharge coefficient for Calibrated Orifice plate
steadily decreased from 0,032650 to 0,025460 and for the Venturi Tube also decreased from
0,054790 to 0,049800. The density of water at the temperature of 24.4 º C was first calculated
since density is important for accuracy in the calculations.The area of each fitting was also
calculated during calculations hence it was also vital in obtaining the results. It has also been
proven from previous experiment that the larger the pipe diameter the lesser the friction which
results to lesser pressure drop. From the results the graphs of Flowrate versus pressure loses
were drawn for all the fittings. The flowrate versus pressure drop for all the fittings indicated
that pressure loss increases with the increase in flowrate which corresponds well with the
literature, but on the figures they were some deviations which were also likely because of
presence of air and probably due to error associated with the equipment.