AIR FLOW IN PIPES LABORATOY

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to
To find the velocity distribution equation and mean velocity of flow for turbulent
flow of air in a pipe.
To compare the mass flow rate of air obtained from the velocity from the velocity
distribution using analytic from a parabolic nozzle.
To determine the darcy friction factor for the pipe and compared it with that
obtained from the smooth pipe laws of blasius and of Stanton and panel.

The result of the experiment are tabulated in table 1 below
Data for calculating the table
The measure result from the experiment are
Dynamic pressure head =total pressure head(PH)-static pressure head
Pipe diameter at traverse plane = 78.78mm
Barometric pressure = 774.25mm of mercury
Ambient temperature = 23.3
Manometer offset (zero error) = 3.6cm



















Tapping point Distance from
flange (m)
Static pressure head
(cm H2O) (direct
manometer reading)
Corrected static
pressure head (cm H2O)
i.e. direct reading minus
zero error
1 (blanked off) 0.025 -
2.00 0.054 -21.90 -18.30
3.00 0.084 -22.10 -18.50
4.00 0.140 -18.80 -15.20
5.00 0.279 -11.90 -8.30
6.00 0.508 -11.40 -7.80
7.00 0.737 -11.40 -7.80
8.00 0.965 -12.00 -8.40
9.00 1.880 -13.20 -9.60
10.00 2.794 -14.10 -10.50
11.00 3.708 -14.90 -11.30
12.00 4.623 -15.60 -12.00
13.00 5.537 -16.40 -12.80
14.00 6.106 -17.10 -13.50

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1.00
-14.30 -10.70 20.20 -10.70 20.20 21.29 1.33 1.31 0.02 -1.60 2.80
2.00 -14.05 -10.45 21.70 -10.45 21.70 22.22 1.35 1.34 0.05 -1.29 3.05
3.00
-13.90 -10.30 22.70 -10.30 22.70 22.77 1.36 1.36 0.08 -1.12 3.20
4.00
-13.70 -10.10 23.40 -10.10 23.40 23.47 1.37 1.37 0.10 -0.99 3.40
5.00
-13.50 -9.90 23.90 -9.90 23.90 24.146 1.38 1.38 0.13 -0.90 3.60
6.00
-13.30 -9.70 24.50 -9.70 24.50 24.81 1.39 1.39 0.15 -0.82 3.80
8.00
-13.00 -9.40 25.30 -9.40 25.30 25.77 1.411 1.40 0.20 -0.69 4.10
10.00
-12.80 -9.20 26.00 -9.20 26.00 26.39 1.42 1.41 0.25 -0.60 4.30
12.50
-12.60 -9.00 26.70 -9.00 26.70 27.00 1.43 1.43 0.32 -0.50 4.50
15.00
-12.40 -8.80 27.40 -8.80 27.40 27.59 1.44 1.44 0.38 -0.42 4.70
17.50
-12.2 -8.60 27.90 -8.60 27.90 28.17 1.45 1.45 0.44 -0.35 4.90
20.00
-12.00 -8.40 28.40 -8.40 28.40 28.73 1.46 1.45 0.51 -0.29 5.10
25.00
-11.80 -8.20 29.20 -8.20 29.20 29.30 1.47 1.47 0.63 -0.20 5.30
30.00
-11.60 -80.00 29.80 -8.00 29.80 29.85 1.47 1.47 0.76 -0.12 5.50
35.00
-11.40 -7.80 30.30 -7.80 30.30 30.38 1.48 1.48 0.89 -0.05 5.70
39.39
-11.30 -7.70 30.50 -7.70 30.50 30.65 1.49 1.48 1 0.00 5.80
Table 1


Figure 1 Graph of v against y and graph of log v against log

y = 0.1079x + 1.486
R = 0.9889
1.25
1.3
1.35
1.4
1.45
1.5
-1.8 -1.6 -1.4 -1.2 -1 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0













Figure2 graph of static pressure head against distance















V=velocity at a distance y from the wall of the pipe
R= radius pipe = 39.4mm=0.00394m

maximum velocity
y = -0.0097x - 0.1116
R = 0.9839
-0.18
-0.16
-0.14
-0.12
-0.1
-0.08
-0.06
-0.04
-0.02
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Series1
Linear (Series1)
n=constant dependent on the Reynolds number flow



Y=0.107x+1.486

Intercept,

Natural log 0f

(2a) from equation 2a
To calculate volumetric flow rate, Q

()()

()(()))

(2b) Mean velocity,

()()

()(())

(2c) Mass flow rate at transverse,

13600

)=101973pa
But

()

From equation (4)

Where

( )

( )

( )

( )

= 0.131

equation (5)
Darcy friction from factor using

Where f=darcy friction factor
L = length of the pipe
diameter of pipe

mean velocity

From steam table, viscosity of air at temperature 294.3k=1.81

kg/ms
=

Blasius

Stanton and panel

From graph 0f log

against log v calculation

( )( )

( )(( ) ))

Mass flow rate at transverse,

=0.126 =0.152kg/s

()()

()(())

Mass flow rate at transverse,

=0.126 =0.152kg/s

( )

= 0.131

Darcy friction factor using equation 5

Reynolds number

Blasius

Stanton and panel

The result of the experiment is tabulated in table 1 above, the experimental result of the distance
from lower wall, total pressure head, velocity from the manometer taken increases respectively. And
the average of them taken also increases. The result from table the were used to plot a graph of
velocity (V) against the distance (y), log velocity (v) against log (Y/R) and static pressure head against
distance along the pipe. From the log (v) against log(Y/R) increase in Reynoids number decreases the
slope of the curve but to the law of logarithmic by prandtl and von karman suggested that by
theoretical studies and observation that velocity across a pipe tends to increase as the log
Of the distance from the wall from the graph. The law apply from a point that is closer that to the
wall to the one very close to the centre of the pipe.(. A.C Walshaw and D.A.Jobson, mechanics of
fluids third editon).y and the velocity depends on Reynolds number.

The value of n for the velocity distribution equation is not with the agreement with expected value
as the calculated value ranges from of n ranges from 9.35-8.70 .increase in increases the flow rate
as were in equation 4 when comparing the flow rate between the two graph in figure 1

From the graph of graph of v against y in figure 1 shows that the velocity is in agreement with the
reading because the mean velocity of from the graph of v against y that was calculated is almost the
same with the same with that calculated from the graph of log v against log

with just a difference

of with just a difference of 0.31mls. the difference in the velocity result from the experimental error
due to calculation or approximation.

The mass flow rate that were calculated using equation 2c and 4 are not in agreement because the
value of the mass flow rate obtained from 2c is slightly higher than the value obtained from equation
4. This is due to the fact that mass flow rate depends on the area, the higher the surface area higher
the flow rate; the smaller value in equation 4 is due to a smaller area. But from the two graph
plotted in figure 1 have a constant mass flow rate when equation 4 were used to calculate them
(that is there value are the same due to constant area, coefficient of discharge) and both the graph
increases when using equation 2c.

The experimental value darcy friction and calculated darcy friction value are approximately the
same in both Blasius, Stanton and panel with a value 0.004 .and so therefore the pipe is a smooth
pipe. The two curve in figure 1 are characteristic of laminar and turbulent flow, the marked scatter in
the result in region of Re=138088 being due to transition.

Apparatus used for the experiment
Fan motor
Manometer
Pitot tube
Diaphragm valve
Procedure
A fan motor is switch on to a maximum speed
The diaphragm vale is open to allow a maximum flow
Zero error are corrected from all the manometer readings as to check the datum level of the
manometers.
The reading of the static pressure head along the pipe wall (1-14), the exit static pressure head, the
temperature, barometric pressure were all taken and tabulated as it is showing in table 1.


Principle of of operation of micro-manometer
A device in which of a suitable liquid are used to measure the deference in pressure between a
certain point and the atmosphere, or between two point neither of which important at atmospheric
pressure is known as manometer
Micro-manometer ; this are used to measure a very small pressure difference. Variety of them has
been developed. Several devices are use to increase the accuracy of the reading. Example Scale on
the surface of a liquid may be optically magnified.when many micro-manometers is used the
pressure difference to be measure is balance by the slight raising or lowering one of the arm of the
manometer whereby a meniscus is brought back to its original position. (B.S.Massey, Mechanics of
fluids).



Error that can affect the result in this experiment
Error due to parallax when taking reading from the measuring instrument.
Calculation and approximation error that could affect the calculation.
Error due to losses in the pipe as fluid flow; these are
Expansion losses
This occour when a fluid flows past and obstacle with sharp edge, a surface of dis continuity
spring from the latter. This surface being unstable , rolls up so forming and eddy wake. If the
reynoilds is high the velocity distribution upstream will at least for steady flow be fairly
uniform, a vigorous turbulent mixing process will ocour in a downstream and will tend to
produce a uniform velocity distribution
Losses due to shock in which kinectic energy of their relative motion is destroyed.
Losees due to contraction and restriction.
(A.C Walshaw and D.A.Jobson, Mechanics of Fluids)

Conclusion
The aim of the experiment as to examine the physical behaviour of real fluid flow using the air
flow was achieved the darcy friction factor were calculated and compare with the value
obtained from smooth pipe laws ,and the result were equal.

Reference:
B.S.Massey(1989) Mechanics of Fluids Sixth Edition chapman and Hall
ISBN 0 412 342804
Robert W.Fox, Alan T.McDnald, Philip J. Pritchard(2004) Introduction to
Fluid mechanics Sixth Edition John Wiley & Sons, INC ISBN 0-471-37653-
1
A.C.Walshaw and D.A.Jobson(1979) Mechanics of Fluids Third Edition
A.C.walshaw, D.A.Jobson ISBN 0-582-44495-0
Robert L.Streeet, Gary Z.Watters,John k.Vernard(1996) Elementay Fluid
Mechanics,Seventh Edition John Wiley & Sons, INC