Fluid Mechanics II

(BDA 30203)

Chapter 1: Viscous Flow in Pipes

Part 3
Fittings

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Minor Losses
• Piping systems include fittings, valves, bends, elbows, tees,
inlets, exits, enlargements, and contractions.
• These components interrupt the smooth flow of fluid and
cause additional losses because of flow separation and mixing
• We introduce a relation for the minor losses associated with
these components

• KL is the loss coefficient.

• Is different for each component.
• Is assumed to be independent of Re.
• Typically provided by manufacturer or
generic table.

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Entrance loss Exit Loss KL = 1.0

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 Sudden Expansion
• Loss coefficient is a function of are ratio A2/A1.

• For sudden expansion

KL= 0 , when there is no area change (A1 = A2)

KL = 1 , when (A2 >>A1), pipe discharges into a reservoir

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Sudden Contraction
• Losses that occur where there is a sudden
decrease in pipe diameter (contraction)

• Loss coefficient is a function of are ratio A2/A1.

• The value of changes gradually from one

extreme of a sharp-edged entrance to the other
extreme of no area change:

A2 /A1 = 0 KL = 0.5 - extreme sharp edge entrance

A2 /A1 = 1 KL = 0 - no area change

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Vena Contracta
• Fluid entering a sharp corner.
• At a sharp corner, the flow will separate and reattaches at the pipe wall.
• This separation and reattachment forms a bubble (separation bubble) making the
area of fluid flow smaller than the actual pipe area.
• This causes the velocity of fluid passing through this small area to increase
• Maximum velocity exists at section with minimum area called the vena contracta.
• Because high speed flows cannot slow down efficiently, the kinetic energy could not
be fully converted into pressure.

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Elbows
Bends and
Tees
Valves

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Total head loss
• Total head loss in a system is comprised of major losses
(in the pipe sections) and the minor losses (in the
components)

i pipe
j components
sections
• If the piping system has constant diameter

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Example 1.7
A tank of water empties by gravity through a horizontal pipe into another tank. There is a
sudden enlargement in the pipe. At a certain time, the difference in level is 3 m. Each pipe is
2 m long and has a friction factor, f = 0.005. The inlet loss coefficient is 0.3. Calculate the
flowrate at this point.

Solution:
energy equation,
p1/g + v12/2g + z1 = p2/g + v22/2g + z2 + hL
p1 = p2 = 0, v1 = v2 = 0
hL = z1 - z2 = 3 m

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major loss hL2 = KL2 v2 / 2g
= 0.79[Q2/π2(0.022/4)2]/[2(9.81)]
hf 1 = 0.005(2) [Q2/π2(0.022/4)2]/[2(9.81)(0.02)] = 408384 Q2
= 258471Q2 for exit
hf 2 = 0.005(2) [Q2/π2(0.062/4)2]/[2(9.81)(0.06)] hL3 = KL3 v2 / 2g
= 1064Q2 = 1[Q2/π2(0.062/4)2]/[2(9.81)]
= 6382 Q2
minor losses
Total head loss

for entrance
hL1 = 0.3[Q2/π2(0.022/4)2]/[2(9.81)]
= 155083Q2
for sudden enlargement hL= 258471Q2 + 1064Q2 +155083Q2 + 408384Q2 +
6382Q2
KL2 = [1– (0.02/0.06)2] 2
= 0.79 Q2 = 3/596754
Q = 2.242 x 10-3 m3/s
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Example 1.8

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Pumps

• Pumps are used to increase energy of the fluid (liquid).

• 40% - 50% of industrial energy is used to drive pumps and compressors.
• Proper design construction and selection of pumps are economically
significant.
• One of the most common pump is the centrifugal pump.
• It consists of rotating elements called impeller which is contained within
the pump housing.
• The shaft transfers mechanical energy to the impeller.
• A system of bearings and seals are required to complete the design
• Flow enters the machine nearly axial at some radius through the eye of
the impeller and leaves radially outward.

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• Energy is added to the fluid by rotating blades and both pressure and absolute
velocity are increased as fluid flows from eye to the periphery of the blades.
• Fluid discharges into the housing which is designed to reduce velocity.
• Types of pumps
- Reciprocating pistons or plunger
- Gear pump
- Double screw pump
- Sliding vane
- Lobe pump
- Differential piston
- Flexible squeegee
• In reality, pumps cause losses.

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• Normally pumps are driven by electric motors, IC engines etc. It draws kinetic energy
and delivers it to the fluid.

• If we include energy of pump in the energy equation, we get:

p1 /  g + v12 / 2 g + z1 + hP = p2 /  g + v22 / 2 g + z2 + hL
where hP is the energy added to fluid and hL is the head loss discussed earlier

• Power Required by Pump

Power is the rate of work or the rate of which energy is being transferred and is given by:

Power = p g hP Q
Unit: Watt, Nm/s or J/s

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Thank You

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