F2: Fluid Friction in Pipes

1. Objective
To determine of pressure loss P or the head loss hL due to friction for fluid flow
along pipes experiemntally and compare it with the calculated head loss and with HYSIS
simulation.

2. Introduction
Experiments in pipe flow where the presence of frictional forces must be taken into
account are useful aids in studying the behavior of traveling fluids. Fluids are usually
transported through pipes from location to location by pumps. The frictional losses within
the pipes cause pressure drops. These pressure drops must be known to determine pump
requirements. Thus a study of pressure losses due to friction has a useful application.
A fluid dynamics problem commonly encountered by engineers is how to
accurately predict the various quantities associated with flow through piping systems.
Applications also include flow through various hydraulic and pneumatic systems, water,
oil, and natural gas pipeline flows, the flow of fluids through tubing networks, etc. The
quantities that may be desired in a specific problem include the pressure drop, flow rate,
required pipe diameter or length, head losses, required elevation change, or pump size. In
this experiment we will investigate head loss due to friction in constant-area sections of
pipe. This will be accomplished by flowing water through tubes of various diameter over
a range of water flow rates and recording the change in pressure.

3. Theory
The frictional resistance to which a fluid is subjected as it flows along a pipe creates
a continuous loss of energy or total head as the fluid moves downstream. Figure 1 below
illustrates this by the difference in manometer levels between stations 1 and 2. The height
hL represents the static pressure drop P  gh L occurring along this length.

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Fig. 1: Schematic illustrating static pressure loss due to friction along a pipe

If V is the mean velocity in the pipe (which remains constant for a pipe of fixed
cross section), and D is the pipe inner diameter, the friction factor f is defined by
P gDhL
f   (1)
L 2 LV 2
2 V 2
D

The Reynolds number is given by

VD 4 Q
Re   (2)
 D

Where Q denotes the volume flow rate, and  the fluid viscosity. This quantity
varies with temperature; see Table 1 listing values for water.
The Reynolds number determines whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. For
typical flows in smooth pipes, laminar flow conditions correspond to Re<2100, while
turbulent flow corresponds to Re>4000. The laminar/turbulent transition regime
corresponds to 2100<Re<4000. It is noted, however that that the transition values of Re
from one regime to the other depend on the smoothness of the pipe. Therefore, these values
may be different from those listed above. Equation (2) can be used to determine the range
of flow rates Q corresponding to specific flow characteristics in a tube of fixed diameter.
For example, laminar flow is attained when

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 4 Q 525D
Re   2100  Q  (3)
D 
On the other hand, turbulent flow is expected when

Re  4000  Q  1000D /  (4)

For laminar flow in a pipe, theory shows that f=64/Re. For turbulent flow, f depends
both on Re and the ratio  / D where  denotes the surface roughness of the pipe wall. The
dependence of the friction factor f on both Re and  /D is defined by the Moody chart,
which is given below (Fig. 2) and is valid for steady, fully developed, incompressible pipe
flows.

On this diagram the laminar friction factor, f (laminar) = 16/Re, is seen to be

independent of roughness and is a decreasing straight line when plotted against Reynolds
number in log-log coordinates. Although roughness was not accounted for in solving the
partial differential equations leading to the expression, experiments confirm that f is a
function of only Re in laminar pipe flow.

As the Reynolds number is increased from laminar values, transition to turbulent

flow eventually occurs in the approximate range 2000 <~ Re <~ 4000 (‘critical region’ on
Moody diagram). Compared to the laminar value at the same Reynolds number, the
turbulent friction factor is dramatically increased due to the enhanced mixing and
momentum exchange that occurs in turbulent flow. In the turbulent flow regime for the
smaller relative roughness values, the friction factor initially tends to follow the ‘smooth’
pipe curve, along which the friction factor is a function only of Reynolds number.
However, as Re increases, the velocity profile becomes fuller and the thickness of the thin
viscous sub-layer near the pipe wall decreases. As the pipe wall roughness elements begin
to protrude through this layer, roughness becomes important, and the friction factor
becomes a function of both Re and e/D. This regime is termed the ‘transition region.’

For very large Reynolds numbers, the friction factor becomes independent of Re
and is therefore a function only of relative roughness e/D; denoted the ‘fully rough’ regime
on the Moody diagram. In this regime the viscous sub-layer at the wall is so thin

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that most of the roughness elements directly interact with the flow, so the head loss depends
only on the size of the roughness elements.

Fig. 2: Friction factor f as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness (ε /D)
for round pipes - the Moody Chart.

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4. Description of experimental set up

Figure 3: Front View of the Test Unit: (Fluid Friction Apparatus)

The HM 150.11 arrangement is supplied with water via the HM 150 Basic
Hydraulics Bench, operation is performed in a closed water circuit. Alternatively, the
arrangement can also be operated from a normal mains supply. The HM150.11 Fluid
Friction apparatus comprises a pipe section with part sections that can be individually
isolated; the pipe section is mounted on a metal sheet. The sheet is fitted to a strong steel
support. In addition, there are 2 liquid-level manometers for pressure measurements, as
well as a measuring section in which the different measuring objects can be inserted.

Useful Data of set up

 Smooth pipe: Internal diameter of pipe work at the first measuring section d =
0.0145 m
Measuring length = 1 m
 Rough Pipe: Internal diameter of the pipe work at the second measuring section=
d = 0.0145 m
Measurement length= 1000 mm
Roughness of pipe= 0.001 mm

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5. Experimental procedure
Refer to figure (3).
 Connect pressure gauge to desired measuring points
(pipe 1, L=1 m, D=0.0145).
 Switch on the pump. Close the valve completely and check whether both level of
manometer are same.
 Start with lowest flow rate possible. Take the manometer reading and measure
flow rate by taking volume and time reading.[Hint: make sure you take the time
approximately close to 1 minute to minimize the time error].
 Repeat the same step for rough pipe Pipe#2 [L=1 m and D=0.0145 m, e=0.001].

6. Report Requirements

 Calculate velocity of flow in a pipe using flow rate data measured by rotameter.
Calculate Reynolds number and hence flow regime (Laminar, transition or
turbulent).
 Using h1 and h2 data, calculate pressure loss for each flow rate and plot pressure
loss vs. flow rate for both pipes (rough and smooth) on the same graph. Fit a
suitable trend line to eshtablish relation beween prressure loss and flow rate.
Comment on the trend of the graph with reason and reference.
 What is the different between Darcys friction factor and fanny friction factor. Do
extensive literature search to find for correlations available for f vs Re. List
different correlations for Darcys friction and fanny frictions. Why its is tricky to
use right correlation for the calculation of friction factor. [Note: This can be part
of theory in report)
 Use suitable correlations to find friction factor using Re for smooth pipe.
 Calculate pressure drop (theoretical) for smooth pipe by using definition of friction
factor and convert it into head of water. Compare this value with the one you
measured in your experiment.
 Simulate pipe flow for smooth pipe usisng HYSIS and calculate pressure drop at
all experimental flow rate.

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  Plot pressure drop for smooth pipe (Experimental, theoretical and HYSIS) Vs flow
rate and comment on the deviation between them. Report AAD for (absolute
average deviation) experimental and theoretical.
 Calculate friction factor (Experimental) and plot f Vs. Re for smooth pipe. Did
you get the expected curve? Compare the trend with the one you found in the
literature. Fit the model f  k1 Re  K 2 using Non-linear least square regression in
MATLAB or EXCEL. Find values of k1 and k2. Did you find similar relation in
the literature? If yes, how close your values are ?
 Simulation part: Investigation of pressure loss dependence on diameter of of
pipe at fixed flow rate. Use your same hysis simulation file and change the
diameter of pipe for fixed flow rate. Run the simulation at fixed flow rate but at
different diameter D=7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm. calculate pressure drop for all case. Plot
pressure drop vs. diameter for all these case. Eshtablish relation betwwen pressure
drop and diameter.
7. References
 J.O Wilkes, Fluid Mechanics for Chemical Engineers, Prentice Hall, Boston,
2005.
 GUNT Instruction Manual, HM150.11 Fluid Friction Apparatus.

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Experimental Data Log Sheet for Experiment (F2)

Date: ………

Group Number: ………

Team Members Name: Student I.D. #:

…………………………… ………………….

…………………………… ………………….

…………………………… ………………….

=============================================================
Pipe# 1 (d = 0.0145 m):L=1 m

S.No Volume Time h1 h2

liter sec cm of H2O cm of H2O

Instructor signature: Date:

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