[SEGi University]

[Chemical Engineering Laboratory 2]

SEGi University
EXPERIMENT 2: Friction Loss Along A
Pipe
Candidate’s Name: Clinton Eugene Ndhlovu
Student ID: SKD1901899

Group Member’s Name:

Lecturer/ Supervisor: DR. MUHAMMAD ZULHAZIMAN

BIN MAT SALLEH .
Date of Submission: 25/10/2020
Abstract
The experiment helps determine the friction loss in a horizontal pipe using Darcy Weisbach
equation

f lV 2
hf =
2 gD

Along with this, experiment discusses the difference types of flows through the pipe and
change in flow rate

Introduction
The frictional resistance to fluid as it flows along a pipeline results in continuous loss of energy or
total head loss of the fluid. Friction loss is the loss of energy or “head” that occurs in pipe flow due to
viscous effects generated by the surface of the pipe. Friction Loss is considered as a "major loss" and
it is not to be confused with “minor loss” which includes energy lost due to obstructions. In
mechanical systems such as internal combustion engines, it refers to the power lost overcoming the
friction between two moving surfaces. This energy drop is dependent on the wall shear stress (τ)
between the fluid and pipe surface. The shear stress of a flow is also dependent on whether the flow is
turbulent or laminar. For turbulent flow, the pressure drop is dependent on the roughness of the
surface, while in laminar flow, the roughness effects of the wall are negligible. This is due to the fact
that in turbulent flow, a thin viscous layer is formed near the pipe surface which causes a loss in
energy, while in laminar flow, this viscous layer is non-existent. Figure 2.1 illustrates that the
frictional loss along a horizontal pipe with length, , is equals to the difference in levels between
piezometers A and B,h .
 Figure 2.1: Diagram illustrating the frictional loss in terms of pressure head.

The frictional loss (ℎ𝑓) also can be determined by Darcy Weisbach equation (1).

f lV 2
hf = (1)
2 gD

where 𝑓 is the friction factor, ℓ and 𝐷 are the length and diameter of the pipe, 𝑉 is the velocity of the
fluid, and 𝑔 is the acceleration of gravity in 9.81 m/s2. Friction factor is affected by the type of flows;
laminar transition and turbulent, as well as the relative roughness of the pipe.

- fD is a dimensionless coefficient called the Darcy friction factor. It can be found from a Moody
diagram or more precisely by solving the Modified Colebrook equation.

Friction factor is affected by the type of flows; laminar transition and turbulent, as well as the relative
roughness of the pipe. Figure 2.2 shows the motions of different type of flows by introducing a
filament of dye into the flow of the water along a glass pipe. At low velocities, the filament appeared
as a straight line, which passed down the whole length of the tube indicating laminar flow. At
intermediate velocities, transitional flow is observed where the filament is found to be fluctuated in the
water. At higher velocities, the filament mixed with the surrounding water randomly after passing a
little way along the pipe. The motion has now becomes turbulent. This flow is laminar, transitional or
turbulent is depends on the value of the Reynolds number, Re.

Figure 2.2: Experiment to illustrate laminar, transitional and turbulent flows

3.0 APPARATUS
Figure C shows the set up for friction loss experiment. Water is supplied from a flexible hose to
the inlet (4) of the 3 mm ID smooth bore pipe, and discharged at the outlet (3). Water
manometer (1) and mercury manometer (2) are used to measure the frictional loss between the
inlet and the outlet of the pipe. The rate of flow along the pipe is controlled by a needle valve at
the pipe exit (3), and is measured by timing the collection of water in a measuring cylinder.
 Figure C: Diagrammatic arrangement of apparatus for measuring friction loss along a pipe

4.0 PROCEDURES
1- The inlet valve was adjusted to obtain a flow of water through the required test pipe.

2- Flow rates were measured using the volumetric tank in conjunction with flow control
valve.

3- For small flow rates the measuring cylinder was used in conjunction with flow control.

4- Head loss was measured between the tapping using the mercury manometer or pressurized
water manometer as appropriate.

5- The pressure head readings were obtained (at the inlet, and outlet, ) on test section.
6- Steps 1 -5 were repeated to obtain at least three sets of data for laminar, transitional and
turbulent flows.

Results

Pipe diameter: 0.003 m

Pipe length: 0.48 m
Density of water 1000kg/m3
Viscosity of water 1.12x 10-3N.s/m2

• Data recorded:

No h1-h2 Flow Rate Velocity V Reynolds Flow Type Pressure Calculated

of (mH2O) Q (×10−6 ( m/s) number difference hf value (m)
Run m3/s) Re ∆P (Pa)
1 0.02 1.20 0.17 455.36 Laminar 196.2 0.03
2 0.08 4.13 0.58 1553.57 Laminar 784.8 0.11
3 0.12 4.63 0.66 1767.86 Laminar 1177.2 0.13
4 0.17 5.05 0.71 1901.79 Laminar 1667.7 0.14
5 0,24 6.25 0.88 2357.14 Transitional 2343.4 0.17
6 0.29 7.14 1.01 2705.36 Transitional 2844.9 0.20
7 0.30 8.47 1.20 3214.29 Transitional 3924.0 0.23
8 0.61 11.11 1.57 4205.36 Turbulent 5984.1 0.31
9 0.82 16.67 2.36 6321.43 Turbulent 8044.2 0.50

Graph of h1 - h2 vs Velocity
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
h1 - h2 (m)

0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Velocity (m/s)

Graph 1- head loss vs velocity

Log(h1-h2) Log v
-0.77 -1.7
-0.24 -1.1
-0.18 -0.92
-0.15 -0.77
-0.06 -0.62
0.0043 -0.54
0.08 -0.52
0.2 -0.21
0.37 -0.086
 Graph of log (h1-h2 ) vs log V
0
-1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6
-0.2

-0.4

-0.6
log h1-h2

-0.8

-1

-1.2

-1.4

-1.6

-1.8
log V

Graph 2 log (head loss ) vs log V

Calculation
Volume 0.0005
Flow rate Q = = =1.20 ×10−6 m 3 /s
Time 418

Flow rate Q 1.20× 10−6

= = =0.17 m/ s
Velocity V= Area d2 0.0 0 32
π π
4 4

Density ×Velocty × Pipe Diameter 1000× 0.17 ×0.0 0 3

Reynolds number (Re)= = =455.36
Viscosity 1.12 ×10−3

Friction factor (f)

64 64
For Laminar and Transition Flow f= ℜ = 455.36 =0.14

1.325
For Turbulent flow f = e 5.74 2
[¿ (
+ 0.9 ]
3.7 D ℜ )
f lV 2 0.14 ×0.48 × 0.172
Calculated friction loss hf = = =0.3 m
2 gD 2× 9.81× 0.003
Discussion
For all types of flow, the head loss is proportional to velocity rather than velocity squared,
thus the friction factor is inversely proportional to velocity [ CITATION Ric16 \l 2057 ] . This
means increase in velocity results in increase in head loss

hf α V
experimental hf and calculated hf are slightly different irresctive of the type of of flow.for all
flows cal measure hf is different from calculated hf, with it being high or lower this is due to
experimental errors and parallax errors occurred

∆P 196.2
measured hf = ỿ [run 1= (1000 ×9.81) =0.02m
H 2O

Conclusion
Calculated data and experimental data do not match completely, the Darcy Weisbach equation
was used to be an efficient way to calculate h f from what was calculated an measured. The
difference in data was mainly due to errors involved. Errors could have been parallax error,
human error

The errors in the experiment can be avoided by mainly ways such as registering the values of
h1 and h2 the moment the machine starts because of the fluctuations of water and mercury in
the pipes, repeating the [ CITATION Wil93 \l 2057 ]experiment several times and tryin to be as
precise as possible while reading data

References
Janna, W. S., 1993. Introduction to Fluid Mechanics 3rd Edition. In: W. S. Janna, ed. Introduction to
Fluid Mechanics 3rd Edition. s.l.:s.n.

Sellens, R., 2016. https://me.queensu.ca/. [Online]

https://me.queensu.ca/People/Sellens/LossesinPipes.html#:~:text=For%20laminar%20flow%2C
%20the%20head,is%20inversely%20proportional%20to%20velocity.&text=The%20Reynolds
%20number%20must%20be%20based%20on%20the%20hydraulic%20diameter.&text=provides
%20values%
[Accessed 25 10 2020].