Measurement of flow rate, velocity profile

and friction factor in Pipe Flow

S. Ghosh, M. Muste, F. Stern

Overview

Purpose
Experimental design
Experimental Process
 Test Set-up
 Data acquisition
 Data reduction
 Uncertainty analysis
 Data analysis
Purpose
Provide hands-on experience with pipe stand facility and
modern measurement systems including pressure transducers,
pitot probes and computer data acquisition and data reduction.

Comparison between automated and manual data acquisition

systems.

Measure flow rate, velocity profiles and friction factor in

smooth and rough pipes.

Determine experimental uncertainties.

Compare results with benchmark data

Experimental Design
The facility consists of:
Closed pipe network
Fan
Reservoir
Instrumentation:
3 Venturi meters

Contraction Diameters (mm): 12.7 25.4 52.9

3
Simple water Manometer
Flow Coefficient, K 0.915 0.937 0.93
Differential Water manometer 5
Pitot Probe
Digital Micrometer (Accurate radial positioning)
Pressure transducer
Computer based Automated Data Acquisition System (DA)
Experimental process
Test Data Data Uncertainty Data
Set-up Acquisition Reduction Analysis Analysis

Facility & Prepare Statistical Estimate bias Compare results

conditions experimental analysis limits with benchmark
procedures data, CFD, and
/or AFD
Airflow pipe Remove outliers
system Set blower
speed

Install Set valves in Data reduction Table 1 Use Fig 8 as

model proper equations reference value
positions for velocity
profile
N/A Evaluate Eq. 3 Estimate
precision limits Use Fig 9 as
Evaluate Eq. 4 reference value
for friction factor
Calibration Evaluate Eq. 5
Plot experimental
Evaluate Eq. 6 velocity profile
N/A and friction
Initialize data factor on
acquisition reference data
Prepare software Evaluate Eq. 9
measurement Report difference
systems Evaluate Eq. 13 between
Open Labview experimental and
program reference data

Venturimeter Enter hardware

settings Estimate total
Pressure uncertainty Evaluate fluid
transducer physics, EFD
process and UA
Valve Run tests &
manifold acquire data Evaluate Eq. 7

Pitot tube Evaluate Eq. 11 Answer

Measure room questions in
Micrometer and pipe section 4
temperature

Measure total Prepare report

discharge

Measure pressure
drop in pipe

Measure velocity
profile

Repeat discharge
measurement

Store data

Write results to
output file
Test set-up
Test Set-up: Venturi meter and Pitot-tube
housing

Venturimeter Pitot-tube housing

Test set-up: Instrumentation
The equipment used in the experiment includes:
Digital thermometer with a range of – 40 to 450 F and a smallest reading of
0.1 F for measurement of the environment temperature.
Digital micrometer with least significant digit 0.01 mm for positioning the
Pitot-tube inside the pipe.
Simple water manometer with a range of 2.5 ft and a least scale division of
0.001 ft for measurement of the head at each pressure tap along the pipes and
for measurement of velocities using the Pitot-tube arrangement .
Differential water manometer with a range 3 ft and a least scale division of
0.001ft for measurement of the head drop across the Venturi meters.
Pressure transducer calibrated with ft of water
Test set-up: Instrumentation
Reservoir:
To build up pressure and force the air to
flow downstream through any of the three
straight experiment pipes.
Pitot Probe:
Located in the glass-wall box
Used to measure the Stagnation pressure
and calculate the velocity profile in pipe
Pressure Taps:
Located along each pipe, they are
connected to the simple water manometer
to evaluate the head measurement
They are used to calculate the friction
factor
Digital Micrometer:
Allows the measurement of the position of
the Pitot probe at different locations along the
cross section of the pipe tested
Venturi meters:
Located on each pipe type
Used to measure flow rate Q along the
differential water manometer
Manometers:
To measure the head at each pressure Tap
along the pipe and to make the Pitot-tube
measurements (simple Manometer)
To measure head drops across the venturi
meters (differential Manometer)
Data acquisition
The procedures for data acquisition and reduction are described as follow:

1. Use the appropriate Venturi meter, (2” contraction diameter) to measure the total
discharge. Increase blower setting from 15% to 35% with 5% increments and
measure flow rate using both manometer and pressure transducer.

2. Take reading for ambient air (manometer water) and pipe air temperatures.

3. To obtain velocity data, use the Pitot-tube box to measure the ambient head and
stagnation heads across the pipe. Measure the stagnation heads at radial intervals.
The recommended radial spacing for one half of the diameter is 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 23,
and 24 mm.

4. Maintaining the discharge at 35%, measure the head along the pipe by means of the
ADAS the pressure heads at pressure taps 1, 2, 3, and 4

5. Repeat step 2
Automated Data Acquisition System
P itot-Tu be
H o us in g

Tes te d P ipe

S ta tic P re s s ure from P re ss u re Ta ps

To
To Atm osphere
Atm osphere

DA 2 DA 1
D ifferen tia l
M a no m ete r S ta tic
P res s u re

P re ss u re S ta gn a tio n
Tra n sd uc e r P re ss u re

Va lv e S im ple
M a nifo ld M a no m ete r

Ve nturi M eter
LE GE N D
R e tu rn P ip e Ty g on Tu b in g
C o nn ec tion s

(a) (b)

Layout of the data acquisition systems: a) photo; b)

schematic
Introduction to ADAS Software - Labview

Front panel on Data Acquisition program

Initial settings
Flow rate measurement
Friction factor measurement
Velocity profile measurement
Data reduction
For the flow rate and friction Data reduction equations are:
factor, the individual
measurements are performed  w  f (Two )
for:
 Ambient air temperature
 air  f (Tairo )  air  f (Tairo )
Pipe air temperature
w


 Pipe pressure head

Q  KAt 2 gZ DM
 Venturi meter pressure head drop  air
The experimental Results are:
 Manometer water density 4Q
Air density
Re 
D air


 Kinematic viscosity

g 2 D 5  w
 
 Flow rate
 Reynolds number f  Z SM i  Z SM j
 Friction factor 8 LQ  air
2
Data reduction equations: Flow rate
pa Va2 pb Vb2
   ( Bernoulli)
 g 2 g g 2 g

Va Aa  Vb Ab (Continuity )

Volumetric flow rate

Q  AbVb
Aa Ab w
Q  CD 2 gh(  1) ,
Aa2  Ab2 a
Aa Ab
K  CD ,
Aa2  Ab2

w
Equation (1), lab handout Q  KAt 2 gz DM 
a
Friction factor

P itot-Tu be
H o us in g

Tes te d P ipe

S ta tic P re s s ure from P re ss u re Ta ps

To
To Atm osphere
Atm osphere

DA 2 DA 1
D ifferen tia l
M a no m ete r S ta tic
P res s u re

P re ss u re S ta gn a tio n
Tra n sd uc e r P re ss u re

Va lv e S im ple
M a nifo ld M a no m ete r

Ve nturi M eter
LE GE N D
R e tu rn P ip e Ty g on Tu b in g
C o nn ec tion s
Friction factor (contd.)

g 2 D 5  w
f 
8 LQ 2  a

z SM i  z SM j 
Equation 2 is a form of Darcy Weisbach equation
in terms of flow rate Q and pressure drop where,
and A is the pipe cross sectional area.
Velocity profile

1
p0  p stat  V 2 , Bernoulli
2
V  2( p0  p stat ) / 

 
1/ 2
 2  g w 
u (r )    z SM Stagnation r   z SM Static 
 a 
Equation 3, Exercise notes

pstag  pstat   w g ( z SM stag  z SM stat );

p0  pstag
 Appendix C: Spreadsheet for data acquisition, data reduction and uncertainty analysis for
Measurement of Velocity profile and friction factor in pipe flows (smooth pipe)
Table of Contents
Color code:

Data reduction:
1. Experimental Summary Sections
2. Data reduction equations Comments
3. Data Acquisition and Reduction Enter student data
3.1 Input variables Constants
3.2 Measured variables Calculated or output values
4. Uncertainty Analysis
4.1 Bias Limits
4.2 Precision Limits

Spreadsheet
4.3 Total Uncertainty

1. Experiment summary
Statement of Purpose: To measure velocity profile and friction factor
in rough pipe and determine the uncertainties
and compare results with benchmark data.
Facility: Air-flow unit (WTA)
Test Design: Air flows through a pipe system
References: Lab2 Handout: http://css.engineering.uiowa-
.edu/~fluids/Lab/EFDLab2.PDF

2. Data Reduction Equations

g 2 D 5  w
  Eqn. (4)
1/ 2
 2  g w
u (r )     
 z SM Stagnation r   z SM Static  Eqn. (3) f 
8 LQ 2  a
z SM i  z SM j
 a 

3. Data acquisition and reduction for multiple test UA approach

3.1 Input variables

Table A1.

Table A2.

Quantity Symbol Value Units

Gravity g 9.8031 m/s^2
Number of test M 10 -----
Coverage factor for standard deviation K 2 -----

3.2 Measured variables

The following example illustrates the procedure for calculating Q using velocity
Target Conditions Date Time For calculating the flow rate Q (Cell no. G66) first obtain the velocity profile
Target Reynolds # Temperature(deg C) Fluid Property with respect to radial distance. Cells D84-D98 calculates the velocity profile.
Re= 100,000 Room Pipe The following example illustrates the procedure for calculating Q using velocity
Target Headdrop (ft water) Initial r w (kg/m3) = integration method. Note: The x axis on the following plot is cell A85 - A91. The
DZDM= 0.59 Final r a (kg/m3) = Y axis is cell D85 - D91. Once the velocity profile is plotted, fit a 2nd order polynomial
Average ###### #DIV/0! m a (kg/m.s) = curve to the points and display the equation on the chart, as shown below. The y in the
Actual Flow rate equation is velocity and the x is radial distance r. Finally the flow rate Q is given by the
Venturi Head Drop Dz DM (ft water) 3
Flow Rate Q (m /s) Reynolds Number (Re) following formula. Note that the variable x in the integral equation is actually radius.
Initial from integration of velocity Initial Also Rmax is the radius of the pipe.
Final profile Final
Rmas
Q  2 (2733 x 2  287.11x  41.434) xdx
Average #DIV/0! Average Avera #DIV/0!
ge 
FRICTION FACTOR Repeated Measurements 0
TAP # Smooth Pipe Location Smooth Pipe
z SM fij (ft) Measur.. z SM3 z SM4 f 34
(ft water) # (ft water) (ft water)
1 5 1 #DIV/0!
2 f 12 = #DIV/0! 10 2 #DIV/0!
3 f 23 = #DIV/0! 15 3 #DIV/0!
4 f 34 = #DIV/0! 20 4 #DIV/0!
5 #DIV/0!
Constant Symbol Value Units 6 #DIV/0!
Discharge Coeff. K 0.935 7 #DIV/0!
Cross-sectionArea At 0.002154 m2 8 #DIV/0!
Gravity g 9.8031 m/s2 9 #DIV/0!
Pipe Diameter D 0.05238 m 10 #DIV/0!
Pipe Length L 9.144 m Average f 34 #DIV/0!
St. Deviation Sf34 #DIV/0!
VELOCITY PROFILE Repeated Measurements (near wall)
r z SM stagnatio z SM static u Measur. # z SM stagnation z SM static u
(m) n (ft (ft (m/s) (ft water) (Ft water) (m/s)
0.026 0.000 1 #DIV/0!
0.024 #DIV/0! 2 #DIV/0!
0.023 #DIV/0! 3 #DIV/0!
0.020 #DIV/0! 4 #DIV/0!
0.015 #DIV/0! 5 #DIV/0!
0.010 #DIV/0! 6 #DIV/0!
0.005 #DIV/0! 7 #DIV/0!
0.000 #DIV/0! 8 #DIV/0! Note: The value in cell G 66 for the flow rate should be approximately
-0.005 #DIV/0! 9 #DIV/0! 0.07 m3/s. Check your flow rate calculation of your value deviates
-0.010 #DIV/0! 10 #DIV/0! too much from the recommended value.
-0.015 #DIV/0! Average #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
-0.020 #DIV/0! Std. Dev #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Conversion of pressure head from ft of water to pascals
-0.023 #DIV/0! Alternate measurements at various radial positions with repeated
-0.024 #DIV/0! measurements. Tap # ZSM(ft water) ZSM pas
-0.026 0.0000 1 0.0000 0
2 0.0000 0
3 0.0000 0
4 0.0000 0
Uncertainty analysis
Block diagram of the experimental Block diagram of the Velocity
determination of the Friction factor measurement

EXPERIM ENTAL ERRO R SO URCES

EXPERIM ENTAL ERRO R SO URCES

INDIVIDUAL STATIC
INDIVIDUAL
TEM PERATURE TEM PERATURE PIPE VENTURI TEM PERATURE STAG NATIO N
WATER AIR PRESSURE PRESSURE M EASUREM ENT TEM PERATURE
PRESSURE PRESSURE M EASUREM ENT
SYSTEM S WATER AIR SYSTEM S

Tw Ta z SM z DM M EASUREM ENT z z
O F INDIVIDUAL Tw T a SM stag SM stat M EASUREM ENT
B T , PT B T , PT Bz , Pz Bz , Pz
SM SM DM DM VARIABLES Bz , Pz Bz , Pz O F INDIVIDUAL
w w a a B T , PT B Ta , PT
w w a SM
stag
SM
stag
SM SM
stat stat
VARIABLES

 = F(T )
w
 = F(T )
w
a = F(Ta ) w w
DATA REDUCTIO N  = F(Ta ) ½ DATA REDUCTIO N
Q = F( z DM ) EQ UATIO NS a
2( z -z )  g EQ UATIO NS
g D
2 5 w SM stag SM stat w
f = F(  ,  , z , Q) = (z - z ) u = F(  ,  , z ,z ) =
w a SM 8LQ
2 a SM i SM j w a SM
stag
SM
stat a

u EXPERIM ENTAL
f EXPERIM ENTAL
B f , Pf B u, P u RESULT
RESULTS
Uncertainty Analysis
The data reduction equation for the friction factor is:

g 2 D 5  w
f 
8 LQ  a
2

z SM i  z SM j 
However here we will only consider bias limits for Z SM i and ZSM j . The total uncertainty
for the friction is: 2
U f  B f  Pf
2 2

The Bias Limit, Bf and the precision limit, Pf, for the result are given by:
j
B   i2 Bi2  Z2SMi BZ2SMi   Z2SMj BZ2SM j
2
f
i 1

tS f
Pf 
M
Uncertainty Analysis (continue)

Data Reduction equation for the velocity profile is as follow:

 
1/ 2
 2  g w 
u (r )    z SM Stag r   zSM Stat 
 a 
U B P
2
u
2
u u
2

j
Bu2   i2 Bi2  Z2SM BZ2SMstagn   Z2SM BZ2SM
stagn stat stat
i 1

tS u
Pu 
M
 Data Analysis: Results and discussions
Moody Chart for pipe friction with smooth and rough walls
L a m in a r Critica l T ra n sitio n
F lo w Zone Zone
0 .1 0
0 .0 9 0
0 .0 8 0 Co m p le te T u rb u le n ce , Hyd ra u lica lly Ro u g h
0 .0 7 0 0 .0 5
0 .0 4
0 .0 6 0
0 .0 3
0 .0 5 0 0 .0 2
(L/D )V /(2g)

0 .0 1 5
2

0 .0 4 0
hf

R elative R oughness, k /D
0 .0 1
0 .0 0 8
0 .0 0 6
0 .0 3 0
0 .0 0 4
Friction Factor f =

0 .0 2 5
0 .0 0 2 Low speed = 44 m/s
0 .0 2 0 0 .0 0 1
0 .0 0 0 8 Smooth Pipe (2”) low speed
0 .0 0 0 6
Hyd ra u lica lly S m o o th 0 .0 0 0 4
0 .0 1 5 Rough Pipe (2”) low speed
0 .0 0 0 2
0 .0 0 0 1
k /D = 0 .0 0 0 0 0 5 0 .0 0 0 0 5
07/10/03
0 .0 1 0
0 .0 0 9
k /D = 0 .0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .0 0 0 0 1
0 .0 0 8
3 4 5 6 7 8
10 10 10 10 10 10
VD
R eynolds N umber, R e =
n

Benchmark data for Friction Factor

Data Analysis: Results and discussions
(contd.)
r/R u/umax
0.0000 1.0000

0.1000 0.9950
1

0.2000 0.9850

0.3000 0.9750 0.8

0.4000 0.9600
Rough pipe - Low S peed

0.5000 0.9350 0.6 S moot h pipe - Low S peed

Rough P ipe - High S peed

0.6000 0.9000
S moot h P ipe - High speed
0.4
0.7000 0.8650 S chlic ht in g Dat a

0.8000 0.8150
0.2
Low speed = 44 m/s
0.9000 0.7400 High speed = 62 m/s
0.9625 0.6500 0
-1 -0 . 8 -0 . 6 -0 . 4 -0 . 2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
0.9820 0.5850
r/ R
1.0000 0.4300

Benchmark data for velocity profile (Schlichting, 1968)