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2nd Lab FLUIDS

This document is an assignment for an environmental hydraulics module assessing students' knowledge of hydrostatic principles and fluid flow analysis. It describes a laboratory exercise investigating head losses in different pipe fittings like elbow bends and mitre bends. Students are asked to conduct experiments measuring differential readings across fittings, plot graphs of the results, and calculate loss coefficients to evaluate the validity of their results and potential sources of error. The assignment aims to demonstrate students' understanding of hydrostatic concepts and ability to analyze fluid flow using manual and automated methods.

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38 views

2nd Lab FLUIDS

This document is an assignment for an environmental hydraulics module assessing students' knowledge of hydrostatic principles and fluid flow analysis. It describes a laboratory exercise investigating head losses in different pipe fittings like elbow bends and mitre bends. Students are asked to conduct experiments measuring differential readings across fittings, plot graphs of the results, and calculate loss coefficients to evaluate the validity of their results and potential sources of error. The assignment aims to demonstrate students' understanding of hydrostatic concepts and ability to analyze fluid flow using manual and automated methods.

Uploaded by

MuhammadZAmjad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BSc(Hons)/HND - Civil & Construction Engineering

Name:

Subject: Environmental Hydraulics

Module Code: G107305

Module Tutor:

Assignment Number: 2

Assignment Weighting: 20%

Assignment Title: Laboratory Exercises – Energy Losses

Set Date: 21st February 2013

Assignment Tasks:

See Attached Sheet

Technical Grade:

LEARNING OUTCOMES
This laboratory based assignment will be used to assess the
outcomes detailed below:

 Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of hydrostatic


principles in relation to civil engineering projects.
 Carry out analysis of fluid flow in pipelines and channels to
determine required pipe or channel size for a given flow using
both manual and automated methods.

CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT

Distinction (A16-B13)
A comprehensive and detailed series of pertinent discussions aided
by high quality illustrations and graphical representations, together
with well set out and above all accurate calculations.

Merit (B12-C9)
Satisfactory pertinent discussions aided by good quality illustrations
and graphical representations, together with calculations
undertaken to a good degree of accuracy.

Pass (C8-D5)
Adequate discussions covering the majority of task requirements
coupled with reasonable illustrations and graphical representations
with calculations undertaken to a basic degree of accuracy.

Referral
Limited discussions with minimal use of pertinent illustrations and
graphical representations with some errors present in calculations
undertaken.

LABORATORY EXERCISE - Head Losses in Pipe Fittings


Introduction

Almost all runs of pipework include fittings such as bends, changes


in diameter, junctions and valves. The constrictions and changes in
direction of flow through such fittings, can be losses which are
additional to those due to friction at the pipe wall. Since these
losses at fittings usually contribute significantly to the overall loss
through the pipework, it is important to have reliable information
about them. In this experiment, losses in various typical fittings are
investigated over a range of flow rates.

Apparatus

The apparatus illustrated below consists of a run of rigid plastic


pipework, supported in the vertical plane from a baseboard. Water
is supplied to the pipe inlet from an Hydraulics Bench, and is
discharged at the exit to the measuring tank of the bench.

In the run of the pipe there are numerous fittings however this
investigation will only be concerned with water flowing through a
standard elbow bend, a mitre bend and a 100mm bend.
Piezometer tappings are provided in the pipe wall, upstream and
downstream of each of the fittings. The tappings are connected to a
series of corresponding manometers which are pressurised. The
flow rate through the equipment may be varied by adjusting the
valve near the pipe exit.

Theory

As mentioned a pipeline rarely consists of a single length of straight


pipe and there will almost certainly be a control valve in the line,
and it is likely that there will be bends or some other fittings in the
pipe, all there to ensure that the pipeline is suitable for its function.
Each valve or fitting introduces an inevitable loss of head in
incompressible flow, due to viscous dissipation within the locally
disturbed flow.

A wide variety of valves and fittings are available for use in


pipelines but, fortunately, those in common use are quite few.
However, even for the few fittings in common use, the magnitude of
the head loss is not easily determined. The head lost in a given
fitting can depend on a number of factors, most importantly its
position in relation to other fittings and straight lengths of pipe; but
this difficulty is mitigated by the fact that such losses are often quite
small in comparison with the loss in the straight pipe lengths. For
this reason, the head lost in valves and fittings is sometimes
referred to as minor losses.

Some texts, and pipe manufacturers’ handbooks, give


comprehensive data concerning these minor losses of head, but for
this context it will be sufficient to adopt a simple generalised
method of estimation applicable to all valves and fittings.

There are two methods of this type in widespread use:

i) a factor (k) times the flow velocity head; or


ii) an equivalent length of straight pipe.
Both methods fit in well with the use of Darcy’s equation (see
lecture notes for derivation) for the loss in valves and fittings, and
either would suit our purpose. We shall use the first method; it is
widely used by designers of pipe systems.

Evaluation of fitting losses

As explained above, the loss of head for each valve or fitting can be
evaluated as:

and hence the dimensionless loss coefficient, k can be calculated


by:-

Procedure

Open the exit valve carefully, watching the water levels in the
manometer tubes. Admit or release air as necessary to keep all the
readings thin the range of the scale. When the maximum feasible
flow rate is reached, record the differential readings across each of
the fittings, while timing the collection of a known quantity of water
in the measuring tank of the bench.
Repeat these measurements at a number of rates of flow. It may be
necessary to pump in more air to the manometer to keep the
readings within bounds as the exit valve is closed; alternatively the
bench valve may be used to affect part of the flow reduction.

Assessment task

Having plotted the appropriate graphs and calculated the values of


k for the various pipe fittings investigate the validity of your results
commenting on the possible sources of any errors that may have
arisen.

 Plagiarism and unfair practice

It is dishonest not to acknowledge the work of other


people and you open yourself up to the accusation of
plagiarism. The text of this assignment must be in your
own words (not even a sentence or phrase should be
taken from another source unless this source is
referenced and the phrase placed in quotes).

For more information in respect of plagiarism please


refer to the University Assessment Regulations at the
following web address:

http://quality.newport.ac.uk

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