COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD, LAHORE CAMPUS

(DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING)

Fluid Mechanics (CHE-214)

LAB REPORT
Submitted to:
Dr. Zakir Khan & Sir Mulazim Ali
Submitted by:
3rd Semester
Maryam Fatima FA19-CHE-083
Mubeen Javed FA19-CHE-069
Abdul Moeez FA19-CHE-073
Hafiz Bilal FA19-CHE-071
Section: A
Table of Contents
Objective:.............................................................................................................................................2
Theory:.................................................................................................................................................2
Equipment used:..................................................................................................................................3
PPE’s:...................................................................................................................................................3
Procedure:............................................................................................................................................3
Formula:...............................................................................................................................................4
Observation and calculation:..............................................................................................................4
Safety Precaution:...............................................................................................................................4
Results:.................................................................................................................................................4
Graph:..................................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:..........................................................................................................................................5
Objective:.............................................................................................................................................6
Theory:.................................................................................................................................................6
Application of pipe networking:.........................................................................................................6
Equipment used:..................................................................................................................................7
PPE’s:...................................................................................................................................................7
Procedure:............................................................................................................................................7
Formula:...............................................................................................................................................8
Observation:........................................................................................................................................8
Calculation:..........................................................................................................................................8
 For 1/2 inch:.............................................................................................................................8
 For 3/4 inch:.............................................................................................................................9
 For 1 inch:..............................................................................................................................10
Safety Precaution:.............................................................................................................................10
Results:...............................................................................................................................................10
1. Using General Equation:.......................................................................................................10
2. Using Darcy Equation:..........................................................................................................10
Graph:................................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion:........................................................................................................................................12

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 Experiment # 1:
Objective:
Calculate the volumetric flow rate using hydraulic bench
To understand the operation of centrifugal pump.

Theory:
Volumetric flow rate is a relation of how much volume of a gas or liquid solution passes through a
fixed point in a system in given amount of time. Volumetric flow rate is the one most widely used for
liquids. As implied by the name, its units will be volume of flow per unit time. For gases, temperature
and pressure have significant effects on the gas density, and thus on the volumetric flow rate, so mass
flow rate is sometimes used instead of volumetric flow rate for gases. For flow of fluids in pipes,
ducts, or open channels, the velocity will not be constant over the cross-sectional area of flow, yet
some measure of the fluid velocity is often of interest. The velocity parameter most widely used is the
average velocity, defined to be the volumetric flow rate divided by the cross-sectional area of flow.
Volumetric flow rate can be calculated as a product of cross-sectional area of flow and velocity. It can
also be calculated as volume per unit time. Both formulae are given below:
Volumetric flow rate=Velocity*Area
Volumetric flow rate=Volume/time
The mass flow rate is simply the fluid density multiplied by the volumetric flow rate,
m = ρ*Q = ρ*V*A,
where ρ = the density of the fluid.

General Description of Hydraulic Bench:

Water is stored in a sump tank in the lower part. A centrifugal pump is provided to draw the water
from the sump tank through a control valve to an outlet in the bed of the open channel. After passing
through testing unit, water is collected in the volumetric measuring tank which is stepped to
accommodate high and low flow rates. The volumetric tank incorporates a stilling baffle and remote
sight tube with calibrated volumetric scale. A dump valve at the base of the tank returns water to the
sump tank for recycling. An overflow opening is incorporated on the stilling baffle to prevent
overtopping if the dump valve is left closed.

Specifications:
Material: Fiberglass Pump
Type: Centrifugal Pump
Material: Stainless Steel
Motor: 0.37kW

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 Damp valve

Volumetri
c tank

switch

Manometer

Sump tank

Control
valve
Centrifugal
Pump

Equipment used:
 Main switch
 Centrifugal pump
 Sump Tank
 Flow control valve
 Volumetric tank
 Dump valve
 Measuring cylinder

PPE’s:
 Lab coat
 Safety shoes
 Safety googles
 Gloves
 Mask

Procedure:
 A remote sight gauge, consisting of a sight tube and scale, is connected to a tapping in the
base of the tank and gives an instantaneous indication of water level. The scale is divided
into two zones corresponding to the volume above and below the step in the tank. A
dump valve is in the base of the volumetric tank. In operation, the volumetric tank is

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 emptied by allowing the entrained water to returnto the sump. When test conditions have
stabilized, retain the water in the tank.
 Make sure that tank is empty before starting up the experiment.
 Start up the centrifugal pump and throttle the valve up to an extent.
 Fill up the tank to a known volume say liter and note down the time requires for it.
 For second reading again throttle the valve to set the flow rate and repeat the above
procedure.
 Take 4 to 5 readings in the same way and observe the trend of readings.
 Draw a graph between flow rate and time.

Formula:

Q = V/t

Observation and calculation:

No. of obs Diameter Volume Time Volume/time

(inch) (l) (Sec) (L/Sec)

1 1/2 5 37.28 0.13

2 3/4 5 32.88 0.15

3 1 5 30.04 0.16

Safety Precaution:
 Set up device on even surface.
 Fill sump tank with tap water until the water level is 10cm below edge of sump tank.
 Connect electric power supply.
 Screw the discharge cap or a hose at the end of the discharge pipe.
 Switch on main power switch.
 Switch on pump.
 Open flow adjustment valve carefully.
 Replace the water weekly.
 It is important to drain all water from the tank when not in use.
 Do not place any heavy object on the hydraulic bench.
 Clean and wipe the bench with damp cloth after each laboratory session.

Results:
The flow rate of water in 1st run was 0.13 L/sec

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The flow rate of water in 2nd run was 0.15 L/sec.
The flow rate of water in 3rd run was 0.16L/sec.

Graph:

12

10

6
time

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Flow Rate

Conclusion:
As the diameter of pipe increase, volumetric flow rate of fluid also increase and the time decrease
with respect to flow rate. We concluded that the cross-sessional area is directly proportional to flow
rate and inversely proportional to time.

5
 Experiment # 2:

Objective:
To determine the head loss of a pipe connected individually for different diameter.
To learn Darcy-Weisbach equation.

Theory:
One of the objectives of pipe network analysis is to determine how much energy the fluid will lose by
traveling through any pipe in the network. Bernoulli‟s Principle is generally expressed in terms of
energy per unit weight of water, or energy head. This is generally shown as:
P/g + V²/2g + z = H Equation(1)
Where
V= Velocity;
P= Pressure;
z = Elevation;
H= Total Head
Reynolds Number is used to determine the whether the flow of fluids is laminar Flow or turbulent
Flow. In laminar flow, the fluid particles move in laminar layers following parallel paths or
streamlines; while in turbulent flow, fluid layer are mixed and particles follow irregular paths. The
Reynolds number can be obtained from the following equation:
Re = ud/  Equation(2)
Where ρ=Density; u= Fluid Velocity; D=Diameter; = Dynamic Viscosity
From Equation (1), the only term that is undefined is the head loss term due to the frictional losses.
For circular pipes of constant cross-section, the head loss can be determined using the Darcy-
Weisbach Equation, as shown below:
fL V 2
hloss =
2 gD
Where
f=Friction Factor;
L= Pipe Length;
D= Pipe Diameter;
V= Pipe Velocity;
g= Acceleration due to Gravity
The friction factor for laminar flow and turbulent flow can be determined as below:
Laminar Flow: f  64/Re (Equation 4)
Where
Re= Reynolds Number

Turbulent Flow: The Moody Chart is a graphical method to find the friction factor in pipes. Note,
you enter the Moody Chart using Reynolds number (bottom) and the relative roughness (e/D), where
e is the absolute roughness or effective pipe roughness height.

Application of pipe networking:

Water distribution network analysis provides the basis for the design of new system and the
extension of the existing systemin an industry. The flow and pressure distribution across a
network are affected by the arrangement and the sizes of the pipes and the distribution of the
outflow. Optimal design methods almost invariably incorporate the hydraulic analysis of the

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system in which the pipe diameters are systematically altered. Pipe network analysis involves
the determination of the pipe flow rate and the pressure heads which satisfy the continuity
and energy conservation. This may be stated as:
a) Continuity Equation: The algebraic sum of the flow rates in the pipes meeting at a
junction, together with any external flows, is zero.
b) Energy Conservation: The algebraic sum of the head losses in the pipes, together with
any heads generated by in-line booster pumps, around any closed loop formed by pipes is
zero.

Equipment used:
 Main switch
 Centrifugal pump
 Sump Tank
 Flow control valve
 Volumetric tank
 Dump valve
 Measuring cylinder

PPE’s:
 Lab coat
 Safety shoes
 Safety googles
 Gloves
 Mask

Procedure:
 Connect the pipes according to Figure 1.
 Open only for Valve 1 and Valve 6.
 Run the system for a while to check for any leakages.
 Connect the manometer.
 Record the pressure differences (P1 - P2) for 8 different flow rates. Measure the volume
of water discharged and note down the time taken.
 Plot a graph of head loss vs discharge flow rate.
 Repeat procedure 2 to procedure 5 by switching Pipe 5 to Pipe 3 and Pipe 2 respectively.
Record all the relevant results.

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Formula:

Q = Av

Re = ud/ 

Laminar Flow: f 64/Re

fL V 2
hloss =
2 gD

Observation:

No. of Diameter Volume Time Flow Rate Inlet P1 Outlet P2 Head Loss
Obs. (inch) (l) (t) (l/s) =P1-P2

1. 1/2 5 37.28 0.13 290 110 180

2. 3/4 5 32.88 0.15 130 80 50
3. 1 5 30.04 0.16 90 70 20

Calculation:

 For 1/2 inch:

5
Q=
37.28
= 0.13 l/sec
=1.34*10^-4 m3/s
D = 0.0127 m
v= Q/A

8
A=π r 2

1.34 ×10−4
= = 1.055m/s
1.27 ×10−4
Re = ud/ 

Re=
0.0127 ×1.055 ×1000 = 1505.45
0.0089
f=64/Re = 0.0425

fL V 2
H loss=
2 gD

H = 0.0425× 1× ( 1.055 )2
loss
2× 9.8 ×0.0127
= 0.1900m

H = 190mm
loss

 For 3/4 inch:

5
Q=
32.88
= 0.15207/sec
=1.5207*10^-4 m3/s
D = 0.019 m
v= Q/A

A=π r 2

1.5207× 10−4
= = 0.5366m/s
2.83385× 10−4
Re = ud/ 

Re=
0.019× 0.5366 ×1000 = 1145.55
0.0089
f=64/Re = 0.05586

fL V 2
H loss=
2 gD

H = 0.05586 ×1× ( 0.5366 )2

loss
2 ×9.8 × 0.019
= 0.04319m

9
H = 43.19mm
loss

 For 1 inch:
5
Q=
30.04
= 0.16 lit/sec
=1.6*10^-4 m3/s
D = 0.025 m
v= Q/A

A=π r 2

1.6 ×10−4
= = 0.326 m/s
4.90625 ×10−4
Re = ud/ 

Re=
0.025× 0.326 ×1000 = 916.052
0.0089
f=64/Re = 0.069865

fL V 2
H loss=
2 gD

H = 0.069865× 1× ( 0.339 )2
loss
2× 9.8 ×0.025
= 0.01576 m

H = 16 mm
loss

Safety Precaution:
 Set up device on even surface.
 Fill sump tank with tap water until the water level is 10cm below edge of sump tank.
 Connect electric power supply.
 Screw the discharge cap or a hose at the end of the discharge pipe.
 Switch on main power switch
 Switch on pump
 Open flow adjustment valve carefully.
 Replace the water weekly.

Results:
1. Using General Equation:
The head loss through pipe of 1/2 diameter is 180mm.

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The head loss through pipe of 3/4 diameter is 50mm.
The head loss through pipe of 1 diameter is 20mm.

2. Using Darcy Equation:

The head loss through pipe of 1/2 diameter is 190mm.
The head loss through pipe of 3/4 diameter is 43.19mm.
The head loss through pipe of 1 diameter is 16mm.

Graph:

Head Loss Vs. Diameter

200
180
160
140
120
Head Loss

100 Head Loss2

80
60
40
20
0
0.5 0.75 1
Diameter

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 Head Loss Vs. Flow rate
200
180
160
140
120
Head Loss

100
80
60
40
20
0
0.13 0.15 0.16
Flow Rate

Head Loss

Conclusion:
From the result and graph we conclude as the diameter of pipe increase the head loss (pressure)
decrease. Pressure is inversely proportional to cross-sessional area.
Flow rate is inversely proportional to head loss as flow rate increase , head loss decrease.

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