UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIA FRANCE INSTITUTE

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SECTION

Laboratory Experiment Sheet

FLUID MECHANICS 2 (NMB31103)

PIPE FRICTIONS EXPERIMENT

1.0 OBJECTIVE

1.1 To compare flow rate measurements from digital flow meter, venturi meter, orifice
meter and pitot tube meter.
1.2 To determine the head losses and minor losses in pipes (PVC rough pipe, PVC smooth
pipe, Stainless Steel pipe, acrylic) and fittings (Ball valve, Gate Valve, Globe Valve,
Reducer, 90o long bend, 90o elbow, 45o Tee, 90o Tee).
1.3 To determine the K factors of pipes and fitting from experiments.

2.0 BASIC THEORY

2.1 Friction Factor

In fluid mechanics there are two major friction factors: the Fanning friction factor and the Darcy-
Weisbach factor, which is sometimes called the Moody friction factor. The two factors have a
relationship where the Darcy factor is four times larger than the Fanning factor. This can cause
confusion when using the factor. It is important to be certain which factor one is using, or the
answer one achieves will not be correct.

In laminar flow the factor doesn’t change over the range of laminar flow, so when one in using a
chart or graphical solution it is fairly easy to determine which factor is presented. The Fanning
factor in laminar flow is given as

16/Re

And the equation for the Darcy factor is given as

64/Re

It is common for chemists to use the Fanning factor, while civil and mechanical engineers use
the Darcy factor. If you are an engineer and get a Fanning factor chart, multiply the factor by 4
and you will have the factor you need, or use the Fanning formula for head loss. The two
equation forms used with the proper form of the head loss equation will give the same loss for
that line segment of pipe.

Darcy-Weisbach equation:

L v2
h f =f
D 2g

Fanning equation:

2 f v2 L
hf=
gD

Where:
L is the length of straight pipe, ft or m
D is the pipe interior diameter (ID), ft or m
V is the average velocity of fluid, ft/sec or m/sec
g is the acceleration of gravity, in the appropriate units
f is the appropriate dimensionless factor for the form being used
hf is the head loss, ft or m

2.2 Losses in Pipes and Fittings

Losses in the fittings of a piping network are frequently termed minor losses or miscellaneous
losses. These descriptions are misleading because in process piping fitting losses are often much
greater than the losses in straight piping sections.
The head loss that is caused by the inlets, outlets or fittings is expressed by the equation below:

v 2
h L =k
2g

Where
k = loss coefficient for the fitting that is involved
v2
= velocity head, hv
2g

2.3 Flow Rate Measurement

When the process required to measure the flowrate of the medium in the pipeline, the differential
pressure in between point 1 and point 2 can be predicted using pressure drop information. A
Venturi meter and an Orifice are both instruments used for measuring the rate of discharge for a
fluid flowing in a pipe. These instruments are based on the same principle which states the
following:

"The pressure difference between any two points on a tapering pipe through which the fluid is
flowing depends on the change of levels and on the change in velocities and therefore on the
volume rate of flow"

where the flow is led to narrow cross section, at which the velocity increase and hence a fall in
the pressure occur. A Venturi consists of a short converging conical tube leading to a cylindrical
portion, called the throat, of smaller diameter of that of the pipeline, which is followed by a
diverging section in which the diameter increases again to that of the main pipeline. There are
two pressure taps located at the widest and the narrowest locations of the tube.

Therefore, this flowrate can be determined by measuring pressures P1 and P2 at these locations
and substituting them into the Bernoulli equation. For an incompressible fluid, the pressure drop
is related to the flow rate by the following formula:

2∆ P
Q=C D A d
√ ρ(1−β 4 )

Where

Q = Flowrate (m3/s)
CD = Venturi Discharge Coefficient, (0.94- 0.97)
DP = Differential Pressure, P1-P2, N/m2
Ρ = Density of fluids, water = 1000 kg/m3
β = Troat-to-pipe diameter ratio
An Orifice consists of an orifice plate which has an opening in it smaller than the internal
diameter of the pipeline, placed in a flange connecting the two portions of the pipeline. It is a
plate with a machined hole in the center . The flow rate is determined by measuring the pressure
drop as the flow passes through the plate. The frictional losses in the orifice meter are much
larger than in the venturi meter and a typical value of the discharge coefficient Cd is 0.6. The
operating principle for this device is the same as for the a venturi meter.

2∆ P
Q=C D A d
√ ρ(1−β 4 )

d
β=
D
Analysis and discussion

1. From the experiments for pipe frictions, create a table of Log hL and Log hv
2. Plot the graph of Log hL and Log hv. Add a linear line in order to find the gradient of the
graph. From the linear equation, the K value is equal to m ( y= mx + c)
3. Compare the experimental K value with theoretical K value using Moody Diagram. You
need to determine the Re number of the flow for each experiment.
4. Calculate the theoretical and experimental flow rate of venture meter, orifice meter and
pitot tube meter.
5. Compare the results with the digital measurement device.

Endorsed by :
Technical Unit Leader HOS/ PC
Sign & Stamp Sign & Stamp
Date 19th September 2016 Date 19th September 2016