NAME: MUKABWA DEONE LUKASI

REG NO: F16/42422/2017

FCE 322 FLUID MECHANICS

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND CONSTRUCTION

ENGINEERING

THE SURGE TANK EXPERIMENT

INTRODUCTION

A surge tank is a tank connected to a pipe carrying a liquid and intended to neutralize sudden
changes of pressure in the flow by filling when the pressure increases and emptying when it drops.
A surge tank can also be defined as a standpipe or storage reservoir at the downstream end of a
closed aqueduct or feeder or a dam or reservoir to absorb sudden rises of pressure as well as to
quickly provide extra water during a brief drop in pressure.

Surges occur when the rate of flow of a fluid passing down a pipeline changes, causing a change
in pressure resulting from common causes such as rapid valve closure, pump starts and stops and
improper filling practices. The severity of this effect depends on the rate of change in the flow rate,
the length of the pipe and its diameter. Water hammer is the formation of pressure waves as a result
of sudden change in liquid velocity in a piping system. Water hammer usually occurs when a fluid
flow start or stops quickly or is forced to make a rapid change in direction. In large water mains
the rate of change in flow is carefully controlled to avoid damage to pipes and valves. In turbines,
surge tanks or stand pipes are used to reduce the pressure surges. When the flow to the turbine is
reduced, water flows into the surge tank and for increased load, the initial extra water required is
from the surge tank. The size of the tank should be such that water will not overflow when the
turbine is suddenly shut down, nor allow air to be drawn into the system following a sudden
increase in demand.

The important functions of surge tank are as follows:

 It should Protects the conduit system from high internal pressures.

 It should help the hydraulic turbine regarding its regulation characteristics.

 It should store the water to raise the pressure in pressure drop conditions.
APPARATUS

1. Stopwatch
2. Measuring tape
3. Reservoir
4. Surge tank

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the method of calculation for determining the variation of level with time in a surge
tank.

PROCEDURE

1. The position of the water was measured and recorded as the initial datum
2. The distance from the reservoir to the surge tank was then measured and recorded
3. Water in the surge tank was then released and allowed to drop to a lower level (110 cm
in our case)
4. From this position, the shut valve was instantly opened and the period of oscillation
within certain level of the water was measured.
5. The procedure (from 3) was then repeated for various heads (105, 100, 95, 90, 80) and
recorded.
6. The expression for the head lost between the reservoir and the surge tank in terms of
velocity (hf=kvn) was the first to be determined by taking a series of readings of the head
difference and discharge and making the appropriate log plot.
7. Surges at each of the five initial heads in the surge tank were then recorded and plotted
on the same graph as the computed curves. The curves were then compared.
DATA ANALYSIS

Results of the experiment

Diameter of pipe, Dp = 2 inches= 0.0508m

Length of pipe, Lp = 9.22m

Diameter of surge tank= 4.5 inches= 0.1143m

Diameter of discharge tank = 0.6096m

Maximum height of water in surge tank = 1.59m (Datum)

Area of surge tank As = 0.0102m2

Area of discharge tank = 0.2919m2

Cross sectional Area of pipe ,Ap = 2.027 *10-3 m2

Tables

110 105 100 90 80

Time in seconds

120
0.43 0.48 0.52 0.76 0.96

150
1.47 1.63 1.81 2.15 2.39

180
3.60 3.72 3.90 4.03 4.19

180
6.60 6.67 6.69 7.23 7.72

150
8.22 9.97 10.14 10.90 10.92

H1 H2 H2-H1 t

110 4.5 25.7 21.2 23.50

105 23.2 44.4 21.2 23.18

100 42.5 64.0 21.5 22.34

90 62.3 76.7 21.8 14.72

80 37.0 57.0 20.1 20.40

Using a datum of: 159 cm

TEST 1 2 3 4 5
Initial Head 110 105 100 90 80
(cm)
Datum- 0.49 0.54 0.59 0.69 0.79
initial
head(m)

Time(sec) 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 Volume=(h2- Head( hf ) Velocity 𝑽 log hf log v

𝑸=
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑸
(m3/s)x10-3 h1)× 𝑨𝒅 (𝒎𝟑 ) (m) = (m/s)
𝑨𝒑
23.5 2.626 0.0618 0.49 1.296 -0.3098 0.1126
23.18 2.669 0.0619 0.54 1.317 -0.2676 0.1196
22.34 2.808 0.0628 0.59 1.385 -0.2291 0.1414
14.72 2.855 0.0420 0.69 1.408 -0.1612 0.1486
20.4 2.861 0.0584 0.79 1.411 -0.1024 0.1495

Analysis and Graphs

The expression of the head lost between the reservoir and the surge tank in terms of velocity is
expressed as: hf = kvn

Hence; log hf = log k + n log v

A graph of log v against log hf was then plotted in accordance to the equation above where n and
k were to be determined from the graph
 GRAPH OF LOG V AGAINST LOG HF
-0.08
0.09 0.1 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14

-0.13

-0.18
LOG HF

-0.23

-0.28

-0.33
LOG V

Graph equation; log hf = 2.783log v – 0.49055

From the straight line graph, the value of 𝑛 is obtained as the gradient of that graph while log 𝑘 is
the Y intercept of the graph. Therefore;
Log k = -0.49055
k = 10-0.49055
k = 0.32318

𝑓𝑙𝑣 2 𝑓𝑙
From the expression of the head lost, ℎ𝑓 = thus 𝑘 =
2𝐷𝑔 2𝐷𝑔

𝑓×9.22 0.32318×2×0.0508×9.81
Therefore, 0.32318= 𝑓= = 0.034936
2×0.0508×9.81 9.22
From equation;
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 +ℎ𝑓 𝛽
= 𝑙𝑛 [𝛽−𝑦 ]
𝛽 𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝐿×𝐴𝑝
𝛃=
2×𝑔×𝐾×𝐴𝑠

9.22×0.002027
𝛃= = 0.28896
2×9.81×0.32318×0.0102

Values of ymax were guessed for each head loss hf and the equation was then balanced and the ymax
compared with the values from the graphs drawn below:

Surge at Hf=0.49
195
185
175
165
HEIGHT

155
145
135
125
115
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME

Series1
 surge at Hf=0.54
195
185
175
165
HEIGHT

155
145
135
125
115
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME

Surge at f=0.59
195
185
175
165
HEIGHT

155
145
135
125
115
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
TIME
 Surge at Hf =0.69
195

185

175

165

155

145

135

125

115
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

surge at f=0.79
195

185

175

165
Height

155

145

135

125

115
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time
 combined Surge at Hf
195
185
175
165
height

155
145
135
125
115
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Time