EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

OBJECTIVE: - To determine the loss factors for flow through different pipe fittings.
THEORY: Head losses due to singularities or accessories are commonly termed minor head
losses. This is due to the fact that for pipes of important length, their value can be neglected
comparatively to that due to friction. However, their effect can be significant for short pipes.
Minor head losses are expressed as:
𝑽𝟐 𝟖𝑸𝟐
𝒉𝒎 = 𝑲 𝒎 = 𝑲𝒎
𝟐𝒈 𝝅𝟐 𝑫𝟐

Where Km is a coefficient which is practically constant at high Reynold’s Number. Energy

losses in pipe fitting are as follows:
• Valves • Contraction losses
• Joints • Entry losses
• Bends/Elbow • Exit Losses
• Expansion losses
COEFFICIENT OF CONTRACTION

The fluid enters the entrance of the pipe from all directions and the radial velocity causes
the jet to contract just inside the pipe. The jet then spreads out to fill the pipe. The point where
the jet is smallest in cross-section is called as vena contracta.

Coefficient of contraction is defined as the proportion between the areas of the stream
at the vena contracta to the area of the orifice. It is denoted by the symbol Cc.
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝐽𝑒𝑡
Mathematically, = 𝐶𝑐
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑖𝑝𝑒

COEFFICINT OF VELOCITY

The coefficient of velocity is the ratio of the actual velocity of flow to the theoretical velocity
of flow. In determining the loss through pipe fitting the velocity at vena-contracta is
considered.
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
= 𝐶𝑣
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
 EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

EXIT LOSS FROM A PIPE

The liquid emerges from the pipe and collides with stationary liquid causing it to swirl about
before finally coming to rest. All the Kinetic energy is dissipated by friction. It follows that
all the kinetic head is lost so Km = 1.

Fig. Exit Loss

ENTRY LOSSES IN PIPE

The value of Km varies from 0.78 to 0.04 depending on the shape of the inlet. A good rounded
inlet has minimum losses whereas a sharp-edged inlet has more losses.

Fig. Entrance Loss

SUDDEN ENLARGEMENT AND CONTRACTION

Sudden enlargement is similar to a pipe discharging into a tank but this time does not collide
with static fluid but with slower moving fluid in the large pipe. The resulting loss coefficient
is given by the following expression:
𝟐
𝒅𝟏 𝟐
𝑲𝒎 = {𝟏 − ( ) }
𝒅𝟐
Sudden contraction is similar to the entry to a pipe from a tank. The best case gives K m – 0
and the worst case gives Km = 0.5.

Fig. Sudden Enlargement Fig. Sudden Contraction

 EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

APPARATUS: - Energy loss apparatus has a pipe with several fittings. Collecting tank to
find out discharge passing through pipe, Stopwatch for time measurement. The apparatus is
equipped with: Large and Short Bends, Sudden contraction and an expansion. Each pipe
fittings are provided with separate pressure tapings at its up-stream and down-stream end.

PROCEDURE: -
• Open the pump inlet valve to its fully open position. This valve should remain fully
open at all times.
• Open the valve on the instrument panel (main control valve). This valve should be used
to control the flow rate during the experiment.
• Start the pump. Use the speed controller and the main control valve to establish a steady
flow. Remove all air bubbles from the system.
• Select two of the fittings across which pressure drop measurements are to be made.
Connect manometer tapping points immediately preceding each fitting under test to the
left-hand tube of each pair of manometers using the flexible tubing.
• Connect manometer tapping points immediately after each fitting under test to the
right-hand tube of each pair of manometers using the flexible tubing. Remove all air
from both sections of flexible tubing.
• Observe the flow rate using the bucket/stopwatch method.
• Open the stop-cocks of the manometer tapings being used.
• When the level in the manometers are steady, note the difference in water levels
between the two tubes of the manometers.
• Repeat steps for various values of flow rate. The flow rate may be varied using the
speed controller of the pump.
• Close the stop-cocks on the manometer tapings
 EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

OBSERVATIONS: -
TYPE OF SL LEFT RIGHT VELOCITY
H INITIAL FINAL VOL TIME Q AREA VELOCITY K RE
FITTING NO. LIMB LIMB HEAD
1 21.4 20.9 6.3 7.6 15.7 12960 25 518.4 4.90625 105.661146 10.7707591 0.58491699 29680.1
2 21.3 21 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 32 405 4.90625 82.5477707 8.41465553 0.44921625 23187.58
3 21.3 20.9 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 23 563.478261 4.90625 114.849072 11.7073468 0.43049891 32260.98
SHORT BEND
4 21.3 21 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 33 392.727273 4.90625 80.0463231 8.15966596 0.46325426 22484.92
5 23.5 23.2 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 38 341.052632 4.90625 69.5139122 7.08602571 0.5334443 19526.38
6 21.8 21.4 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 29 446.896552 4.90625 91.0871953 9.28513713 0.54280297 25586.29
1 21.4 20.9 6.3 7.6 15.7 12960 25 518.4 4.90625 105.661146 10.7707591 0.58491699 29680.1
2 21.3 21 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 32 405 4.90625 82.5477707 8.41465553 0.44921625 23187.58
3 21.3 20.9 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 23 563.478261 4.90625 114.849072 11.7073468 0.43049891 32260.98
LONG BEND
4 21.3 21 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 33 392.727273 4.90625 80.0463231 8.15966596 0.46325426 22484.92
5 23.2 22.9 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 38 341.052632 4.90625 69.5139122 7.08602571 0.5334443 19526.38
6 21.6 21.2 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 29 446.896552 4.90625 91.0871953 9.28513713 0.54280297 25586.29
1 21.4 20.9 6.3 7.6 15.7 12960 25 518.4 4.90625 105.661146 10.7707591 0.58491699 29680.1
2 21.3 21 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 32 405 4.90625 82.5477707 8.41465553 0.44921625 23187.58
SUDDEN 3 21.3 20.9 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 23 563.478261 4.90625 114.849072 11.7073468 0.43049891 32260.98
CONTRACTION 4 21.2 20.9 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 33 392.727273 4.90625 80.0463231 8.15966596 0.46325426 22484.92
5 23.4 23.1 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 38 341.052632 4.90625 69.5139122 7.08602571 0.5334443 19526.38
6 21.4 21 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 29 446.896552 4.90625 91.0871953 9.28513713 0.54280297 25586.29
1 21.4 20.9 6.3 7.6 15.7 12960 25 518.4 4.90625 105.661146 10.7707591 0.58491699 29680.1
2 21.3 21 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 32 405 4.90625 82.5477707 8.41465553 0.44921625 23187.58
SUDDEN 3 21.3 20.9 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 23 563.478261 4.90625 114.849072 11.7073468 0.43049891 32260.98
ENLARGEMENT 4 21.4 21.1 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 33 392.727273 4.90625 80.0463231 8.15966596 0.46325426 22484.92
5 23.5 23.2 3.78 7.6 15.7 12960 38 341.052632 4.90625 69.5139122 7.08602571 0.5334443 19526.38
6 21.3 20.9 5.04 7.6 15.7 12960 29 446.896552 4.90625 91.0871953 9.28513713 0.54280297 25586.29
 EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

LAB QUESTIONS
1) What causes energy loss in pipe fittings?
When a fluid is flowing through a pipe, the fluid experiences some resistance due
to which some of the energy of the fluid is lost. This loss of energy is classified as:
Major energy losses: The viscosity causes loss of energy in the flows, which is known
as frictional loss or major energy loss and it is calculated by the following Darcy-
Weisbach formula
hf =4f L V2 / (2gD)
where hf = Loss of head due to friction
f = Co-efficient of friction which is a function of Reynolds number
f = 64/Re (for Re <2000) (laminar flow)
L = Length of pipe
V = mean velocity of flow
D = Diameter of pipe
Minor energy losses: The loss of energy due to change of velocity of the flowing fluid
in magnitude or direction is called minor loss of energy. The minor loss of energy
includes the following cases

(a) Sudden expansion of pipe:

The head loss due to sudden expansion equation is he = (V1 -V2)2 /2g
where V1 is the velocity at section 1
V2 is the velocity at section 2

(b)Sudden contraction of pipe:

The head loss due to sudden contraction equation is hc =k (V22 /2g)

Where k = ((1/Cc)-1)2
V2 is the velocity at section 2

(c) Bending in pipe:

The head loss due to bending equation is: hf =k (V2 /2g)

Where V is the velocity of the flow, k is the co-efficient of the bend, which depends on
the angle of the bend, radius of curvature of bend and diameter of the pipe

2) Examining the Reynold’s number obtained comment on flow type

whether laminar or turbulent.
The Reynold’s Number for the flow varies between 1.9 x 104 to 3.2 x 104. Hence, it can
be concluded that flow in all the cases were turbulent in nature.
EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

3) Is it justifiable to treat the loss coefficient as constant for a given fitting?

Yes, for a given pipe fitting K can be treated as a constant. Value of K remains almost
same for different velocity and head loss values for a given pipe fitting. Crane Company
(Crane Company, Flow of fluids, Tech. Paper 409, 1942) published a summary of
representative head loss coefficients for typical pipe fittings. In case of sudden
contraction, value of Cc (contraction coefficient) can be determined Weisbach equation.
Value of Cc depends on the ratio of contracted pipe area to the initial pipe area. So, for
a given ratio, Cc and hence K can be regarded as constant.

4) What are minor losses? Under what circumstances will they be

negligible?

When the length of pipe is very large, or cross section of flow is very small i.e. diameter
of pipe is small, roughness of pipe is high the minor losses can be neglected.
5) What do you mean by water hammer in pipes? Hence deduce the effect
of gradual and instantaneous closure of a valve.
Hydraulic shock ( water hammer; fluid hammer) is a pressure surge or wave caused
when a fluid, usually a liquid but sometimes also a gas, in motion is forced to stop or
change direction suddenly; a momentum change. This phenomenon commonly occurs
when a valve closes suddenly at an end of a pipeline system, and a pressure wave
propagates in the pipe. This pressure wave can cause major problems, from noise and
EXPERIMENT-5 ENERGY LOSSES IN PIPES

vibration to pipe collapse. It is possible to reduce the effects of the water hammer pulses
with accumulators, expansion tanks, surge tanks, blowoff valves, and other features.