EXPERIMENT #4

REYNOLDS NUMBER

An Experimental Study Presented to the

Faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science of Chemical Engineering

By:

Capuyan, Aubrey Joy

Cordoviz, Jcuvrzly Juhari Y.

De Guzman, Charmaine

Jacinto, Miraneth Imnca T.

Perez, Mervin Lorenz S.

September 2019

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, we would like to thank God for providing us blessings of knowledge and

ability and opportunity to make this research. The completion of this report would not

have been possible if it weren’t for the help of the group and with the additional

knowledge of our peers. Each and every contribution given to finish this report is very

much appreciated by us and we would like to express our utmost gratitude to them.

We would like to express our sincerest appreciation and gratefulness to the following:

To Engr. Constante C. Damaguen Jr., Our Unit Operations Laboratory I

instructor, We would like to acknowledge and further more thank him for his eager

supervision throughout the experiment and his guidance to the experiment.

To Engr. Francisco Pascua, our Lab Custodian and Lab technician, who thought

us how to use the apparatuses used for the experiment.

And finally, we would like to thank our parents for providing for us and granting

us the chance to in this wonderful institution.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page i

Acknowledgement ii

Table of Contents iii

List of Tables iv

List of Figures v

Abstract vi

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Chapter 2: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 4

Chapter 3: DATA AND RESULTS 6

Chapter 4: CONLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 8

References 9

Appendices 10

Appendix A: LIST AND USES OF APPARTUS 11

Appendix B: DEFINITION OF TERMS 12

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 Appendix C: COMPUTATIONS 13

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Parameters in Determining Reynolds Number 6

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Reynolds Number determination set up 5

Figure 2.2 How the flow regime is observed 5

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 ABSTRACT

REYNOLDS NUMBER (RE) IS PLAYED BY BOTH THE FLUID AND THE

SURFACE WHERE IT FLOWS COLLECTIVELY PRODUCING A PHENOMENA
CALLED FLUID FLOW. FLUID FLOW CHARACTERIZATION IS SIGNIFANTLY
A METHOD OF 'SCALING UP' PARALLELISM FROM SMALL TO LARGE SCALE
FLOWS JUST AS CHEMICAL ENGINEERS SCALES UP PRODUCTION
PROCESSES. THE INTERPLAY OF FLUID FLOW IS FURTHER CLASSIFIED
INTO THREE FLOWS: LAMINAR, TRANSITIONAL, AND TURBULENT. THE
AIM OF THIS EXPERIMENT IS TO PREDICT THE ONSETS OF EACH FLOWS.
THE EXPERIMENT WAS DONE WITH A GATE VALVE CONTROLLING ENTRY
VELOCITY OF FLUID THEN EVERY OTHER FACTORS HELD CONSTANT.
FROM THIS, CALCULATIONS OF RE WILL PRESENT A PREDICTION HOW
EACH FLOW WILL BE ACHIEVED AT THIS SPECIFIC RATE/VELOCITY. THE
RESULTS SPEAK A PATTERN, FROM HIGH TO LOW VELOCITY OF THE
ENTRY FLUID, THE FLUID'S RE NUMBER CHANGES FROM TURBULENT TO
LAMINAR RESPECTIVELY AND TRANSITIONAL IN BETWEEN. THUS
VELOCITY CAN BE HIGHER OR LOWER DEPENDING ON THE HINDERING
FORCES OF THE FLUID AND THE SURFACE WHERE IT FLOWS. ALL IN ALL,
ALL THIS FACTORS ARE 'REGULATED' OR VARIED TO ACHIEVE THE FLUID
FLOW OF INTEREST. IF LAMINAR THEN LAMINAR, IF TURBULENT THEN
TURBULENT. THIS EXPERIMENT GIVES KNOWLEDGE ON PRODUCTION
TESTING. (1) WHEREIN A FLUID HAVING THE SAME RE WITH AN RE OF
ANOTHER FLUID IS CONCLUDED AS FLOWING THE SAME LIKE IN
PRACTICE, THIS METHOD IS CALLED REYNOLDS MATCHING. (2) SCALING
UP PROCESSES WHERE SMALL TESTS ARE AMPLIFIED INTO LARGE
PRODUCTION PROCESSES JUST AS CHEMICAL ENGINEERS SCALES UP
PRODUCTION BASED ON CALCULATIONS.

Keywords: Fluid, Fluid Flow, Laminar flow, Turbulent flow, Transitional flow, Velocity

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 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

The type of flow occurring in a fluid in a channel is important in hydraulics and

fluid dynamics problems. So, when fluids move through a closed channel of any cross

section, either of two distinct types of flow can be observed, according to the conditions

present. These two types of flow can commonly be seen in a flowing open stream or

river. When the velocity of flow is slow, the flow patterns are smooth. On the other hand,

when the velocity is quite high, an unstable pattern is observed, in which eddies or small

packets of fluid particles are present, moving in all directions and at all angles to the

normal line of flow of flow (Geankoplis, 2014).

The first type of flow, where at low velocities the layers move smoothly over one

another without eddies or swirls, is called Laminar flow. The second type on the other

hand, in which if the velocities are increased, small disturbances cause eddies which

mixup the layers of the fluid producing a different kind of flow is termed as Turbulent

flow. The existence of laminar and turbulent flow was most easily understood and

visualized by the experiments of Reynolds. He conducted an experiment for observation

and determination of these regimes of flow. He first identified the variables controlling

the flow and a rational means of predicting the nature of flow. This was done by

introducing a fine filament of dye in to the flow of water through the glass tube. At its

entrance, he studied the different types of flow. At low velocities, the dye filament

appeared as straight line through the length of the tube and parallel to its axis,

characterizing laminar flow. As the velocity is increased, the dye filament becomes wavy

throughout indicating transition flow. On further increasing the velocity, the filament

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 breaks up and diffuses completely in the water in the glass tube producing an

erratic pattern which indicates the turbulent flow (Falkovich, 2011). The velocity at

which the flow changes from laminar flow to transitional flow or from transitional to

turbulent flow is known as the critical velocity.

The critical velocity averaged over the cross section is believed to be a function

primarily of the pipe diameter, fluid density and the fluid dynamic viscosity. These

variables are combined which led to the definition of a dimensionless parameter now

called, Reynolds number, expressed mathematically as:

Dvρ
NRe= (Eq. 1) (Geankoplis,
μ

2014)

Where;

NRe is the Reynolds number; D is the diameter (m); p is the fluid density (kg/m3); u is

the fluid dynamic viscosity (Pa-s); v is the fluid's average velocity (m/s)

Reynolds number can be used to identify the conditions under which the flow

changes from laminar to turbulent. By experiment, it was found that the change always

occurred at a similar value of Reynolds number irrespective of the fluid and the size of

the pipe. It also determined the critical Reynolds number at which laminar flow becomes

transitional, and transitional flow becomes turbulent. According to Geankoplis (2014),

for a straight circular pipe with a diameter D at steady-state flow, when the value of the

Reynolds number is less than 2100, the flow is always laminar. When the value is over

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 4000, the flow will be turbulent. In between 2100 and 4000 is called the transition

region wherein the flow can be viscous or turbulent depending upon the apparatus details.

Generally, the pipe flow of fluids can be identified as laminar, transitional or

turbulent by the behavior of the fluid flow, which is characterized by being smooth or

erratic.

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 Chapter 2

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

Reynolds number is the ratio of the inertial force of flowing fluid to the viscous

force of the fluid. In fluid mechanics, a number that indicates whether the flow of a fluid

is steady (laminar flow) or on the average steady with unsteady changes (turbulent flow)

is the Reynolds number. In case of flow through pipe for values of Re<2100, the flow is

Laminar while Re>4000, it is turbulent and for 2100<Re<4000 it is transitional flow.

The dye reservoir was mounted on the top of the head tank. The head tank is

continuously supplied with water from the faucet and at the same time the control valve

was opened at the end of the visualization pipe. The flow should be stabilized for at least

20 seconds to be able to determine if the flow is Laminar, Transitional and Turbulent. If

dye filament forms straight line, then it is called as laminar flow. If dye filament flows in

a slightly wavy manner, then it is said to be transition flow. If dye filament diffuses over

the entire cross section of tube while passing, then it is called as turbulent flow. The dye

slowly flowed by adjusting the valve then its flow was observed. An amount of 1 Litre of

water was collected in a 1000 mL beaker and for each change observed from the dye

inside the pipe. The volumetric flow rate was observed and its corresponding Reynolds

number during the Laminar, Transitional and Turbulent flow. The diameter of the pipe

was determined in order to calculate the cross-sectional area of the pipe while the

temperature was obtained to determine the viscosity and density of the pipe.

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Figure 2.1 Reynolds Number determination set up

Figure 2.2 How the flow regime is observed

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 Chapter 3

DATA AND RESULTS

The aim of the study is to reproduce the classical experiment conducted by

Osborne Reynolds concerning fluid flow conditions and to observe the laminar, transition

and turbulent velocity profiles as related to Reynolds Number.

Data gathered regarding the observation of different velocity profiles and

computation for Reynolds Number are presented in Table 3.1.

Table 3.1 Parameters in Determining Reynolds Number

Reynold's
Flow Regime Trial Time, s Velocity, m/s
Number
1 304 0.0224 316.8173
Laminar
2 388 0.0175 247.5135

1 119 0.0571 807.6013

Transition
2 125 0.0544 769.4135

1 29 0.2343 3313.8524
Turbulent
2 28 0.2427 3432.6589

The different flow regimes were assumed as seen from the flow of the dye inside

the Osborne Apparatus the pressure of the water coming out of the apparatus was

controlled in order to obtain the necessary flow regime.

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 The time to fill the 1 liter beaker with water coming out from the apparatus was

recorded to compute for the velocity of the water by using the formula,

Volume
velocity= , where the area is the cross sectional area of the tube where the
Area x time

water is coming out.

ρDv
The Reynold’s number was calculated by using the formula, ℜ= where D is
µ

the diameter of the tube, v is the velocity computed and, 𝜌 is the density, and µ is the

viscosity of the liquid at 22°C.

Fluid flow has 3 different velocity profiles namely, Laminar, Transitional, and

Turbulent. As shown from table, we could see the relationship between velocity and

Reynolds Number showing that, as the velocity of the fluid increases, the Reynolds

Number also increases or the more the fluid coming out from the apparatus, it will

become more turbulent. This states that the Reynolds number is directly proportional to

the velocity flow of the fluid, and density of the fluid and the diameter of the tube are

also directly proportional to the Reynolds Number while the viscosity is indirectly

proportional, but in the experiment, the density, diameter and viscosity are considered

constant since the tube diameter in the apparatus didn't change and the same fluid is used

throughtout the experiment.

The Reynolds Number calculated does not satisfy the flow regime of the fluid or

vice versa, because the Reynolds Number for Laminar Flow should be less than 2300, for

Transitional, it should be between 2300 to 4000, and for Turbulent is 4000 and above.

Some factors that may have contributed to the errors in computing for the Reynolds

Number.

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 Chapter 4

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The results fall within limits. Less than 2300 for laminar and greater than 4000 for

turbulent of which anywhere in between is transitional. It was found that velocity is a

flexible varying parameter for Reynolds number. Since all other factors is dependent on

the fluid and the object from which it flows. To target a higher/lower Reynolds number

means to change all this and to dismount disassemble the whole system. Only a variable

velocity can offer a changing Reynolds number with ease.

The experiment is prone to errors, it is highly recommended that upon each tests,

calculations are immediately made to verify the results and correct the errors by adjusting

the valve. This is in contrast to number (computations) are objective and does not lie

whereupon adjusting the valve and looking in the flow is subjective. Perspective of each

persons is subjective and is prone to errors.

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 REFERENCES

Camarote, B.,& Camarote, B. (n.d.). Experiment 4: REYNOLDS NUMBER. Retrieved

from https://www.academia.edu/31580118/Experiment_4_REYNOLDS_NUMBER

Experiment 11 Reynolds Number and Transitional Flow. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://studylib.net/doc/8239671/experiment-11-reynolds-number-andtransitional-flow

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APPENDICES

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 APPENDIX A

List and Uses of Apparatus

A.1 Osborne Reynolds Apparatus –used for determining the flow regime of the fluid

A.2 Beaker – used for collecting 1 liter of the fluid

A.3 Timer – used for determining the time it takes for the fluid to occupy one liter.

A.4 Thermometer – used for measuring the temperature of the fluid

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 APPENDIX B

Definition of Terms

B.1 Fluid - any substance that is capable of flowing and that changes its shape at a steady

rate when acted upon by a force tending to change its shape.

B.2 Velocity - time rate of change of position of a body in a specified direction.

B.3 Laminar flow - is a flow regime characterized by high momentum diffusion and low

momentum convection.

B.4 Turbulent flow – is a type of fluid flow in which the fluid undergoes irregular

fluctuations, or mixing, in contrast to laminar flow

B.5 Transitional flow - is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow, with turbulence in the

center of the pipe, and laminar flow near the edges.

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 APPENDIX C

Computations

Diameter = 1.3688 x 10-2 m

1 x 10−3 m3
Volume
Velocity = = π 2
area× time ( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×time
4

Velocity for Laminar Flow:

1 x 10−3 m3
Trial 1: V = π
( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×304 s = 0.0224 m/s
2

1 x 10−3 m3
Trial 2: V = π
( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×388 s = 0.0175 m/s
2

Velocity for Transitional Flow:

1 x 10−3 m3
Trial 1: V = π
( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×119 s = 0.0571 m/s
2

1 x 10−3 m3
Trial 2: V = π
( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×125 s = 0.0571 m/s
2

Velocity for Turbulent Flow:

1 x 10−3 m3
Trial 1: V = π
( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×29 s = 0.2343 m/s
2

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 1 x 10−3 m3
Trial 2: V = π
( 1.3688 ×10−3 m) ×28 s = 0.2427 m/s
2

μ @ T= 22°C

μ = 9.6547 × 10-4 Pa-s

ρ @ T= 22°C

ρ = 997.6074 kg/m3

D× v × ρ
Re =
μ

Reynolds number for Laminar Flow:

1.3688 x 10−2 m× 0.0224 m/ s × 997.6074 kg /m3

Trial 1: Re = = 316.8173
9.6547 ×10−4 Pa−s

1.3688 x 10−2 m× 0.0175m/ s ×997.6074 kg/m 3

Trial 2: Re = = 247.5135
9.6547 ×10−4 Pa−s

Reynolds number for Transitional Flow:

1.3688 x 10−2 m× 0.0571m/s ×997.6074 kg/m3

Trial 1: Re = = 807.6013
9.6547 ×10−4 Pa−s

1.3688 x 10−2 m× 0.0544 m/ s × 997.6074 kg /m3

Trial 2: Re = = 769.4135
9.6547 ×10−4 Pa−s

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Reynolds number for Turbulent Flow:

1.3688 x 10−2 m× 0.2343m/ s ×997.6074 kg/m 3

Trial 1: Re = = 3313.8524
9.6547 ×10−4 Pa−s

1.3688 x 10−2 m× 0.2427 m/ s × 997.6074 kg /m 3

Trial 2: Re = =3432.6589
9.6547 ×10−4 Pa−s

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