Experiment 02

Objective

To investigate the loss of head in pipe using bends and fittings friction apparatus

Experimental Setup

The equipment measures the pressure drops at various flow rates when water flow through
different pipe bends, and fittings. It is used with Hydraulic Bench. All bends and fittings are
connected in series with pressure tapping on both sides of each device. A water manometer with
a vent valve and a hand air pump is connected to these tapings. A valve at the outlet is used to
control outlet pressure.

Fig. 1 Bends and Fittings Apparatus

Theory:

What are Pipes?

A pipe is a tubular section or hollow cylinder, usually but not necessarily of circular cross-
section, used mainly to convey substances which can flow — liquids and gases (fluids), slurries,
powders and masses of small solids. It can also be used for structural applications; hollow pipe
is far stiffer per unit weight than solid members.

APPLICATIONS:
Pipes find extensive applications in various engineering fields:

1. Transportation of Fluids: Pipes are commonly used to transport liquids and gases in
industries such as oil and gas, water supply, and chemical processing.

2. HVAC Systems: Pipes are integral components in heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning systems for the distribution of hot or cold fluids.

3. Construction: Pipes are used in construction for plumbing systems, carrying water
and sewage within buildings.

4. Oil and Gas Industry: Pipelines are crucial for transporting oil and natural gas over
long distances from extraction points to processing facilities and consumers.

5. Power Plants: Pipes are used to carry steam, water, or other fluids in power
generation plants.

6. Chemical Processing: In chemical plants, pipes are employed for the transport of
various chemicals during the manufacturing process.

7. Fire Protection Systems: Pipes are part of fire sprinkler systems, providing a network
for distributing water in case of a fire.

8. Irrigation: Agricultural applications involve using pipes to distribute water for crop
irrigation.

9. Waste Management: Pipes play a role in sewer systems, facilitating the proper
 disposal and treatment of wastewater

10. Mining Industry: Pipes are used in mining operations for the transportation of
slurry, water, or other materials.

HEAD LOSS:
Head loss is potential energy that is converted to kinetic energy. Head losses are due to the
frictional resistance of the piping system (pipe, valves, fittings, entrance, and exit losses).
Unlike velocity head, friction head cannot be ignored in system calculations. Values vary as
the square of the flow rate. Head losses can be a significant portion of the total head. The
importance of head losses depends upon the magnitude of the total head. For example, an
error of 6 ft (1.8 m) in estimating 2600 ft (780 m) of head is insignificant while an error of 6
ft (2 m) in estimating 30 ft (9 m) of head for a crude oil transfer pump could be significant.

MAJOR HEAD LOSS:

What is major head loss?

In fluid flow, major head loss or friction loss is the loss of pressure or “head” in pipe flow due
to the effect of the fluid’s viscosity near the surface of the pipe or duct
Key Facts
Head loss of the hydraulic system is divided into two main categories:
Major Head Loss – due to friction in straight pipe
Minor Head Loss – due to components as valves, bends
 Major head losses are a function of:
 flow regime (i.e., Reynolds number)
 flow velocity
 pipe diameter and its length
 friction factor (flow regime (i.e., Reynolds number), relative roughness)
MINORHEADLOSS:
In fluid flow, minor head loss or local loss is the loss of pressure or “head” in pipe flow due
to the components as bends, fittings, valves, or heated channels.
Key Facts
 Head loss of the hydraulic system is divided into two main categories:
Major Head Loss – due to friction in straight pipes
Minor Head Loss – due to components as valves, bends…
Minor head losses are a function of:
 flow regime (i.e., Reynolds number)
 flow velocity
 The geometry of a given component
Sometimes, engineers use the pressure loss coefficient, PLC. It is noted K or ξ (pronounced
“xi”). This coefficient characterizes pressure loss of a certain hydraulic system or a part of a
hydraulic system.
A special form of Darcy’s equation can be used to calculate minor losses.
The minor losses are roughly proportional to the square of the flow rate, and therefore they can
be easily integrated into the Darcy-Weisbach equation through resistance coefficient K.
As a local pressure loss, fluid acceleration in a heated channel can also be considered.
There are following methods:

Equivalent length method

1. K-method (resistance coeff. method)
2. 2K-method
3. 3K-method

How to calculate the pressure loss of a hydraulic system?

Sometimes, engineers use the pressure loss coefficient, PLC. It is noted K. This coefficient
characterizes pressure loss of a certain hydraulic system or a part of a hydraulic system. It can
be easily measured in hydraulic loops. The pressure loss coefficient can be defined or measured
for both straight pipes and especially for local (minor) losses.

How to calculate minor losses using the equivalent length method?

The resistance coefficient method (or K-method, or Excess head method) allows the user to
describe the pressure loss through an elbow or a fitting by a dimensionless number – K. This
dimensionless number (K) can be incorporated into the Darcy-Weisbach equation in a very
similar way to the equivalent length method. Instead of equivalent length data, in this case, the
dimensionless number (K) is used to characterize the fitting without linking it to the properties
of the pipe.

How to calculate the local pressure drop for two-phase fluid flow?

Single-phase minor losses are commonly measured experimentally. The data, especially for
valves, are somewhat dependent upon the particular manufacturer’s design. The two-phase
pressure loss due to local flow obstructions is treated like the single-phase frictional losses – via
local loss multiplier.

Minor Head Loss – Local Losses

Any piping system contains different technological elements in the industry, such as bends,
fittings, valves, or heated channels. These additional components add to the overall head loss of
the system. Such losses are generally termed minor losses, although they often account for a
major portion of the head loss. For relatively short pipe systems, with a relatively large
number of bends and fittings, minor losses can easily exceed major losses (especially with a
partially closed valve that can cause a greater pressure loss than a long pipe when a valve is
closed or nearly closed, the minor loss is infinite). The minor losses are commonly measured
experimentally. The data, especially for valves, are somewhat dependent upon the particular
manufacturer’s design.

LIST OF JOINTS IN PIPES:

Different types of pipe joints used in plumbing system are as follows.

 Threaded joint.
 Brazed joint.
 Soldered joint.
 Welded joint (butt welded, socket welded)
 Flanged joint.
  Compression joint.
 Grooved joint.

LIST OF FITTING:
 Bushings. Pipe bushings are used to join pipes of different sizes - usually by
reducing a larger pipe fitting down to a smaller pipe. ...
 Pipe Elbows
 Pipe Caps.
 Crosses.
 Pipe Flanges.
 Reducing Couplings/Bell Reducers. ...
 Pipe Nipples.
 Tees.

Experimental Procedure

1. Put the test set on the hydraulic bench, adjust leveling screws and connect water supply to
the bench outlet
2. Make sure system should be free of all air bubbles
3. Open the test set flow control valve, Open the bench valve and gate valve. Close the air
connector valve
4. Start the equipment. Connect the hose to air connector valve and open the air valve
5. Close the flow control valve and air connector. Switch of the system
6. Remove the hose, slowly open the air valve until height of manometer is achieved about
100-200mm. Close the air valve
7. Check that manometer height should be same before starting the experiment
8. Slowly open the flow control valve, take reading of manometer height
9. For flow rate use stop watch when it reaches a known volume, stop the stopwatch get the
reading
 10. Drain the water and repeat experiment by increasing flow through flow control valve

Observations and Calculations

Test 01 Test 02 Test 03 Test 04 Test 05

Measuring
Hydraulic

Volume
Bench

Measuring Time
Flow Rate
h1
h2
Manometer Readings

h3
h4
h5
h6
h7
h8
h12
Head Loss across Fittings

h23
h34
h45
h56
h67
h78

Specimen Calculations
Conclusion
CLO-1
To measure & analyze different unknowns i.e. velocity, Head, using Flow meters.

Marks CLO-1 – Level P3 mapped to PLO2

0-3 Not able to perform experiment correctly by adjusting correct parameters

like flow rate, Pressure , Velocity to analyze key parameters in order to
Investigate head loss through different pipe fittings.

4-6 Able to perform experiment partially but major help is required in order to
adjust correct parameters like flow rate, Pressure Head and Velocity Head
to analyze key parameters in order to Investigate head loss through
different pipe fittings.

7-8 Able to perform experiment but minor help is required in order to adjust
correct parameters like flow rate, Pressure Head and Velocity Head to
analyze key parameters in order to Investigate head loss through different
pipe fittings.

9-10 Able to perform experiment correctly by adjusting parameters like flow

rate, Pressure Head and Velocity Head to analyze key parameters in order
to Investigate head loss through different pipe fittings.