Exp.

# 5 - A
Friction Loss in Pipes and Fittings
Objectives:
a) To investigate head loss in a straight pipe as a function of volume flow rate or
mean velocity.
b) To determine experimentally the relationship between friction factor and
Reynolds number for flow of water in a straight pipe.
c) To find head loss due to friction and friction coefficient factor in different fittings
experimentally and compare with calculated values.
Theory:
For an incompressible fluid flowing through a pipe from point (1) to point (2), Figure 1. the
following equations apply:
 Continuity equation:

 Bernoulli equation:

Where:
Q Volumetric flow rate
3
(m /s); V Mean velocity (m/s);
2
A Cross sectional area (m );
Z Height above datum (m);
2
p Static pressure (N/m );
3
ρ Density (kg/m );
2 Figure 1: flow through a pipe
g Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s ).
hL is the head loss (m); which is the total energy lost due to friction between the liquid and the
wall and the interaction of the liquid molecules. The friction head (head loss) between two
points can be expressed by
 P P  V 2 V 2  
h  
L 

1 2

  



1

 Z
2

Z


1 2
(1)

2g

     2g 
and the total energy of water at any point may be expressed as the total head at that point ht
where
Total head (ht) = Pressure head +velocity head + static head (elevation)

P V2
= hp + hv + hs =   2g  Z -------------------------------- (2)

Head Loss
The head loss in a pipe circuit falls into two categories:
a) Major head loss (pipe head loss): due to fully developed flow conduits, and it
is caused by shear loss.
b) Minor head loss (component head loss): due to flow through devices such as valves,
bends, and tees.
The overall head loss is a combination of both these categories.

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Head Loss in Straight Pipes [ Major Loss ]

Fluid flows in the direction of decreasing pressure and the decrease in pressure is caused by
the frictional loss in a pipe. The friction loss in a pipe depends on the type of flow (laminar or
turbulent) and the surface roughness of the pipe.
Laminar flow ( for a pipe)
Head loss hf is given by Darcy – Weisbach equation

OR
h
hf = 32 LV Where
f
V
2
D L
Where V is the average velocity and D is the pipe diameter and L is the pipe length and  is
the specific weight and  is the dynamic viscosity.
Turbulent flow
Also head loss hf is given by Darcy – Weisbach equation

ks
f is a function of Reynolds number, Re, and pipe roughness,
D
f: friction factor
K s: Roughness height

Head Loss for Valves and Pipe Fittings [Minor loss]

There is no established formula for friction of Valves and pipe fittings. However from
experimental results
V2
hL  K Where K is a constant called fittings loss coefficient.
2g
Principles of Pressure Loss Measurement
Considering Figure 2, apply Bernoulli’s equation between
1 and 2:

But

For Piezometer tubes

Rearrange the last equation to get Figure 2: Pressurized piezometer tubes

to measure pressure loss between two
points

From equations 1 and 2 we find that

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Considering Figure 3, apply Bernoulli’s equation between

1 and 2:

But

Consider the U-tube. Pressures in both limbs of U-tube are

( )
equal at level 00. Therefore equating pressure at 00:

Considering Equations 3 and 4 and taking the Figure 3: U-tube containing

specific gravity of mercury as 13.6: mercury used to measure pressure
loss across valves
Apparatus:
The setup consists of two separate hydraulic circuits; one painted dark blue, one painted light
blue, each one containing a number of pipe system components. Both circuits are supplied
with water from the same hydraulic bench. The components in each of the circuits are as
detailed at Figure 4 and Table 1.
In all cases (except the gate and globe valves), the pressure change across each of the
components is measured by a pair of pressurized piezometer tubes. In the case of the valves,
pressure measurement is made by U-tube manometers containing mercury.

Figure 4: The setup of friction loss apparatus

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Table 1: Identification of Manometer Tubes and Components

Dark Blue Circuit Light Blue Circuit
A) Straight pipe 13.7 mm bore E) Sudden expansion - 13.6 mm / 26.2 mm
B) 90° Sharp bend (mitre) F) Sudden contraction - 26.2 mm / 13.6 mm
C) Proprietary 90° elbow 12.7 mm radius G) Smooth 90° bend 50.8 mm radius
D) Gate valve H) Smooth 90° bend 100 mm radius
Distance between pressure tappings for straight pipe and J) Smooth 90° bend 152 mm radius
bend experiments = 0.914 m K) Globe Valve
L) Straight Pipe 26.4mm
Unit Manometer tube Unit Manometer tube
o 1 9
12.7 mm 90 elbow Contraction
2 10
3 11
Straight pipe 152 mm bend
4 12
5 13
Mitre bend 100 mm bend
6 14
7 15
Expansion 50.8 mm bend
8 16
Procedure:
In this experiment, the dark blue circuit only is to be tested
1. Open fully the water control valve on the hydraulic bench.
2. Close fully the globe valve to isolate the Light Blue circuit.
3. Open the gate valve fully to obtain maximum flow through the Dark Blue circuit.
4. Start the pump on the hydraulic bench.
5. Wait until readings are settle down
6. Record the readings on the piezometer tubes and the U-tube.
7. Measure the time needed to collect a quantity of water in the weigh tank [25 Lit].
8. Repeat the above procedure for a total of six different flow rates, obtained by
closing the control valve on the hydraulic bench.
9. With an accurate thermometer, record the water temperature in the sump tank of the
bench at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Consider the average value as
the water temperature.
10. Close fully the gate valve.
11. Switch off the pump.

Results:
Table 2: Experimental Results
Time to collect Piezometer tube readings (cm) water
U-tube (cm) Hg
Test number 25 kg of water
Gate valve
(s) 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 50 45.1 30.5 32.4 27.6 79.8 59.5 30.5 26.4

2 28.05 55 30.4 42.6 33.4 92.4 57.9 31.4 25.4

3 23.16 67 29 52.9 39.5 107.3 54.9 32.6 24

4 20.17 72 28.2 56.4 41.9 113.5 54.5 33.2 23.4

5 19.5 78.5 26.9 61.1 44.5 122 51.1 33.9 22.5

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Table 3: Calculated Results for straight pipe

Volume Mean Reynolds Laminar or Friction
Test Friction
flow rate velocity V Log V number turbulent head loss Log hf
number 3 factor f
Q (m /s) (m/s) Re flow hf (m)
1

Table 4: Calculated Results for 90° elbow 12.7 mm radius

Test Volume flow Mean velocity Friction head Minor loss Minor loss
number rate Q (m3/s) (m/s) loss hf (m) coefficient coefficient % Error
KEXP KTHEO

Table 5: Calculated Results for 90°Sharp bend (mitre)

Test Volume flow Mean velocity Friction head Minor loss Minor loss
number rate Q (m3/s) (m/s) loss hf (m) coefficient coefficient % Error
KEXP KTHEO

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Table 6: Calculated Results for Gate valve

Test Volume flow Mean velocity Friction head Minor loss Minor loss
number rate Q (m3/s) (m/s) loss hf (m) coefficient coefficient % Error
KEXP KTHEO

Analysis and Calculations

Head Loss in Straight Pipes [Table 2]

1. Volume flow rate of water ̇ [ ⁄]

2. Mean velocity V [ ⁄] ̇

Reynolds number
3. Re
Classify flow as Laminar or turbulent
4. Friction Head Loss
5. Friction factor Darcy – Weisbach equation
6. Plot a graph of the head loss versus the average velocity and identify the laminar and
turbulent zones on the graph.
n
7. Confirm that the graph is a straight line for the laminar flow zone and hL~ V for the
turbulent flow.
8. Plot a graph of log hf [y-axis] versus log V [x-axis] and confirm that the graph is a straight
line and find the exponent n from the slop of this graph.
9. Plot f [y-axis] versus Re [x-axis]. Compare with moody chart.
Head Loss in fittings (Elbow, Mitre bend, Gate valve) [Tables 4, 5, and 6]

1. Volume flow rate of water ̇ [ ⁄]

2. Mean velocity V [ ⁄]
̇

3. Friction Head Loss for related manometers

 V2
4. Minor loss coefficient KExp hfK
2g
5. Find KStd from literature and find % error
6. Plot a graph of hf [y-axis] versus [x-axis] and confirm that the graph is a straight line
and find the slop of this graph. What the slop represents. Comment on your curve and slop

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Discussion
1. Compare all experimental results with what is expected theoretically.
2. Comment on your % error and discuss any sources of error in the experiment.
3. State the importance of this experiment and mention some related applications.