Study Unit Code: MEC 2340

Study Unit Name: Fluid Mechanics I

Academic Year and Semester: 2023/24 – Semester 1
Method of Assessment: Lab Report
Coursework Name: Airflow in Pipes
Lab sheet Number: MEC-2340-3-TS/4
Mark Weighting %
Date of coursework handed out:
Deadline(s) of coursework (Might
have different deadlines for sub-
components):
Intended Mode(s) of Feedback: Oral ☐
On returned Scripts ☐
Through VLE ☐
Through email ☐
If Other describe:

1. OBJECTIVE

To plot a velocity profile in a pipe section.

2. APPARATUS

Flow in pipes equipment

Centrifugal Blower
Included tube manometer

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LAB SHEET LAB SHEET TITLE

MEC-2340-3-TS/4 AIRFLOW IN PIPES

3. HEALTH AND SAFETY

• The University health and safety policy should be followed. Furthermore, students are
expected to adhere to all health and safety guidelines of the Department of Mechanical
Engineering.
• Students should wear the following Personal Safety Equipment when undertaking this
experiment:
• Lab coat
• Safety shoes
• Safety glasses
• Before starting check that the blower intake is clear from any objects.
• Make sure that the manometer is stable to avoid any spillages.

4. PROCEDURE

With the blower running and the exit valve fully open, traverse a probe across the full
diameter of the pipe, thus measuring the dynamic pressure (𝑝𝑜 − 𝑝) at various pipe radii 𝑟
by means of a pitot static tube connected to a manometer. Before starting the experiment
check the equipment as follows:

• Ensure that the exit valve is open fully;

• Make sure that the pressure tappings between the pipe and manometer are connected
correctly;
• Ensure that the rubber tubes are not twisted;
• Level the manometer by means of the spirit levels;
• Zero the liquid level in the manometer tube.

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5. ANALYSIS

In pressure measurements using a pitot static tube the:

𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 + 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 (1)
which can be written as follows:
1
𝑝𝑜 = 𝑝𝑠 + 𝜌 𝑣2 (2)
2 𝑎𝑖𝑟
where:
𝑝𝑜 is the stagnation pressure [𝑃𝑎],
𝑝𝑠 is the local static pressure [𝑃𝑎],
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 is the air density [𝑘𝑔 𝑚−3], and
𝑣 is the horizontal velocity of the air flow [𝑚 𝑠 −1].

The density of air in the Fluids Laboratory may be found based on actual ambient
conditions in conjunction with the Energy Equation for gases:
𝑝𝑎
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 = (3)
𝑅 𝑇𝑎
where:
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 is the density of the fluid flowing in the pipe,
𝑝𝑎 is the atmospheric pressure,
𝑇𝑎 is the air temperature, and
𝑅 is the characteristic gas constant for air (287 𝐽/𝑘𝑔 𝐾).

The dynamic pressure (𝑝𝑜 − 𝑝), may be related to the manometer deflection where:
(𝑝𝑜 − 𝑝) = 𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞 𝑔 ℎ (4)
where:
𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞 is the density of the fluid in the manometer, in this case water [𝑘𝑔 𝑚−3],
𝑔 is the acceleration due to gravity [𝑚 𝑠 −2];
ℎ is the manometer deflection [𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟].

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Note that the manometer’s deflection must be multiplied by an appropriate scaling factor
depending on its inclination. Scaling factors may be sourced from the monometer’s
calibration information.

Now, from Eqn. [2] and [3]:

1
(𝑝𝑜 − 𝑝) = 𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞 𝑔 ℎ = 𝜌 𝑣2 (5)
2 𝑎𝑖𝑟
Thus, the flow’s velocity 𝑣 at any radius 𝑟 within the pipe section may be found by direct
measurement as:
2 𝑔 ℎ 𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞
𝑣=√ (6)
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟

From theory we also know that the Reynolds Number 𝑅𝑒 is a critical parameter required
to establish the state of the fluid’s flow.

𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑣̅ 𝑑
𝑅𝑒 = (7)
𝜇

where:
𝑣̅ is the mean velocity [𝑚 𝑠 −1],
𝑑 is the pipe diameter [𝑚], and
𝜇 is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid; in this case air [𝑃𝑎 𝑠].

At this stage we must assume that:

2 𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑣̅ = (8)
(𝑛 + 1)(𝑛 + 2)
where:
𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 is the maximum velocity experienced in the pipe section [𝑚 𝑠 −1];
1
𝑛 may be taken as 7.

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Using Eq. [7], determine the type of flow being experienced in the pipe section. The
magnitude of the 𝑅𝑒 will help determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. For
turbulent flows (i.e. 𝑅𝑒 > 2300), the following equation for a turbulent velocity profile at
different radii 𝑟 may be used:
𝑟 𝑛
𝑣(𝑟) = 𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − ) (9)
𝑅
where:
𝑣(𝑟) is the velocity of the flow at any pipe radius 𝑟,
𝑣𝑚𝑎𝑥 is the maximum velocity experienced in a pipe section [𝑚 𝑠 −1 ];
𝑟 is the radius [𝑚], and
𝑅 is the half the pipe diameter [𝑚].

On a single graph, plot value of 𝑣 versus 𝑟 (with 𝑟 ranging from −𝑅 to +𝑅) to show the
velocity profile across the full diameter of the pipe using both methods and comment on
your results.

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