Dye

Small tank

Valve

Glass tube

Constant
head tank

Filament of dye

Water

Regulating
valve
Reynold’s Apparatus
 Reynolds Experiment & Reynolds Number
Reynolds Experiment
• Reynolds Apparatus
• Experiment
• Observation
• Conclusion

Reynolds Number
•Definition
• Types of flow(On the basis of Nre)
• Critical velocity
• Significance of Reynolds Number.
 QUESTION FOR YOU ALL

Which of the following fluid has a higher viscosity?

a) Water
b) Mercury
c) Honey
d) Kerosene

What is the CGS unit of Viscosity?

e) Centipoise
f) Poise
g) Pas.
h) Ns/m^2.
Observations by Reynolds

• When the velocity was low, a fine filament of dye was carried by the flowing water in a
straight line. The dye filament was moved at the straight line path. This state is known as
the laminar flow.

• As the velocity increased, the dye filament becomes wavy and irregular and now it does
not maintain the straight line path. This state is known as the transitional state.

• If we further increase the velocity then the waviness and irregularity of the dye filament
increases and finally diffused into the water. this type of flow is known as the turbulent
flow.
Conclusion
• Why Reynolds Experiment?
• Reynolds Number.
• Types of flow on the basis of Reynolds Number.
• Critical Velocity.
• Critical Reynolds Number.
   
What is Reynolds Number?
Reynolds Number(NRe) = Inertia force/ Viscous force.

NRe = ⍴L2V2/μVL = ⍴LV/μ

For pipe flow, L is taken as the diameter of the pipe and Reynolds number for pipe flow
is; 
NRe = ⍴dV/μ.

S.No. Values of Reynolds’s Number Types of flow through pipes

01 < 2000 Laminar flow

02 2000 to 4000 Transitional flow
03 >4000 Turbulent flow
NOTE
• At low Reynolds number, viscous force is more and the flow is called the laminar
flow. 

• At high Reynolds number, the inertia force is more and the flow is turbulent.

• For laminar flow, the loss of pressure head in a pipe is less and proportional to
velocity.

• For a turbulent flow, the loss of pressure head in a pipe is large and proportional
to Vn
Significance of Reynolds Number
• It gives us the information about the types of flow through a pipe as laminar or
Turbulent.

• It helps to solve the problems in fluid mechanics such as head loss in the piping
system.

• If the value of the Reynolds number is less than 2000 then the flow will be laminar
flow.

• If the value of the Reynolds number lies between 2000 to 4000 then the flow will
be transitional flow.

• If the Reynolds number above the 4000 then the type of flow will be turbulent flow.
Critical Velocity
The velocity of fluid at which flow changes from laminar to turbulent flow.
Critical velocity

Lower Critical velocity Upper Critical velocity

Lower Critical velocity : The velocity at which flow enters from laminar to transition period is
called the lower critical velocity.

Upper Critical velocity : The velocity at which flow enters from transition period to turbulent is
called the upper critical velocity.
 Critical Reynolds Number

Lower Critical Reynolds Number Upper Critical Reynolds Number

Lower Critical Reynolds Number : It is that value of Reynolds number below which flow will
always be laminar flow for piping system.
• Lower Critical Reynolds Number is less than 2000

Upper Critical Reynolds Number : It is that value of Reynolds Number above which the flow
will always be turbulent for piping system.