ME 130-2 (1Q SY 2021-2022)

Assignment 6 (M3W9)
Mangubat, Matthew C.
2015108822

1. Consider the flow of air and water in pipes of the same diameter, at the same
temperature, and at the same mean velocity. Which flow is more likely to be
turbulent? Why?

- Since the flow of air and water in pipes of the same diameter, same temperature, and
same mean velocity, we can compare between the turbulence of each, during the flow
using Reynolds number. Having to define the Reynolds number via ratio of inertial forces
to viscous forces in the fluid. We can say that Reynolds number is inversely proportional
to kinematic viscosity of the flowing fluid. Thus, for pipes of the same diameter,
temperature, and same mean velocity, the Reynolds number will be higher for water flow,
and the flow is more likely to be turbulent for water flow than of air. Reynolds number is
the ratio of inertial force to viscous force in the fluid. We can write, the Reynolds
number, here, is the average flow velocity, D is the characteristic length of the
geometry, is the dynamic viscosity, is the density of the flowing fluid, and is the
kinematic viscosity. Thus, Reynolds number is inversely proportional to the kinematic
viscosity, for a fluid with constant velocity and constant diameter.

Reference: [1]a. Consider the flow of air and water in pipes of the same diameter,
"Consider the flow of air and water in pipes of the same diameter, at the same
temperature, and at the same mean velocity. Which flow is more likely to be turbulent?
Why? – the free answer", Thefreeanswer.com, 2021. [Online]. Available:
https://thefreeanswer.com/question/consider-flow-air-water-pipes-diameter-temperature-
mean-velocity-flow-likely-turbulent/. [Accessed: 18- Oct- 2021].

2. What is hydraulic diameter? How is it defined? What is it equal to for a circular

pipe of diameter D?
- Hydraulic diameter uses the Darcy-Weisbach equation to calculate pressure loss in ducts
or pipe. On the other hand, hydraulic diameter is not the same as the geometrical
equivalent diameter of non-circular ducts or pipes. It is also the ratio of cross sectional
area of the pipe to its wetted perimeter of the pipe. Reynolds number is also a function of
this parameter. It equated to 4Ac / P. Which Ac is the pipe cross sectional area, and P is
 wetted perimeter of it. Equating it to a circular pipe of diameter, the hydraulic diameter
will be: D_h=(4(π/4 D^2))/πD=D. Wetter perimeter is computed by πD. Hydraulic
diameter is defined as the ratio of the pipe's cross-sectional area to the wetted perimeter
of the pipe. This parameter is used to determine the Reyno ds number, which determines
the type of f ow such as turbulent, laminar, and transitions. To find Reyno ds number,
friction factor, etc., we use a parameter ca ed the hydraulic diameter, which is given by
the hydraulic diameter Dh AP, where A is the cross-sectiona area, and P is the wet
perimeter.The equivlent diameter is used in duct sizing as long as the ow rate, Q, is
known in a practical application.

Reference: Hydraulic Diameter (engineeringtoolbox.com)

Circular Pipe - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

3. Why are liquids usually transported in circular pipes?

- Liquids are usually transported in circular pipes because pipes with a circular cross-
section that can withstand large pressure differences between the inside and outside
without undergoing any distortion. Non-circular pipes on the other hand, are usually used
in applications such as heating and cooling systems of buildings where the pressure
difference is relatively small. Therefore, concluding that circular pipes can withstand
large pressure difference between inside and outside much better than duct with
rectangular cross section, since liquids is usually much dense than gasses. Hydraulic
diameter is defined as the ratio of the pipe's cross-sectional area to the wetted perimeter
of the pipe. This parameter is used to determine the Reynolds number, which determines
the type of f ow such as turbulent, laminar, and transitions. To find Reynolds number,
friction factor, etc., we use a parameter ca ed the hydraulic diameter, which is given by
the hydraulic diameter Dh AP, where A is the cross-sectional area, and P is the wet
perimeter. The equivalent diameter is used in duct sizing as long as the ow rate, Q, is
known in a practical application.

Reference: WEEK 11 OF AQS110 FLUID MECHANICS.pdf (ankara.edu.tr)

4. What is the physical significance of the Reynolds number? How is it defined for (a) flow
in a circular pipe of inner diameter D and (b) flow in a rectangular duct of cross section a
x b?

- Reynolds number is a quantity which we use to estimate if a fluid flow is laminar or

turbulent. It is said to be important because increased mixing and shearing occur in
turbulent flow. Depending on the results, this increases viscos losses which affects the
efficiency of hydraulic machines and pipes. Reynolds number of flow in a circular pipe is
 denoted by R_e=ρDV/μ where Dh is the inside diameter and for a flow in a rectangular
duct of cross section is denoted by R_e=ρDV/μ where Dh is (2(ab))/(a+b).

Reference:
What is the physical significance of the Reynolds number how is it defined for external
flow? – Mvorganizing.org

5. Show that the Reynolds number for flow in a circular pipe of diameter D can be
expressed as:

𝜌𝐷ℎ 𝑉
- 𝑅𝑒 = , for Reynolds number formula, since mass flow rate is denoted by 𝑚 = 𝜌𝐴𝑉.
𝜇
We can substitute mass flow rate and Area formula to the Reynolds number equation.
𝑚 𝑚
𝜌𝐷( 𝜋 2 ) 𝜋
𝜌( 𝐷 ) 𝐷 4𝑚
4 4
𝑅𝑒 = , Simplifying, 𝑅𝑒 = to 𝑅𝑒 = 𝜋𝐷𝜇. This shows that Reynolds number
𝜇 𝜇
4𝑚
can be expressed as 𝑅𝑒 = 𝜋𝐷𝜇 in connection with the mass flow rate and area of the pipe.

Reference:
Reynolds' Number - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
6. Explain why the friction factor is independent of the Reynolds number at very large
Reynolds numbers.

- Friction factor for turbulent flow is to use the Moody diagram which is a log-log plot of
of Colebrook correlation. To answer the question, at very large Reynolds number, the
frictional factor is independent of the Reynolds number is because the thickness of
laminar sublayer (viscous sublayer) decreases with a proportional increase in Reynolds
number. For very large Reynolds numbers, the thickness of laminar sublayer is
comparable to the surface roughness, and it directly influences the flow. The laminar
sublayer becomes thin that the surface roughness protrudes into the flow. The frictional
losses in this case are produced in the main flow by the given roughness elements, and
the contribution of the laminar sublayer is said to be negligible. Friction factor for
turbulent flow is to use the Moody diagram which is a log-log plot of of Colebrook
correlation. To answer the question, at very large Reynolds number, the frictional factor
is independent of the Reynolds number is because the thickness of laminar sublayer
(viscous sublayer) decreases with a proportional increase in Reynolds number. For very
large Reynolds numbers, the thickness of laminar sublayer is comparable to the surface
roughness, and it directly influences the flow. The laminar sublayer becomes thin that the
surface roughness protrudes into the flow. The frictional losses in this case are produced
in the main flow by the given roughness elements, and the contribution of the laminar
sublayer is said to be negligible.
- Reference:
Friction Factor - Turbulent Flow - Colebrook-White Equation (nuclear-
power.com)

7. Consider fully developed flow in a circular pipe with negligible entrance effects. If
the length of the pipe is doubled, the head loss will (a) double, (b) more than double,
(c) less than double, (d) reduce by half, or (e) remain constant Consider fully
developed flow in a circular pipe with negligible entrance effects. If the length of the
pipe is doubled, the head loss will (a) double, (b) more than double, (c) less than
double, (d) reduce by half, or (e) remain constant

- In considering a fully developed ow in a circular pipe with negligible entrance effects,

when computing for the head loss of this, the equation to be used would be
hL=fLDv22g2, where hL would be the head loss, f as the Darcy friction factor, L as the
length of the pipe, D as the diameter of the pipe, v as the average velocity, and g is the
gravitational acceleration. in this situation, the length of the pipe is doubled, which would
make it from L to 2L; the new equation to be used for this would be instead
hL=fLDv22g2which would result in the head loss to be also doubled when the length of
the pipe is also double.

Reference: [2]"Quiz Help: Fluid Flow | EZ-pdh.com", EZ-pdh.com, 2021. [Online].

Available: https://ez-pdh.com/quiz-help-fluid-flow/. [Accessed: 18- Oct- 2021].

8. Consider fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe. If the diameter of the pipe is
reduced by half while the flow rate and the pipe length are held constant, the head loss
will (a) double, (b) triple, (c) quadruple, (d) increase by a factor of 8, or (e) increase by a
factor of 16.

- When considering a fully developed laminar flow in a circular pipe and calculating its
head loss, we use the equation e hL=fLDv22g2 where hL is the head loss, f is its Darcy
friction factor, L for its length of the pipe, D as its diameter of the pipe, v is the average
velocity, and lastly, g is for the gravitational acceleration. The Reynold number is given
by RE=VDv, where v is its kinematic velocity, and the friction factor is f=ԒԑRE. Then
when the diameter is reduced by half, the head loss would increase a factor of ԏԒ
 Reference: [3]o. https://thefreeanswer.com/question/consider-fully-developed-laminar-flow-
circular-pipe-diameter-pipe-reduced-half-flow-rate-pipe-length-held-constant-head-loss-will-
double-b-t/. [Accessed: 18- Oct- 2021].

9. During a retrofitting project of a fluid flow system to reduce the pumping power, it
is proposed to install vanes into the miter elbows or to replace the sharp turns in 90°
miter elbows by smooth curved bends. Which approach will result in a greater
reduction in
pumping power requirements?

- Reducing the pumping power is required during a retrofitting project of a fluid system.
To get this first, the loss coefficient of the miter elbows would be KL = 0.2, while the
loss coefficient of the smooth curved is KL = 0.ԓ. The loss coefficient of the miter elbows
with vanes installed is lower compared to the losses of the miter elbows smooth curved
bend the miter elbow allows reducing the pumping power requirement of the fluid ow
system in a retrofitting project that would make the best approach for a more significant
reduction in pumping power requirement.

Reference:
http://task50.iea-shc.org/data/sites/1/publications/Technical_Report_T50_D5_final.pdf

10. A piping system involves two pipes of different diameters (but of identical length,
material, and roughness) connected in parallel. How would you compare the (a) flow
rates and (b) pressure drops in these two pipes?

- For a piping system that has two identical pipes in terms of length, material, and roughness, but
different in diameter that is connected in parallel, it would be compared by using the equation
which is the equation of calculating the head loss of a pipe, where h is the head loss or the
pressure drop, L as the length of the pipe, Q as the ow rate, D as the diameter of the pipe. The
equation shows that the smaller the diameter, the more pressure drop it has as to compare to a
pipe with a larger diameter.

Reference: https://thefreeanswer.com/question/piping-system-involves-two-pipes-different-
diameters-identical-length-material-roughness-connected-series-compare-flow-rates-b-pressure-
drops/