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 At the end of the lecture, student will
be able to:
 Describe the appearance of types of
flow in pipelines system
 Describe Reynolds number and how it
can be used to predict whether flow is
laminar or turbulent.
 Computing the energy loss due to
friction for laminar & turbulent flow
 Measure the flowrate and velocity in
pipes: pitot and orifice
 As the water flows from a faucet at
a very low velocity, the flow appears
to be smooth and steady. The LAMINAR
stream has a fairly uniform diameter
and there is little or no evidence of
FLOW
mixing of the various parts of the
stream.

When the faucet is nearly

TURBULENT fully open, the water has a
FLOW rather high velocity. The
elements of fluid appear to
be mixing chaotically within
the stream.
 Figure below shows a transparent fluid such as
water flowing in a clear glass tube.
 When a stream of a dark fluid such as a dye is
injected into the flow, the stream remains
intact as long as the flow remains laminar.
 The dye stream will not mix with the bulk of
the fluid.
 When a dye stream is introduced into
turbulent flow, it immediately dissipates
throughout the primary fluid.
http://www.cora.nwra.com/~werne/eos/text/
turbulence.html
 LAMINAR FLOW TURBULENT FLOW
•Re < 2000 •Re > 4000
•'low' velocity •'high' velocity
•Dye does not mix with water •Dye mixes rapidly and
•Fluid particles move in straight completely
lines •Particle paths completely
•Simple mathematical analysis irregular
possible •Average motion is in the
•Rare in practice in water direction of the flow
systems. •Cannot be seen by the naked
eye
•Changes/fluctuations are very
difficult to detect. Must use
laser.
•Mathematical analysis very
difficult - so experimental
measures are used
•Most common type of flow.
 Osborne Reynolds was the first to
demonstrate that laminar or turbulent flow
can be predicted if the magnitude of a
dimensionless number, now called the
Reynolds (Re) number is known.
 The following equation shows the basic
definition of the Reynolds number, Re:

Re (5-1)

where fluid density ρ, fluid viscosity v, pipe

diameter D, and average velocity of flow v.
 If the Reynolds number for the flow is less than
2000, the flow will be laminar.
 If the Reynolds number is greater than 4000, the
flow can be assumed to be turbulent.
 In the range of Reynolds numbers between 2000
and 4000, it is impossible to predict which type
of flow exists; therefore this range is called the
critical region
 We will assume the following:
 Determine whether the flow
is laminar or turbulent if
glycerin at 25°C flows in a
pipe with a 150-mm inside
diameter. The average
velocity of flow is 3.6 m/s.
Given: ρ = 1258 kg/m3
µ = 9.60 × 10-1 Pa.s
Determine whether the flow is
laminar or turbulent if water
at 70°C flows in a 1-inch
copper tube with a flow rate
of 285 L/min.
Given: ν = 4.11 × 10-7 m2/s
Determine the range of average
velocity of flow for which the
flow would be in the critical
region if SAE 10 oil at 15°C is
flowing in a 2-in steel pipe. The
oil has a specific gravity of 0.89.
(µ = 1 x 10-1 Ns./m2)
 In the general energy equation

the term hL is defined as the energy loss

from the system.
 Darcy’s equation shows that

(5.2)
 Because laminar flow is so regular and orderly,
we can derive a relationship between the
energy loss and the measurable parameters of
the flow system.
 This relationship is known as the Hagen–
Poiseuille equation:

(5.3)

 TheHagen–Poiseuille equation is valid only for

laminar flow (NR < 2000).
 Ifthe two relationships for hL (Equation 5.2
and 5.3) are set equal to each other, we can
solve for the value of the friction factor:

 As ,

 Since ,
 In
summary, the energy loss due to friction in
laminar flow can be calculated either from the
Hagen–Poiseuille equation,

 or from Darcy’s equation,

where (5.4)
Determine the energy loss if glycerine at
25°C flows 30 m through a 150-mm-diameter
pipe with an average velocity of 4.0 m/s.
 Specific Specific Density, ρ Dynamic Kinematic
Gravity, sg weight, γ (kg/m3) viscosity, μ viscosity, ν
(kN/m3) (Pa.s) (m2/s)
Acetone 0.787 7.72 787 3.16 × 10-4 4.02 × 10-7
Alcohol, ethyl 0.787 7.72 787 1.00 × 10-3 1.27 × 10-6
Benzene 0.876 8.59 876 6.03 × 10-4 6.88 × 10-7
Castor oil 0.960 9.42 960 6.51 × 10-1 6.78 × 10-4
Ethylene glycol 1.100 10.79 1100 1.62 × 10-2 1.47 × 10-5
Gasoline 0.68 6.67 680 2.87 × 10-4 4.22 × 10-7
Glycerin 1.258 12.34 1258 9.60 × 10-1 7.63 × 10-4
Kerosene 0.823 8.07 823 1.64 × 10-3 1.99 × 10-6
Linseed oil 0.930 9.12 930 3.31 × 10-2 3.56 × 10-5
Mercury 13.54 132.8 13540 1.53 × 10-3 1.13 × 10-7
Propane 0.495 4.86 495 1.10 × 10-4 2.22 × 10-7
Seawater 1.030 10.10 1030 1.03 × 10-3 1.00 × 10-6
Turpentine 0.870 8.53 870 1.37 × 10-3 1.57 × 10-6
Fuel oil, medium 0.852 8.36 852 1.07 × 10-1 1.18 × 10-4
Crude oil is flowing vertically downward
through 60 m of 1-inch pipe at a velocity of
0.64 m/s. the oil has a specific gravity of 0.86
and is at 0ºC. Calculate the energy loss. The
dynamic viscosity (µ) of crude oil is given as
1.7 × 10-2 N.s/m2.
 For turbulent flow of fluids in circular pipes it is most
convenient to use Darcy’s equation to calculate the
energy loss due to friction.
 Turbulent flow is rather chaotic and is constantly
varying.
 For these reasons we must rely on experimental data
to determine the value of f.
 One of the most widely used methods for evaluating the
friction factor employs the Moody diagram shown in Fig.
5.1.
 For commercially available pipe and tubing, the design
value of the average wall roughness has been
determined as shown in Table 5.1.
Table 5.1
Moody Diagram

Figure 5.1
 The Moody diagram is used to help
determine the value of the friction factor f
for turbulent flow.
 The value of the Reynolds number and the
relative roughness must be known.
 Therefore, the basic data required are the
pipe inside diameter, the pipe material, the
flow velocity, and the kind of fluid and its
temperature, from which the viscosity can
be found.
Determine the friction factor f if water at
70°C is flowing at 9.14 m/s in an uncoated
ductile iron pipe having an inside diameter
of 25 mm.

Determine the friction factor f if ethyl

alcohol at 25°C is flowing at 5.3 m/s in an
standard 1 ½ inch Schedule 80 steel pipe.
In a chemical processing plant in Figure 1, benzene at
50ºC (sg=0.86) must be delivered to point B with a
pressure of 550 kPa. A pump is located at Point A 21 m
below point B, and the two points are connected by
240 m of plastic pipe having an inside diameter of 50
mm. If the volume flow rate is 110 L/min, calculate the
energy loss due to friction between A and B.
Given μ = 4.2 × 10-4 Pa.s.

Figure 1
1. Pitot tube
2. Orifice
 When a moving fluid is caused to stop because it
encounters a stationary object, a pressure is created
that is greater than the pressure of the fluid stream.
 The magnitude of this increased pressure is related to
the velocity of the moving fluid.
 The pitot tube uses this principle to indicate velocity, as
illustrated in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1
 Close-up of a Pitot-static probe

 We can use the energy equation to relate the

pressure at the stagnation point to the fluid velocity.

(1.1)

 Observe that vs = 0, z1 = z2 or very nearly so, and

hL = 0 or very nearly so. Then we have

(1.2)
 The names given to the terms in Eq. (1.2) are
as follows:

 The total pressure head is equal to the sum of

the static pressure head and the velocity
pressure head. Solving Eq. (1.2) for the
velocity gives

(1.3)
 If a differential manometer is used as shown in
Fig. 1.2, the manometer deflection h can be
related directly to the velocity.

Figure 1.2
 We can write the equation describing the
difference between ps and p1 by starting at
the static pressure holes in the side of the
tube, proceeding through the manometer,
and ending at the open tip of the tube at
point s:

 The terms involving the unknown distances x

and y drop out. Then, solving for the
pressure difference,
(1.4)

 Substitute into eqn (1.3), we get:

(1.5)
For the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.2, the fluid in
the pipe is water at 60°C and the manometer fluid
is mercury with a specific gravity of 13.54. If the
manometer deflection h is 264 mm, calculate the
velocity of the water.

Figure 1.2
 A flat plate with an accurately machined, sharp-
edged hole is referred to as an orifice.
 Fig 2.1 shows the square-edged orifice with pressure
taps at D and D/2.

Figure 2.1
 The value of C is affected by small variations in
the geometry of the edge of the orifice.
 Typical curves for sharp-edged orifices are shown
in Figure 2.2, where D is the pipe diameter and d
is the orifice diameter.
Figure 2.2
 Below is the procedure for computing the flow rate
of a liquid through an orifice meter:
1. Assume a value for the discharge coefficient C for the meter.
(Figure 2.2)
2. Compute the velocity of flow using Eq. (2.1):

(2.1)

3. Compute the Reynolds number for the flow in the pipe.

4. Obtain a revised value for the discharge coefficient C at the new
Reynolds number.
5. If the value for C assumed in Step 4 is significantly different from
that in Step 1, repeat Steps 2-4 with the new value for C until
there is agreement.
6. Compute the volume flow rate using Eq. (2.2) or Q = A1v1.

(2.2)
The flow of kerosene is being measured with
an orifice meter similar to that shown in Figure
2.1. The pipe is a 2-inch pipe and the orifice
diameter is 2.54 cm. The kerosene is at 25ºC.
For a pressure difference of 3.65 kPa across
the orifice, calculate the volume flow rate of
kerosene.
 There are 2 types of flow in pipeline system,
i.e: laminar & turbulent.
 Types of flow:

 Reynold’s number (Re) is given by:

Re

 Forboth laminar & turbulent flow, head loss

(HL) can be find using Darcy equation:

 Friction factor (f) for laminar flow:

 Friction factor (f) for turbulent flow: Moody
Diagram
Task (100 marks)
CO3/PO2: Application of Fluid Mechanics Theories
CO4/PO2: Application of Pipeline System

Select a piping system. You may also choose a fluid

mechanics system or a flow measurement devices related to
pipeline. Give a details explanation on the followings;
The application of fluid mechanics theories involved in the
system.
How to reduce the energy losses occur in the system due to
friction?

You must illustrate your explanation in a video. (Hints:

Laboratory experiment, site observation, prototype etc.)