Katureebe H.

J 219266042 Sobekwa Oyama 217822711 Neo Tamako 216415055

Contents
Brief ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Aim .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Apparatus ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Data Obtained From Frictional Loss Experiment .................................................................................... 3
Observation..................................................................................................................................... 3
Hypothesis on Observation. ............................................................................................................ 3
How to get internal diameter: ................................................................................................................ 3
Practical frictional coefficient: ................................................................................................................ 4
Procedure............................................................................................................................................ 4
Practical Frictional Losses Calculations ............................................................................................... 5
Formula to find for Frictional Losses............................................................................................... 5
Theoretical frictional coefficient: ............................................................................................................ 6
Procedure............................................................................................................................................ 6
Theoretical Friction coefficients Calculations ..................................................................................... 7
Formulas for theoretical Friction coefficients................................................................................. 7
Practical minor loss coefficient: .............................................................................................................. 8
Procedure............................................................................................................................................ 8
Practical Minor Losses Calculations .................................................................................................... 8
Theoretical minor loss coefficient: ....................................................................................................... 11
Procedure.......................................................................................................................................... 11
Theoretical Minor Losses .................................................................................................................. 11
Conclusion / Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 12
Frictional Losses ................................................................................................................................ 12
Minor Losses ..................................................................................................................................... 12
ANNEXURES .......................................................................................................................................... 13
Annexure 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 13
Annexure 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 13
Annexure 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Annexure 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 15
Annexure 5 ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Annexure 6 ........................................................................................................................................ 16
Annexure 7 ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Annexure 8 ........................................................................................................................................ 17
Annexure 9 ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Brief
Pipe flow provides the information required to design and analyse the piping systems
needed to support a broad range of industrial operations and distribution systems. A typical
piping system involves pipes of different diameters connected to each other by different
elbows to route the fluid, valves to control the flow rate, and pumps to pressurize the fluid.

The objective of this experiment is to thoroughly analyse fluid flow through pipes with
different diameters, by applying the principle energy losses and flow rates. By calculating
these values, we are able to examine how the change in diameter and direction is related to
the friction and minor losses that occur, as well as their effects on the flow rate.

We were assigned the 63mm UPVC class 9 flotek pipe, and we evaluated the theoretical
and practical friction and minor loss coefficient of this pipe.

Aim
The aim of this experiment is to analyse the friction and minor losses of water through the
63mm UPVC class 9 flotek pipe. The task at hand is to examine the differences between
calculated and measured values and propose verifiable explanations for any variations.

Apparatus
The pipe friction apparatus that
were used for the experiment:

 A water pump.
 A system of pipes, valves
and fittings complete with
stop valves and
manometers to facilitate.
 A flow measuring device.
 Water

Pump Station
Data Obtained From Frictional Loss Experiment

Description P1(cm) P2(cm) ΔP(cm) Q(l/hr)

Test 1 54.7 46.8 7.9 9800
Test 2 59.6 52.7 6.9 7450
Test 3 60.4 57.4 3.0 4700

A Graph of Change in P vs Q
12

y = 0.0015x - 4.0551
10

8
Change in P (cm)

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Q (l/s)

Observation.
From our graph we can see that the ∆𝑃 increases with increase in Q.
Hypothesis on Observation.
This is most probably due to the fact that the increasing Q increases the effective
number of fluid particles experiencing frictional losses in the pipe.

How to get internal diameter:

 Obtain a catalogue for a Flotek 63mm class 9 UPVC pipe (Annexure
1).
 Read of the thickness of the pipe from the catalogue.
 Subtract the wall thickness from the outside diameter to get the internal
diameter: (refer to Annexure 2)
63mm – (2×2.7) mm = 57.6mm
(Stark, 2010)
Practical frictional coefficient:
Procedure
1. We turn on the water pump and close valves except for the pipe being tested,
and wait for steady flow.
2. Record pressure drop reading from the digital manometer.
3. Record water flow rate from the flowmeter.
4. Repeat the above steps with different discharges.
𝐿 𝑉2
5. Calculate the frictional coefficient using the formula ℎ𝑓 = 4𝑓 𝐷 (2𝑔)

Where: f = friction experienced.

L = length of the pipe (m).
D = internal diameter of the pipe (m).
V = velocity experienced by the fluid (m/s).
g = acceleration experienced due to gravity.
ℎ𝑓 = ∆𝑃

Measuring Pipe Diameter Practically

Practical Frictional Losses Calculations

Experiment Flow (Q) Input Pressure(P1) Output Pressure(P2) ∆𝑷

No.
1 9800 l/h 57.4 cm 46.8 cm 10.6 cm

2 7450 l/h 59.6 cm 52.7 cm 6.9 cm

3 4700 l/h 60.4 cm 57.4 cm 3 cm

Formula to find for Frictional Losses

From Darcy Welsbach Equation;
4𝑓𝐿𝑉 2
ℎ𝑓 = ,
2𝑔𝑄

ℎ𝑓 2𝑔𝑄
Therefore 𝑓 = 4𝐿𝑉 2

Where
𝑄
𝑉=
𝐴
𝜋𝑑 2
𝐴=
4
4𝑄
𝑉=
𝜋𝑑 2
Therefore

𝜋 2 𝑑4 ℎ𝑓 2𝑔𝑄
𝑓=
43 𝑄 2 𝐿

Using the above values and formulae we found the frictional coefficients below;

Experiment No. Friction Coefficient

1 0.00548
2 0.00618
3 0.00675
Average 0.00613
Figure 1Pump Station

For more detailed calculations refer to Annexure 4

Theoretical frictional coefficient:
Procedure
1. We read off the pipe roughness(𝜖) from the catalogue (Annexure 2).
2. We then found the relative pipe roughness from the equation

∈
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑃𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
𝑑
𝜌𝑣𝐷
3. We then found the Reynolds number using the formula 𝑅𝑒 = 𝜇

Where: D = internal diameter of the pipe (m).

v = velocity (m/s)
𝜌 = density of water at 20℃ (kg/m3)
𝜇 = viscosity of water at 20℃ (N/m)
4. We then read off the frictional coefficient in 𝜆 using the Moody Diagram
(Annexure 3).
5. We then calculate the actual friction coefficient (f) using
𝜆
𝑓=
4
6. Then we compared friction pressure drop calculated to friction pressure drop
measured.
Theoretical Friction coefficients Calculations
Finding Velocity;
𝑄
𝑉=
𝐴

Experiment No. Velocity

1 1.044

2 0.794

3 0.501

Formulas for theoretical Friction coefficients

∈
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑃𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
𝑑
𝜌𝑉𝑑
𝑅𝑒𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑑′ 𝑠 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 =
𝜇
Where, 𝜌 = 998

𝑑 = 57 × 10−3 𝑚

𝜇 = 1 × 10−3
Using these formulae we were able to obtain the theoretical friction factors from the moody
diagram. (Annexure 5)

Experiment No. Friction Factor,𝜆 Frictional coefficient, f

1 0.0206 0.00515

2 0.0226 0.00564

3 0.0250 0.00625

Average 0.0227 0.00568

For more detailed calculations, refer to Annexure 3

Practical minor loss coefficient:
Procedure
1. We turn on the water pump and close valves except for the pipe being tested
for long and short elbow 90 degree bend, and wait for steady flow.
2. We then recorded pressure drop reading from the digital manometer
3. We then recorded water flow rate from the flowmeter
4. We then repeated the above steps with the same discharge for both the long
and short 90 degree elbow.
𝑘𝑉 2
5. Calculate the minor loss coefficient using the formula ℎ𝑚 = ( 2𝑔 )

Where: g = acceleration experienced due to gravity.

v = velocity (m/s)
k = minor loss coefficient.
ℎ𝑚 = ∆𝑃

Short Elbow Long Elbow

Practical Minor Losses Calculations

Internal diameter of Short and Long Elbow

𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 − 2 × (𝑃𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠)

 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 40𝑚𝑚 − (2 × 3𝑚𝑚)
𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 34 𝑚𝑚
Obtaining V
𝑄
From; 𝑉 =
𝐴

(34 × 10−3 )2 𝜋𝑉
2.5 × 10−3 =
4
𝑉 = 2.75 𝑚/𝑠
In order to get the minor losses we used the formula below;

𝑲𝑽𝟐
𝒉𝒎 =
𝟐𝒈
ℎ𝑚 2𝑔
Therefore; 𝐾 = 𝑉2
………. (1)

From; Q = AV
𝐴2 ℎ𝑚 2𝑔
Substituting into equation (1); 𝐾 = 𝑄2𝑉 2
……. (2)

Where; ℎ𝑚 = 𝑃1 − 𝑃2

Using the above equation

Description P1(cm) P2(cm) ∆𝑷(cm) V (m/s)

Long Elbow 58.1 42.9 15.2 2.75

Short Elbow 61.6 39.8 21.8 2.75

The ∆𝑃 recorded was throughout the entire pipe therefore to get the ∆𝑝 for the short elbow and
long elbow fittings, we subtracted the ∆𝑃1 caused by the pipe length at the Q of 9000l/hr i.e.

∆𝑝 = ∆𝑃 − ∆𝑃1
Finding K for the fittings using equation 2

Description K

Long Elbow 0.566

Short Elbow 0.394

For a more detailed description of these calculations, please refer to Annexure 6

Theoretical minor loss coefficient:
Procedure
1. We went back to the lab and measured the radius from the pipes for both the
long and short 90 degree elbow.
2. Then we calculated the minor loss coefficient using the formula:
𝑟
𝑑

3. Then we read off the k value in the 90 degrees column.

4. Then we compared the theoretical and the practical minor loss coefficient.

Theoretical Minor Losses

Internal diameter of Short and Long Elbow

We referred to annexure 7 for pipe thickness

𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 − 2 × (𝑃𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠)

𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 40𝑚𝑚 − (2 × 3𝑚𝑚)
𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 34 𝑚𝑚

Description d(mm) r(mm) 𝑟

𝑑

Short Elbow 34mm 34mm 1

Long Elbow 34mm 68mm 2

Reading off the K from annexure 8

Description K

Short Elbow 0.22

Long Elbow 0.13

Conclusion / Discussion
Frictional Losses
The Practical and theoretical frictional factor obtained were very close in magnitude with a tolerance
of 0.01 in each.

We also observed that the frictional losses were very low owing to the fact that the pipe we were
analysing is a smooth pipe that has very few frictional losses

Minor Losses
There was a relatively big difference between the practical and theoretical minor loss coefficients
obtained, this was most probably due to the frictional losses in the pipe conveying water to the
fittings that we hadn’t accounted for but was recorded in the ∆𝑃.

References
Evans, P., 2015. The engineering mindset. [Online]
Available at: https://theengineeringmindset.com/properties-of-water-atmospheric-pressure-
saturated-liquid/
[Accessed 05 May 2019].

ISO9001, S., 2007. presure pipe system. 1st ed. Carlifonia: Adventure Works.

Stark, T., 2010. Eenggcyclopidia. [Online]

Available at: https://www.enggcyclopedia.com/2011/09/absolute-roughness/
[Accessed 09 May 2019].
ANNEXURES
Annexure 1

https://theengineeringmindset.com/properties-of-water-atmospheric-pressure-saturated-liquid/

Annexure 2

http://www.incledon.co.za/Documents/DPI%20PVC-U%20_%20PVC-
M%20pressure%20pipe%20brochure%202013.pdf
Annexure 3
Annexure 4
Annexure 5

Annexure 6

DPI plastic dimensions

Annexure 7

Annexure 8
Annexure 9