Objective:

To study the effect of pressure drop in different sizes of pipe’s in a pipe flow experiment and
record the pump efficiency.
Introduction:
The objective of this lab is in principle with the Bernoulli’s equation, that states the energy
remains conserved. Considering this, we know that the pressure will be low where the speed is
high or conversely, the area is less the speed is high hence the pressure will be low. This is the
principle of continuity equation. In pipe flow network, the equations of interest are the
Bernoulli’s equation and the continuity equation that allows to calculate the pressure drop at
the expense of the area reduction as we have different sizes of pipes. Since the effect of friction
is pronounced, and loss of pressure occurs across the venturi and orifice meters as well. These
meters are used to estimate the drop of pressure in a fluid.
Procedure:
The procedure is quite simple.
i) Start the pump and regulate the flow.
ii) We have three pipes of different diameter, and flow from one pump is regulated to
all three pipes of different diameter thus pressure drop varies.
iii) The pressure drop across venturi and orifice meters are estimated.
iv) Those are compared with the model results.
v) After having, all the data the efficiency of the pump is estimated and reported.
 Calculations and results:

Experimental data model data

pipe level Flow gpm dP 3ft dp 5 ft dp orifice dp venturidp pump power W effi ciency flow m3/s power pump pipe dp 3ft dp 5ft dp orifice dp ventur
1-inch H 8 0.55 xx 7.2 3.8 21.39 243 4.44280% 0.000504722 10.7959945 1inch 0.4 xx 7.67 2.97
M 5 0.49 xx 2.5 1.44 23.5 238 3.11475% 0.000315451 7.413098143
L 2 0.29 xx 0.56 0.7 26.8 235 1.43899% 0.00012618 3.381634557
M 5 0.61 xx 2.5 1.6 24.3 239 3.20730% 0.000315451 7.665458931 0.75in 1.11 1.85 xx 2.23
L 2 0.52 xx 0.4 0.71 27.1 237 1.44282% 0.00012618 3.419488675
H 8 0.68 xx 0.48 3.9 21.5 245 4.42919% 0.000504722 10.85151388
L 2 0.46 xx 2.4 0.76 27.2 236 1.45428% 0.00012618 3.432106715
M 5 0.61 xx 7.2 1.4 24.1 245 3.10301% 0.000315451 7.602368734
H 8 0.98 xx xx 3.8 21.9 231 4.78502% 0.000504722 11.05340251
0.75-inch H 8 1.3 2.6 xx 3.66 20.35 245 4.19228% 0.000504722 10.27108407
M 5 0.88 1.24 xx 1.51 22.8 241 2.98435% 0.000315451 7.192282454
L 2 0.35 0.66 xx 0.55 26.34 242 1.37338% 0.00012618 3.323591576
M 5 0.7 1.06 xx 1.5 23.5 243 3.05066% 0.000315451 7.413098143
L 2 0.4 0.62 xx 0.46 26.55 238 1.40760% 0.00012618 3.350089459
H 8 1.43 2.22 xx 3.44 21.22 246 4.35374% 0.000504722 10.71019184
L 2 0.38 0.37 xx 0.48 26.21 235 1.40731% 0.00012618 3.307188125
M 5 0.5 0.46 xx 1.46 24.34 241 3.18592% 0.000315451 7.67807697
H 8 1.19 2.37 xx 3.74 22.08 247 4.51184% 0.000504722 11.14425239
0.5-inch H 6 3 6.15 xx 2.13 22.25 243 3.46607% 0.000378541 8.422541295
M 4 1.29 2.85 xx 1.18 24.32 243 2.52568% 0.000252361 6.137414361
L 2 0.5 0.44 xx 0.42 26.41 244 1.36575% 0.00012618 3.332424204
M 4 1.63 2.66 xx 1.13 24.48 246 2.51130% 0.000252361 6.177792087
L 2 0.37 0.88 xx 0.44 26.48 244 1.36937% 0.00012618 3.341256831
H 6 2.56 5.48 xx 2.07 22.4 247 3.43292% 0.000378541 8.479322472
L 2 0.47 0.42 xx 0.4 26.32 245 1.35554% 0.00012618 3.321067968
M 4 1.31 2.77 xx 1.11 24.72 247 2.52565% 0.000252361 6.238358676
H 6 2.74 5.62 xx 2.19 22.92 248 3.49845% 0.000378541 8.676163886
3/8 - inch H 4 7.64 8.13 xx 1.35 24.3 246 2.49283% 0.000252361 6.132367145
M 3 5.4 8.03 xx 0.99 25.4 242 1.98656% 0.000189271 4.807473009
L 2 2.4 4.37 xx 0.51 26.5 240 1.39324% 0.00012618 3.343780439
M 3 5.8 7.98 xx 1.1 25.4 241 1.99480% 0.000189271 4.807473009
L 2 2.9 4.06 xx 0.69 26.6 238 1.41025% 0.00012618 3.356398478
H 4 7.7 8.13 xx 1.35 24.6 241 2.57596% 0.000252361 6.208075381
L 2 2.6 4.03 xx 0.61 26.3 239 1.38851% 0.00012618 3.31854436
M 3 6.01 7.74 xx 1.02 25.5 242 1.99438% 0.000189271 4.826400068
H 4 7.94 8.13 xx 1.36 24.8 241 2.59691% 0.000252361 6.258547539

Discussions:
There is difference between the model predicted parameters and the experimental results. The
reason behind this is that, in experiment there is frictional effects in the pipe while in model it is
considered as smooth without any loses. The pressure drop decreases as the flow rate
decreases also it decreases when the diameter of pipe decreases.