Friction in Pipes

Lopez, Olivia Marie Yssabel M.

College of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering
ChE – 3104

The present simulation investigates the significant influence of pipe friction on fluid flow dynamics and pressure fluctuations within
several industries, such as plumbing, oil and gas, and water distribution. We thoroughly analyze fluid dynamics in various pipe
configurations, examining the impact of friction on flow rates and energy dissipation. In this study, we employ sophisticated
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to investigate the transitions from turbulent to laminar flow, the influence of pipe
materials, and the impact of varying flow velocities. The results of this study hold the potential to significantly transform the
optimization of pipe systems, leading to improvements in both efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Keywords: friction, fluid flow dynamics

INTRODUCTION as feet or meters. The occurrence of head loss in

real moving fluids is practically inevitable, mostly
Friction is an omnipresent force that acts attributed to the frictional interaction between
in opposition to the relative motion between fluid particles that are in relative motion,
contacting systems, while simultaneously particularly in the context of turbulent flow.
facilitating movement. Although friction is a
widely seen phenomenon, its behavior is According to the theoretical framework
inherently complex and remains incompletely proposed by Virtual Labs, several factors
comprehended. In order to acquire any contribute to the losses experienced in a pipe
meaningful insights, we are compelled to place system. These elements include the viscosity of
significant reliance on observations (Lumen the fluid being transported, the measurement of
Learning, n.d.). Nevertheless, it is still possible to the inner pipe diameter, the roughness of the
analyze its fundamental overarching traits and internal pipe surface, changes in elevation, the
comprehend the contexts in which it exhibits its material composition of the pipe, and the length
behavior. of the pipe. Therefore, it can be inferred that the
reduction in pressure loss is directly proportional
According to Corrosionpedia (2023), to the level of smoothness exhibited by the inner
head loss refers to the decrease in head, or surface of the pipe, owing to the presence of
pressure, that arises as a fluid passes through a friction.
pipe or other hydraulic system as a result of causes
such as friction, turbulence, or other related The primary aim of this experiment is to
phenomena. The parameter quantifies the investigate the phenomenon of head loss in a pipe,
dissipation of energy inside a fluid system and is specifically in relation to friction. Therefore, in
commonly expressed in length-based units, such order to conduct a more comprehensive
examination of the correlation between the observed data collected during the experiment and
diameter and length of a pipe and its frictional employing the following calculations.
losses.
The aforementioned methodology will be used for
the other configurations, which exhibit different
EXPERIMENTAL diameters of 15, 20, 25, 40, and 50 millimeters.

The test utilized a virtual laboratory RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

provided by Virtual Labs for the purpose of
simulating the experiment and collecting data This chapter will provide a
related to friction in pipes. The Simulation area comprehensive discussion of the collected data,
provides students with the opportunity to conduct relevant observations, and recorded experimental
their experiments. settings. The present discourse examines the
impact of the progressive enlargement of diameter
This experiment consists of five distinct on head loss, the duration needed to fill a tank
settings, each of which is replicated three times. with a height of 10 meters, the discharge rate,
The length of the pipe, as well as the area and velocity, and the analytical friction factor.
volume of the collecting tank, remain constant
across five experimental setups. These setups This section examines the impact of pipe diameter
involve measurements of 300 centimeters for the on:
length of the pipe and 3,500 square centimeters
for the area of the collecting tank. However, the 1.) Head Loss
diameters of the sets vary, with values of 15, 20,
25, 40, and 50 millimeters. As stated by Stewart (2019), head loss
refers to the conversion of potential energy into
Upon opening the simulation window or kinetic energy. Head losses in a pipeline system
section, the learner will be prompted to choose arise from the frictional resistance encountered by
the necessary diameter of the pipe. Upon choosing the various components such as pipes, valves,
the necessary diameter, the user was instructed to fittings, as well as losses at the entrance and
open the inlet pipe valve and the main inlet valve departure points. In contrast to velocity head,
in order to facilitate the passage of water through friction head holds significant importance and
the designated diameter. In order to assess the cannot be disregarded in system calculations. The
presence of air bubbles in the water, it was relationship between values and flow rate is
necessary to do the following actions: opening the quadratic in nature. The losses in head can
valves of the pipe and transitioning the knot from constitute a substantial proportion of the overall
its isolated state to the air-vent position, thereby head.
facilitating the expulsion of air from within the In this experimental study, it was
pipe. Once a state of steady flow is achieved observed that an increase in diameter
within the pipe, the knot will undergo a transition corresponded to an increase in the readings
to a position that indicates a reading. The exit obtained from both the left and right limbs. As a
valve of the collecting tank will remain open in result, it can be observed that as the diameter of
order to facilitate a continuous outflow of fluid the pipe increases, there is a corresponding
from the inside. The calculation of head loss can decrease in pressure drop. This can be attributed
be performed by utilizing the data obtained from to the bigger pipe diameter facilitating unrestricted
the manometer reading, employing the following fluid flow, hence reducing resistance.
formula:
2.) The duration required to fill a vertical
distance of 10 meters.
f (L/D) (V^2/2g)
In order to determine the discharge and
Furthermore, the discharge, velocity, and analytical velocity, it is imperative to utilize time
friction factor can be estimated by utilizing the measurements in seconds. The duration measured
in the experiment refers to the period of time that The concept of Analytic Friction Factor
elapses subsequent to the completion of filling the pertains to the phenomenon of pressure reduction
tank, which has a height of 10 meters. experienced by a fluid when it flows through a
pipe and comes into touch with its inner
Based on the experimental trials surface.An upward trend in the analytical friction
conducted on each configuration, it was seen that factor becomes evident with the enlargement of
an increase in pipe diameter size corresponded to the pipe diameter.
a decrease in the time required to fill a vertical
distance of 10 meters. Moreover, with an increase This phenomenon can be further
in diameter, there will be a corresponding increase elucidated by the examination of head loss in the
in cross-sectional area, implying a bigger volume experimental setup. As previously established, an
of fluid passing through the pipe. Consequently, increase in pipe diameter results in a decrease in
this leads to a reduction in the time required to fill resistance, hence indicating enhanced fluid flow.
a vertical distance of 10 meters. Therefore, when the resistance diminishes, the
friction factor value becomes smaller.
3.) Discharge (Qact)
In a broad sense, there exists a correlation
The concept of discharge in a hydraulic between the diameter of a pipe and several factors
system refers to the rate at which fluid volume is such as head loss, the duration needed to fill a
transported through a pipe over a specific period 10-meter tall tank, discharge, velocity, and the
of time (Batelle, 2019). analytical friction factor. This experiment
demonstrates a clear correlation between the
In the performed experiment, the progressive enlargement of pipe diameter and the
discharge can be computed by considering the resulting changes in head loss, discharge, and
constant cross-sectional area and increase of 3,500 analytical friction factor.
square centimeters and 10 cm, respectively, while
altering the time taken to fill the 10 meter height. Simultaneously, there exists an inverse
The relationship between pipe diameter and fluid relationship between the fluctuating pipe diameter
output can be noted in Appendix A. The rate of and the time required to fill a 10-meter high
discharge is directly proportional to the diameter column of fluid, as well as the velocity of the fluid
of the pipe. flow.

4.) Velocity CONCLUSION

Velocity is a term used to describe the Understanding and possessing exact
magnitude and direction of the fluid's speed as it knowledge of friction within pipes is a
moves through a conduit. This phenomenon can fundamental principle that is crucial for the
be noticed in the experiment by the calculation of engineering industry to effectively construct
the discharge and area of the pipe. The hydraulic systems. The experiment focused on the
aforementioned analysis of the impacts resulting study of friction within pipes, and a
from the augmentation in pipe diameter reveals a comprehensive analysis was conducted to examine
corresponding augmentation in the cross-sectional the several components that influence this
area as the diameter of the pipe grows. The impact particular variable.
of this increase has implications for velocity, as a
bigger cross-sectional area allows for a greater The subject matter is around the impact
volume of fluid to flow through the pipe, hence of different diameters on friction loss, the
influencing velocity predictions. Therefore, a duration required to fill a 10-meter tall tank,
negative correlation exists between the diameter of discharge, velocity, and the analytical factor.
a pipe and the velocity of fluid flow.. Thorough examination of these critical aspects
and meticulous analysis of the observed
5.) Analytical Friction Factor phenomena are essential in order to get accurate
conclusions from the collected data and findings.
 By conducting virtual tests utilizing pipes RECOMMENDATIONS
of varying sizes and employing meticulous data
collection techniques, the study unveiled a number The findings of the experiment provide a number
of interesting conclusions. There exists a positive of recommendations that can be valuable for
correlation between the diameter of the pipe and future practitioners.
the recorded pressure readings in the manometer,
highlighting the significant association between 1. The Significance of Pipe Diameter in System
pipe size and variations in pressure. The utilization Design: In the process of building fluid systems, it
of larger pipe diameters leads to a decrease in fluid is imperative to meticulously determine
resistance, hence causing an increase in pressure appropriate pipe sizes in order to mitigate
both upstream and downstream of the pipe. frictional losses and optimize operational
efficiency.
The experiment demonstrated that
increased pipe diameters resulted in accelerated The Darcy-Weisbach Equation is a highly accurate
filling of a vertical distance of 10 meters, thereby method for calculating pipe friction loss in
exemplifying the laws of fluid dynamics. This precision-critical systems, despite its inherent
phenomenon can be attributed to the larger pipes complexity.
enabling a more rapid flow by minimizing
resistance. These findings have significant The Moody Chart is a useful tool for estimating
consequences for processes that are time-sensitive. friction factors by considering the Reynolds
The augmentation of pipe diameter led to an number and relative roughness. However, it is
elevation in discharge rates, illustrating the important to acknowledge that the chart has limits
significance of cross-sectional area in governing when it comes to repeating calculations.
fluid flow. This observation has the potential to
impact the design of systems and the optimization 4. Emphasis on Efficiency: Place priority on the
of efficiency. management of friction loss in order to optimize
the efficiency of fluid systems, decrease energy
Furthermore, the research revealed that consumption, and achieve cost reductions.
when pipe diameters were increased, there was a
corresponding decrease in fluid velocity, which is 5. The implementation of comprehensive
consistent with the theory of mass conservation. experiments entails the execution of rigorous and
Comprehending the alteration in velocity is of meticulously recorded procedures, hence yielding
utmost importance in effectively managing fluid empirical data that may be effectively applied in
systems. The increase in pipe diameter was practical contexts.
accompanied by a corresponding rise in the
analytical friction factor, indicating the transition In order to make comprehensive design selections,
from laminar to turbulent flow. Turbulent flow is it is imperative to investigate multiple factors,
characterized by heightened levels of energy including pipe roughness, length, fluid
dissipation within the fluid. characteristics, and diameter.

The conducted experiment yielded 7. Practical Implementation: Utilize acquired

valuable insights on the correlation between pipe knowledge in sectors such as water supply, oil and
diameter and frictional loss, thereby contributing gas, and chemical processing to optimize
to the advancement of knowledge in the field of operational processes.
fluid dynamics. Additionally, these findings have
practical implications for engineering applications One important aspect to consider in virtual
seeking to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and laboratory studies is the maintenance of
cost-effectiveness in diverse industrial sectors. consistency and accuracy. This can be achieved by
This study facilitates enhanced decision-making fixing numbers at four decimal places and
and the development of novel methodologies rounding the last digit.
within these domains.
APPENDICES

15 mm

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Left Limb Reading 20 20 21.5

(cm)

Right Limb Reading 30.5 30.5 29

(cm)

Head Loss 132.30 132.30 94.50

Initial Reading 55 55 55
(cm)

Final Reading 65 65 65
(cm)

Rise 10 10 10
(cm)

Time required to fill the height 55 55 67

(sec)

Qact 636.3636 636.3636 522.3881

3
(𝑐𝑚 /𝑠)

Velocity 360.2908 360.2908 295.7611

(cm/sec)

Analytical Friction Factor 0.0099 0.0099 0.0106

Average Analytical Friction 0.0102

Factor

Table 1. Data accumulated from Setup 1 with 1.5 cm diameter and 300 cm length
 20 mm

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Left Limb Reading 22.5 23.5 23.5

(cm)

Right Limb Reading 31 30 30

(cm)

Head Loss 107.10 81.90 81.90

Initial Reading 55 55 55
(cm)

Final Reading 65 65 65
(cm)

Rise 10 10 10
(cm)

Time required to fill the height 47.5 55.5 55.5

(sec)

Qact 736.8421 630.6306 630.6306

3
(𝑐𝑚 /𝑠)

Velocity 234.6631 200.8378 200.8378

(cm/sec)

Analytical Friction Factor 0.0254 0.0266 0.0266

Average Analytical Friction 0.0262

Factor

Table 2. Data accumulated from Setup 2 with 2.0 cm diameter and 300 cm length
 25 mm

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Left Limb Reading 26.25 23.25 23.25

(cm)

Right Limb Reading 32.1 35 35

(cm)

Head Loss 73.71 148.05 148.05

Initial Reading 55 55 55
(cm)

Final Reading 65 65 65
(cm)

Rise 10 10 10
(cm)

Time required to fill the height 35 22 22

(sec)

Qact 1000.0000 1590.9091 148.05

3
(𝑐𝑚 /𝑠)

Velocity 203.8217 324.2617 324.2617

(cm/sec)

Analytical Friction Factor 0.0290 0.0230 0.0230

Average Analytical Friction 0.0250

Factor

Table 3. Data accumulated from Setup 3 with 2.5 cm diameter and 300 cm length
 40 mm

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Left Limb Reading 29.5 29.5 31

(cm)

Right Limb Reading 39 39 37.5

(cm)

Head Loss 119.7 119.7 81.9

Initial Reading 55 55 55
(cm)

Final Reading 65 65 65
(cm)

Rise 10 10 10
(cm)

Time required to fill the height 27.5 27.5 38

(sec)

Qact 1272.7273 1272.7273 921.0526

3
(𝑐𝑚 /𝑠)

Velocity 101.3318 101.3318 73.3322

(cm/sec)

Analytical Friction Factor 0.3812 0.3812 0.3984

Average Analytical Friction 0.3615

Factor

Table 4. Data accumulated from Setup 4 with 4.0 cm diameter and 300 cm length
 50 mm

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Left Limb Reading 30 33 33

(cm)

Right Limb Reading 42 39 39

(cm)

Head Loss 151.2 75.6 75.6

Initial Reading 55 55 55
(cm)

Final Reading 65 65 65
(cm)

Rise 10 10 10
(cm)

Time required to fill the height 13 31 31

(sec)

Qact 2692.3077 1129.0323 1129.0323

3
(𝑐𝑚 /𝑠)

Velocity 137.1876 57.5303 57.5303

(cm/sec)

Analytical Friction Factor 0.2627 0.7469 0.7469

Average Analytical Friction 0.5855

Factor

Table 5. Data accumulated from Setup 5 with 5.0 cm diameter and 300 cm length