Experiment No.

- 5

DRAG COEFFICIENT EXPERIMENT

Aim:
1) To determine the drag coefficient CD and plot the graph between drag coefficient Vs
particle Reynolds number.

2) To determine the diameter of irregular particle.

Introduction:
In fluid flow there is a transfer of momentum which gives rise to tangential stress or drag
on a smooth surface that is oriented parallel to the flow direction. This is called skin
drag. In addition to this, additional friction losses occur because of acceleration and
deceleration of fluid. The accelerative effects occur when the fluid changes its path to
pass around a solid body set in the flow path. This phenomenon is known as form drag.

Theory:
Under gravitational field, the motion of particle through a fluid is due to the density
difference between the particle and the fluid. Consider the motion of a spherical particle
of diameter Dp, density ρP through a fluid of viscosity µ and density ρF.

Three forces act on a particle which is moving through a fluid.

1. The body force due to external force field, gravitational or centrifugal force (Fe).

2. The buoyancy force, due to the displaced fluid acts parallel but in direction
opposite to the body force due to external field (Fb).

3. The drag force, which appears whenever there is relative motion between
particle and the fluid. The drag force acts to oppose the motion and acts parallel
with the direction of movement but in opposite direction (FD).
 Fig 1. Particle motion in fluid

Equation for motion of particle through fluid

du
m. = Fe − Fb − FD …………….. (1)
dt

Body force (gravity) Fe = mg

 
Buoyancy force Fb = m  F g
 P 

(CD u 2  P AP )
Drag force FD =
2

m = mass of spherical particle, u = particle velocity

CD = dimensionless drag coefficient

AP = projected area of particle measured in plane perpendicular to

direction of motion of particle.

From equation (1)

du g (  P −  F ) (CDu 2  F AP )
=
dt P − 2m
Terminal velocity (ut):
As the drag increases with velocity, acceleration decreases with time and approaches
zero. The particle quickly reaches a constant, maximum velocity, called terminal
du
velocity. The equation for terminal velocity can be found by taking =0
dt

g ( P − F ) (CDut 2  F AP )
P − 2m
=0

2 (  P −  F ) mg
ut =
CD  F  P AP
………….. (2)

 P ut DP
Re P =

Particle Reynolds number is given by

Experimental Setup:
The apparatus consists of three cylindrical glass tubes, each containing a different
liquid. The density and viscosity of each liquid are known. Fluorescent tube light
mounted on the backboard. A valve system is provided at the bottom of each tube for
removal of particle. There are spheres of known diameter and specific weight. There are
also irregular shaped particles of calcite and stone.
 Fig 2. Block diagram of drag coefficient apparatus

Requirements:

1. Liquids of different viscosities

2. Regular Particles of known diameter (glass or steel), Irregular shaped particles
3. Stop Watch
4. Balance
5. Screw gauge
Procedure:

1. Close all the valves V1-V6.

2. Fill the three tubes with three different liquid.
3. Measure the diameter of glass balls using a screw gauge.
4. Measure the distance between 2 strips marked along the flow path of the particle
on the glass column.
5. Drop the particles into the tube from above and record the time taken to cover
the distance between the strips. Ensure that the particle doesn’t come into
contact with the inner walls of the tube.
6. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for 6 other glass balls and 2 steel balls and 2 Rasching ring
particles.
7. For the Raschig ring, measure the Inner dia, Outer dia and length.
8. Repeat the experiment for 2 irregular shaped particles.
9. Remove the particles from glass tube by open the valve V1-V3.

Precautions:

1) During the experiment upper valve should be open and bottom valve should be
close.
2) Collect the balls by close the upper valve and open the bottom valve for reuse.
3) Ensure that particle doesn’t come in contact with the inner walls of tube.
4) There should not be bubble formation while dropping the particle in the column.

Observations:

Density Data:

Material Density (g/cm3) ρP

Glass

Steel

Calcite
Column Number:

Fluid properties:

Fluid: Temperature:

Density: Viscosity:

Table 1: For regular particles

S. Material Particle Length Time Ut ReP CD Ut CD

No Dia. of fall (sec)
(Spherical (m/s) (from graph) (m/s) Theoretic
objects) (DP) (m) al
experi experimental Theoretical
mental

1 Glass

2 Glass

3 Glass

4 Glass

5 Steel

6 Steel
 Table 2: For irregular particles

S. Irregular Inner Outer Length Equivalent Length Time Ut ReP

No. objects diameter diameter diameter, of fall
(mm) (s) (m/s)
Deq(mm)
(mm) (mm) (m)
experimental

1 Rasching
rings

2 Rasching
rings

Irregular Weight Density Volume Equivalent Length Time Ut ReP

objects (g) diameter of fall
(g/cm3) (cm3) (sec) (m/s)
(cm) (m)
experimental

1 Calcite

2 Calcite

Calculations:

 DP 3  P  DP 2  P ut D p
For spherical particles: m = , AP = , ReP =
6 4 µ

4 g (  P −  F ) DP
CD = …………… (3)
3u 2t  F

24
At Stokes law regime (ReP << 1): CD =
ReP

gD p 2 (  P −  F )
So, Ut =
18µ

Similarly calculate the drag coefficient and terminal velocity for irregular particles.
Results:

Plot the curve between drag coefficient (CD) and particle Reynold number (Rep).

Discussion:
1) What is the significance of Reynolds number.
2) Discuss the various regions of flow on the basis of Reynolds number.
3) Discuss the role of terminal velocity and drag coefficient.

References:
1. McCabe, Warren L. Smith, Julian C. Harriott, Peter(2005). Unit Operations of
Chemical Engineering. Seventh Ed. NY: McGraw-Hill. Pp 155-159, 167-172.

2. Dr Bansal, R. K.(2008). Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Machines. Ninth Ed. ND:
Laxmi Publications (P) Ltd. Pp 652-654.