EXPERIMENT N0- 04

LOSSES DUE TO FRICTION IN PIPE LINES

OBJECTIVE: To study the losses due to friction in pipes

AIM: To determine the friction factor for Darcy Weisbach equation

INTRODUCTION:

When a fluid is flowing through a pipe, the fluid experiences some resistance due to which some
of the energy of fluid is lost. This loss of energy in the pipelines comes under major energy
losses and minor energy losses in long pipelines the friction losses are much larger than the
minor losses and hence, the latter are often neglected. The losses due to friction in the pipelines
are known as major energy losses. The friction in the pipeline is due to a viscous drag between
the stream bends of fluid. The stream bands of adjacent to the solid surface are always at rest
relative to the wetted surface. The viscous drag is due to the molecular attractions between the
molecules of the fluid.

THEORY:

It is found that the total friction resistance to fluid flow depends on the following:

a. The area of the wetted surface

c. The surface roughness

d. It is independent of the fluid pressure

e. It increase with the square of the velocity

The loss of head in pipe due to friction is calculated from Darcy-Weisbach equation

which has been given by , h f = 4fLV2 / 2gD

F=4f

F= Darcy friction factor (or)Friction factor;

where,

h f = loss of head due to friction:

f = co-efficient of Friction factor

L= distance between pressure point

V= mean velocity of fluid

d = dameter of pipe

g =Acceleration due to gravity

DESCRIPTION:

The apparatus consist of sump tank with centrifugal pump. A pipe with diameter above 2 mm in
which an inlet connection is provided with control valve to regulate the flow. Near the
downstream end of the pipe. Pressure tapings are taken at suitable distance apart between which
a manometer is provided to study the pressure loss due to the friction. Discharge is measured
with the help of measuring tank and stopwatch

UTILITES REQUIRED:

1. Electricity Supply: Single Phase, 220 V AC 50 Hz. 5-15 Amp combined socket with
earth connection. Earth voltage should be less than 5 volts
2. Floor Drain Required
3. Water Supply: Initial Fill
4. Floor area 1.5m X0.75m

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

. STARTING PROCEDURE:
a. Close all the valves provided V1 to V5.
b. Fill sump tank ¾ with clean water and ensure that no foreign particles are there.
c. Open by-pass valve V3.
d. Ensure that On/ off switch given on the panel is at OFF position .
e. Switch on the main power supply
f. Switch on the Pump
g. Operate the Flow Control Valve V1, for ½” pipe and by pass valve V3 to regulate the flow
of water in the desired Test Section.
h. Connect the pressure taps of related test section to manometer .
i. Open Valve V5 provided on the Manometer, slowly to release the air in manometer.
j. When there is no air in the manometer, close air release valve V5 .
k. Record the manometer reading, in case of pressure above scale in any tube apply air
pressure by hand pump to get readable reading
l. Measure the flow of water, discharged through desired test section, using stop watch and
measuring tank.
m. Measure the difference in the height of measuring tank
n. Repeat the experiment for different flow rates of water by operating control valve V1 and
by-pass valve V5 .

CLOSING PROCEDURE:

a. When experiment is over Switch off pump

DATA
Acceleration due to gravity g=9.81 m/s2
Area of measuring tank A= 0.076 m²
Inside Diameter of Pipe For pipe ½” = 0.016 m
Distance between pressure tapings L For pipe ½” = 1m

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Test pipe = 1/2”

CALCULATIONS:

R= (m)

Q= (m3/s)

A = d 2 (m2)

V= Q/A (m/s)

hf = (m)

f exp=

Re=
f th =

CALCULATION TABLE

S.NO R(m) hf (m) fth Re f exp

NOMENCLATURE

Nomenclature Column Heading Units

A Area of measuring tank Cross-section area m2

a Cross- section area of pipe m2

f Friction factor ..

g Acceleration due to gravity m/s2

h1, h2 Manometric reading at both points cm

hf Head losses m of water

L Distance between pressure tapings m

Q Discharge m3/s

R Rise of water level in measuring tank m

R1 Final level of water in measuring tank cm

R2 initial level of water in measuring tank cm

t Time taken for R s

V velocity of fluid m/s

 Never run the apparatus it power supply is less than 200 Volts and above 230 Volts.
 Never fully close the delivery valve V. & V, and by-pass valve V, at a time.
 To prevent clogging of moving parts, run pump at least once in fortnight.
 Always use clean water.
 Always keep the apparatus free from dust.
 If apparatus is not in use for more than one month, drain the apparatus completely.

TROUBLESHOOTING:

 If pump gets jammed, open the back cover of pump and rotate the shaft manually.
 If pump gets heated up, switch off the main power for minutes and avoid closing the flow
control valve V1 & V2 and by pass valve V 3 at a time during operation.