DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ANDPETROLEUM

ENGINEERING

BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY III (CEE 5119)

EXPERIMENT 1

FRICTION LOSS IN PIPES AND FITTINGS

BY

SADIQ MUHAMMED

ENG/17/CHE/00243
 ABSTRACT

Frictional losses in due to pipes and fittings effect transportation fluid and an important aspect to

focus solely in reduced them. Laboratory experiment was conducted used Cussons P5160;

Friction loss apparatus, heads loss due to straight pipe, fittings, elbow and sharp bend was

studied at varying volumetric flow rates. The volumetric flow rate and the values of head loses

calculated were plotted. At the various values of Q, head loses increases and responses were

analzed.

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Contents

ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................................................3
1.0 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................3
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.............................................................................................................3
CHAPTER TWO.......................................................................................................................................4
2.0 THEORY..............................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER THREE...................................................................................................................................7
METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................................................7
3.1 APPARATUS/ EQUIPMENT............................................................................................................7
3.2 PROCEDURE......................................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER FOUR.....................................................................................................................................9
4.0 RESULT/ DISCUSSION OF RESULT..............................................................................................9
4.1 DISCUSSION OF RESULT.............................................................................................................10
4.2 OBSERVATIONS.............................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER FIVE.....................................................................................................................................15
5.0 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................15

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 CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Frictional losses in pipes and fittings are crucial phenomena in fluid dynamics, with implications

for numerous engineering applications. These losses occur as a consequence of the resistance

encountered by a fluid as it flows through conduits.

Understanding and quantifying these losses are essential/paramount in ensuring the efficiency

and cost-effectiveness of fluid transport systems.

A quantity of interest in the analysis of pipe flow is the pressure drop ΔP, since it is directly

related to the power requirement of the pump to maintain flow. In the analysis of piping systems,

pressure losses are commonly expressed in the terms of the equivalent fluid column height called

the head loss (hL). The head loss represents the additional height that the fluid needs to be raised

by a pump in order to overcome the frictional losses in the pipe.

1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

 To study the effect of change in volumetric flow rate on pressure drop.

 To compare the pressure-drop between rough and smooth pipes.

 To compare the pressure-drop between 90° bends and elbows.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 THEORY

Pipe flow refers to the flow of a liquid within a closed conduit, and the liquid stream typically

flows in a circular pipe. In liquid flow in a closed pipe, hydraulic pressure is actually exerted on

the pipe, while this does not exert direct atmospheric pressure, since the atmospheric pressure

outside and inside the cylindrical tube cancel each other out. Pipe flow can be divided into

laminar flow and turbulent flow.

Reynolds number

The Reynolds number Re is a dimensionless quantity that describes the flow regime in a pipe. It's

defined as the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces and helps determine whether flow is

laminar or turbulent. The critical Reynolds number for the laminar-to-turbulent transition is

around 2,000.

ρ×v×d
R E= …………………….(1)
μ

Where

ρ =density of fluid

V=velocity

D= diameter of pipe

μ=viscosity of pipe

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 When flowing through a pipe, the friction causes the pressure energy of the fluid to fall and

the internal energy of the fluid to increase.

And, the decrease in pressure energy is generally referred to as friction loss or pressure loss in

the fluid and is given as:

2
L ρV
ΔP= f ……………………………………………………... (2)
D 2

Where f = Darcy friction factor;

64
For fully-developed laminar flow, it is given as f = ………………………… (3)
Nℜ

L= Length of the pipe

D= Diameter of the pipe

V= Mean velocity of the fluid

ρ = Density

N ℜ = Reynold’s number

Pipe systems are composed of various pipe elements each with specific properties. When

determining pressure losses, a distinction is made between pure friction losses in a straight pipe

element and the additional losses in a pipe fittings and other components such as valve.

HEAD LOSS IN STRAIGHT PIPE

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Noting from the fluid static that P= ρgh and thus a pressure difference corresponds to the fluid

ΔP
height of h= .
ρg

The pipe head loss is obtained by dividing equation (1) with ρg to give;

2
L V
h L =f ………………………………………………….. (4)
D 2g

HEAD LOSS IN VALVES AND FITTINGS

Unlike in straight pipe elements, further losses occur in pipe fittings due to flow separation or

secondary flow. In addition to the friction losses caused by the surface roughness. These losses

are usually expressed in terms of the loss coefficient k L. The loss co-efficient in general depends

on the geometry of the component and the Reynold’s Number.

Just like friction factor, when the loss co-efficient for a component is available, the head loss for

that component is determined from;

2
V
h L =k L . ………………………………….. (5)
2g

These losses are also expressed in terms of equivalent length defined as;

D
Lequivalent =k L
F

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 CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY

3.1 APPARATUS/ EQUIPMENT

 Cussons P5160; Friction loss apparatus unit

 Water tank

 Electric water tank

 Water Manometer

3.2 PROCEDURE

I. Water was pumped from a tank to the supply header of the apparatus via a variable area

flow-meter, a venturi, an orifice and an annular suction of pipe work.

II. The water was allowed to pass through the topmost pipelines to the drain by closed the

valve of the other 3 pipelines.

III. The variable flow meter was set at volumetric flowrate of 1.4m3 /h.

IV. A water manometer was connected across the 1” smooth pipe and the pressure head

upstream and downstream of the pipe was recorded.

V. The difference between the upstream and downstream pressure head was determined and

recorded as the head loss.

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Step III to V was repeated by changing the volumetric flowrate to 1.8, 1.0 and 0.8m3 /h.

Step IV to VI was repeated with 1” rough pipe.

The complete procedure was repeated at the lowest pipeline by connecting the manometer across

the 90° bends and then across the 90° elbows.

P5160 CUSSONS TECHNOLOGY

3.3 DESCRIPTION
The Cussons P5160 apparatus consists of five-sections of pipeline containing pipes of various

diameters and internal finishes with a range of standard pipeline fittings.

Water is fed from an external pressurised supply to the supply header of the apparatus via a

variable flowmeter, an orifice and an annular section of pipework’s. From the supply header,

four pipelines are connected along the length of the apparatus to a drain connection.

The topmost of these pipelines consist of a 1meter length of 1” NB pipe in series with

1meter length of 1” NB pipe with a specially roughened internal surface. The second pipeline is

1 1
similar to the topmost pipeline but uses ” NB pipes and ” NB valves. The third pipeline
2 2

1 1
contains a 1meter section of 12mm 0/0 pipe, a ” NB strainer and a ” ball valve. The lowest
2 2

1
pipeline contains a sudden enlargement of ” NB pipe to 1” NB pipe, a section of pipe-line
2

1
containing a pitot-state probe, a sudden contraction from 1” NB pipe to ” NB pipe, two U
2

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bends which are constructed from pipe fittings, one from 90° small radius bends and one from

90° elbows.

Each length of pipe and each test fittings are provided with a self-sealing manometer

connection upstream and downstream. These enable the supplied manometer to be connected

across them and pressure drop across the test sample to be measured.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULT/ DISCUSSION OF RESULT

Table of values recorded from the experiment

3
ρw =1000 kg/m , µ=3.6072 kg /m3 , D = 25mm = 0.025m

Pipe Flowrate Pressure Pressure

(m3 /h) Head Head
Upstream Downstream
(cm) (cm)
1” 1.8 47.5 46.0
Smooth
1.4 46.0 42.7
1.0 40.0 38.0
0.8 35.5 31.4
1” 0.8 8.7 4.2
Rough
1.0 12.3 5.6
1.2 16.5 7.0
1.4 21.0 9.6
90° 0.8 58.9 43.2
Bends
1.0 66.4 41.2
1.2 72.5 40.2
1.4 76.7 40.6
90° 0.8 61.0 35.3
Elbow
1.0 73.5 30.0
1.2 83.0 24.0

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4.1 DISCUSSION OF RESULT

The unit of the readings obtained from the experiment were in cm. But in the result discussions

below, the unit has been converted from cm to either m or mm for unit consistency.

A: 1” Smooth Pipe

N ℜ= ( ρUD
µ )
3
, ρ =1000 kg/m , d= 23.5mm = 0.0235m, µ=10
w
−3
Pa . s

Flowrate ( U (m/s) Upstream Downstream Pressure Nℜ 0.316

3 f=
m /h) (m) (m) Head (m) √N ℜ
4

0.8 0.512 0.355 0.314 0.041 12032 0.030

1.0 0.64 0.400 0.380 0.020 15040 0.0285
1.4 0.897 0.460 0.427 0.033 21079.5 0.0262
1.8 1.152 0.475 0.460 0.015 27072 0.025

3 3
Q m Q m
Q=AV; V= but Q is in ; in
A h 3000 s

2 2
πd π∗(0.0235)
A 1= = = 4.337*10−4 m2
4 4

Graph of Q against head loss (H)

2

1.5

1
Q (m3/h)
0.5

0
0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03 0.035 0.04 0.045
H (m)

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B: 1” Rough Pipe

( )
2
ρUD π∗(0.0235)
N ℜ= , ρw =1000 kg/m3, d= 25mm = 0.025m, A2 = = 4.9087*10−4 m2
µ 4

0.316
µ=10 Pa . s , f =
−3
(turbulent)
√N ℜ
4

Q (m3 /h) U (m/s) Upstream Downstream Pressure Nℜ 0.316

f=
(m) (m) Head √N ℜ
4

(m)
0.8 0.0453 0.087 0.042 0.045 11325 0.0306
1.0 0.566 0.123 0.056 0.067 14150 0.02897
1.2 0.679 0.165 0.070 0.095 16975 0.0277
1.4 0.792 0.210 0.096 0.114 19800 0.0266

Graph of Q against head loss (H)

1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
Q (m3/h)
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 0.11 0.12
H (m)

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 Graph of f vs NRE
0.035
0.03
f (Frictional factor)

0.025
0.02 smooth surface pipe
Linear (smooth surface
0.015 pipe)
0.01 Rough surface
0.005
0
10000 15000 20000 25000 30000

Nre (reynold number)

C: 90° Bend

L 100
Q( ¿= Q
min 6

Flowrate ( Flowrate Upstream Downstream Pressure Pressure

3
m /h) (L¿ min ) (cm) (cm) Head loss Head loss
(cm) (mm)
0.8 13.33 58.9 43.2 15.7 157
1.0 16.67 66.4 41.2 25.2 252
1.4 20.00 72.5 40.2 32.3 323

1.8 23.33 76.7 40.6 36.1 361

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 graph of Q against h for 90° Bend
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
Q (m3/h)
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
100 150 200 250 300 350 400
h (mm)

D: 90° Elbows

Flowrate ( Flowrate Upstream Downstream Pressure Pressure

3
m /h) (L¿ min ) (cm) (cm) Head loss Head loss
(cm) (mm)
0.8 13.33 61.0 35.3 25.7 257
1.0 16.67 73.3 30.0 43.3 433
1.2 20.00 83.0 24.0 59.0 590

graph of Q against h for 90° Elbows

1.4

1.2

0.8
Q (m3/h)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650

h (mm)

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4.2 OBSERVATIONS

The graph plotted above for 1” Smooth Pipe and 1” rough Pipe depicted as the volumetric flow

rates increases, the head losses across the pipes tends to decreases simultaneously. Ideally, the as

volumetric flow rates increases, the head losses also should increases. But due to the some errors

encountered with the equipment; water leakages and formation of bubbles in the manometer

caused the result obtained to be incorrect.

Furthermore, same scenario happened in the other parts of the experiment for 90° Elbows and

90° bend pipe.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 CONCLUSION

This experiment provides explicit insights on the factors resulting to friction losses in

straight pipes and fittings. Longer pipe lengths, smaller diameters and the presence of fittings

induced to increased energy dissipation. And as such effect of these factors has to be considered

in designing and sizing of pumps to ensure maximum efficiency and robustness and reduce cost

of maintenance.

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