MM 222 Fluid Mechanics

The University of the South Pacific

School of Engineering and Physics
MM 222 – Fluid Mechanics

Lab 2: Impact of Jets

Lab Session Time: Thursday (5 to 8pm)

Student Name: Sahil Roshiv Sharma; Sanya Gibson; Adi Deborah Raiwalui
Student ID#: S11171799; S11160329; S11175429

AIM

This experiment aims to determine the reaction force produced by the impact of jet of water on variety types
of target vanes.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout the years, engineers

have discovered numerous
approaches to use the power that
can be
conferred by a jet of fluid on a surface
occupying the stream. For example,
pelt on wheel has been utilized
to make flour
Throughout the years, engineers have discovered numerous approaches to use the power that can be
conferred by a jet of fluid on a surface occupying the stream. For example, pelt on wheel has been utilized to
make flour. In addition, impulse turbine is still used in the first and second stages of the steam turbine).
(Hutchins, 2010). Water turbines are great sources for producing power.

It is used all over the world. The wheels of the water turbines rotate because the impact of water jets causing
torque on the vanes. Thus, power is generated. It is a great fact that the concept is really simple but the
output is generated at a high efficiency (Hossain et al. 2018).

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This experiment will see how the force differes when exerted on various different gerometry vanes. The
assumtion is made that the jet impinges the vane ad the momentum changes. The impulse momentum
formular can be used to determine the force being exerted on the vane (Cengal and Cimbala, 2014)..

F=m(V1-V2)
F= ρAV(V1-V2)

Figure 1 Pelton Wheel

EQUIPMENT

The following equipment was used to carry out the lab:

 Hydraulic bench
 Impact of Jet apparatus
 Three different vanes (Hemisphere, Flat, 120o Cone)
 Weights
 Stop watch

METHODOLOGY

In order to carry out the necessary calculations, a few of the dimensions and values were outlined prior to
conducting the experiment. The diameter of the nozzle of the jet was measured to be 8mm and the density of
water was 998kg/m3. Subsequently, the theoretical force of the three vanes was outlined as:

Vane α Force Theoretical

Flat Plate 90o F = ρAV2
120o Cone 60o F = 1.5ρAV2
Hemisphere 0o F = 2ρAV2

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The Impact of Jet apparatus was attached to the hydraulic bench and the flat plate was fitted on to it. The
pump was then switched on, with the tap opened to adjust the flow, and masses were added to the weight
pan to bring the balance to reference point as indicated by the level gauge. The amount of mass taken to
reach reference point was recorded and following this, 5L of water was collected in the collecting tank with
the time taken to do so also being recorded. The readings for the same plate at three different flow rates were
noted and the same procedure was carried out for the 120o cone and hemisphere plates. Given below is a
figure of the apparatus setup for the experiment.

Figure 2 Impact of Jets apparatus

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 Flat Plate

Volum Time Q Velocity Mass Forces Forces

e of (s) 3
(m /s ) (m/s ) (kg) (Exp) (Theo)
Water (N) (N)
(L)
5 14.47 3.46 ×10−4 6.78 0.32 3.14 2.37
0
5 17.84 2.8 ×10−4 5.57 0.13 1.28 1.56
0
5 16.56 3.02 ×10−4 6.01 0.25 2.50 1.81
5

Table 2 120 ° Cone

Volum Time Q Velocity Mass Forces Forces

e of (s) (m3 /s ) (m/s ) (kg) (Exp) (Theo)

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Water (N) (N)

(L)
5 14.47 3.46 ×10−4 6.78 0.57 5.59 3.55
0
5 17.84 2.80 ×10−4 5.57 0.25 2.45 2.33
0
5 16.56 3.02 ×10−4 6.01 0.48 4.71 2.72
0

Table 3 Hemisphere

Volum Time Q Velocity Mass Forces Forces

e of (s) 3
(m /s ) (m/s ) (kg) (Exp) (Theo)
Water (N) (N)
(L)
5 14.47 3.46 ×10−4 6.78 0.65 6.38 4.74
0
5 17.84 2.80 ×10−4 5.57 0.27 2.65 3.11
0
5 16.56 3.02 ×10−4 6.01 0.52 5.15 3.62
5

Sample Calculation:

Flat Plate:

Volume of water = 5L
Time = 14.47s
Mass = 0.32 Kg

volume Q
Q= V=
time A
0.005 3.45× 10−4
¿ ¿
14.47 5.03× 10−5
¿ 3.45 ×10−4 m3 / s ¿ 6.86 m/s

F Theo= ρA V 2 F exp=mg
2
¿ ( 998 ) ( 5.03 ×10−5) ( 6.86 ) ¿ ( 0.32 ) ( 9.81 )
¿ 2.36 N ¿ 3.14 N

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Theoretical force against velocity squared

7
6

Theorectical Force (N)

5
4
3
2
1
0
30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50

Velocity Squared (m/s)^2

flat Plate
Polynomial (flat Plate)
120° cone

By looking at Figure 2 above it is seen that the forces produced by the hemisphere plate is greater than the
forces produced by both the flat plate and 120o cone, with the largest velocity of 6.78m/s yielding a force of
4.74 N. However, the graph with the best shape proved to be the flat plate graph. From tables 1 to 3 it is
noted that the force varies according to the flow rate of the water for all three vanes. As the three trials per
vane were conducted, the flow rate tended to decrease and thus the force followed a similar trend. This
viewpoint is understandable because the force acting upon the vane would be dependent on the flow rate,
that is, if the flow rate of water were slow, the force induced would be weak.

With respect to the design of turbomachines, this experiment would be an important stepping stone to
understanding the basics. A turbomachine is a device in which energy transfer occurs between a flowing
fluid and a rotating element due to dynamic action, and results in a change in pressure and momentum of the
fluid [ CITATION Ram03 \l 3081 ]. Thus, depending on the fluid flow, the rotating element must be designed
appropriately to accommodate said fluid flow. According to the results obtained, the shape of the rotating
element should be hemispherical, since it produces more force and would generate more mechanical energy.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, it is important that the student understands the fundamentals behind this lab, as it has great
significance in real life applications. Graphical results also prove to be helpful to students as it provides a
better interpretation of the experimental data obtained in the lab. Lastly, it is worthy to note that limitations
and errors also exist; hence there may be some inaccuracies present in gathering experimental data.

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REFERENCE

Çengel, Y. and Cimbala, J., 2014. Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications. 4th ed. New York:
McGraw Hill Education, pp.841-842.

Gorla, R. S. R. & Khan, A. A., 2003. Introduction: Dimensional Analysis- Basic Thermodynamics and Fluid
Mechanics. In: L. L. Faulkner, ed. Turbomachinery Design and Theory. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc., p. 1

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Hutchins, N., 2010. Fundamental of

fluid mechanics. In: Lecture notes.
Melbourn: The University of
Melbourn, pp. 301-436.
Hossain, F, Moshed, A, Sultana, R & Islam, Md. Q, 2018, ‘Measurement of Flow Rate and Impact Force on
Different Vanes through Impact of Jet, International Journal of Modern Research in Engineering &
Management, vol 1, no. 7, pp. 22-28, viewed 14 September 2020,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326711584_Measurement_of_Flow_Rate_and_Impact_Force_on_
Different_Vanes_through_Impact_of_Jet

Hutchins, N., 2010. Fundamental of fluid mechanics. In: Lecture notes. Melbourn: The University of
Melbourn, pp. 301-436.

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