INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR

Department of Chemical Engineering

Unit Operation Lab

Experiment Name: Drag Coefficient Apparatus

1. Objective:
Study of dynamic forces on a solid particle moving through a liquid

2. Aim:
(a) To determine the Drag Coefficient.
(b) To plot the graph between Drag coefficient vs Particle Reynolds’s Number

3. Introduction:
In fluid flow there is a transfer of momentum which gives rise to a 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, friction losses occur because of acceleration & 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.

4. Theory:
Under gravitational field, the motion of a 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 p, through a fluid of viscosity  and density.

Various forces acting on the particle are:

- External force
Fg
- Buoyancy force F B FD FD
- Drag force F D
F=m ( dudt )=F −F −F
g B D
FB FB
F g =m g
Fg
F B =m
( )
ρ
ρP
g

C D u2 ρ A P
FD=
2
CD
m = Mass of the spherical particle
Ap = Projected Area
u = Particle velocity
du
=g( ρ ρ −ρ )ρ ρ −(C D u 2 ρ A P )/2 m
dt
1Rep1000
At terminal velocity condition

( dudt =0 ,u=u ) t

For a spherical particle the eqn. reduces to:

ut =
√ 4 g ( ρ ρ−ρ ) d P
3 CD ρ
Particle Reynolds No. is
u2t =
4 g( ρρ −ρ ) d P
3 CD ρ
CD=
4 g( ρ ρ −ρ )d P
3 u2t ρ

d P ut ρ
Re P=
μ
Plot of CD vs Rep (log log scale) is:
24
CD=
for Rep 1
Re P (Stokes Law region)

for1000<Rep < 200,000 CD 0.44 i.e. Newton’s Law Region

x x x

B B B

Fluid A Fluid B Fluid C

5. Description:
The apparatus has been designed to introduce students to the fundamental characteristics of
the behavior of the particle system, in particulars the relationship between the drag
coefficient of falling particles and their Reynolds number value. Particles covering a range of
sizes and densities are supplied and the experiments are conducted by allowing single
particles to fall through a number of different liquids contained in a vertical glass tube. The
rate of fall of the particle is determined by timing their passage between two marks on the
walls of the glass tubes. Observation of the particle movement is aided by the provision of a
shielded fluorescent tube light mounted on the backboard. Particles can be removed from the
bottom of the tubes without the necessity of draining the liquid. A valve system is provided
at the bottom of each tube to allow the particles to be removed with the minimum drainage of
liquid.

Technical Details:
Column: 3 Nos., Material Borosilicate Glass, Inner Diameter
80 mm, with two marks each at 500 mm along the height.
6. Utilities Required:
6.1 Electricity Supply: Single phase, 220 VAC, 50 Hz, 5-15amp
Socket with earth connection.
6.2 Floor Area Required: 1.5 m x 0.75 m
6.3 Liquids of different viscosities: Glycerol, Castor oil, Ethylene Glycol.

7. Experimental Procedure:
7.1 Select the set of balls with variety of materials and sizes.
7.2 Measure the average diameter of each ball with screw gauge.
7.3 Measure the mass of each ball with weighing balance.
7.4 Calculate the density of ball materials from the measurements.
7.5 Record the room temperature.
7.6 Fill the three tubes with three different liquids.
7.7 Measure the density of these liquids at the ambient conditions.
7.8 Now drop gently each particle in one of the columns and note down the time taken (t)
by the particle to cover a distance with different liquids between two marked points on
the columns.
 7.9 Repeat the experiment with different liquids.

8. Observations and Calculations:

DATA:

At T, oC
μA,μB,μC = ----------- N sec/m2
g = 9.81 m/sec2
OBSERVATIONTABLE:
Ball
Run No. Fluid DP, m X, m t, sec
Material

A,
1.
Glycerol

B,
2.
Castor Oil

C,
3.
Ethylene Glycol

CALCULATIONS:
For fluid A, B, C

ρA,ρB,ρC= ----------- kg/m3

ρP = ------

X
U t=
t , m/sec = ------------------- m/sec

DP U t ρ
Re P=
μ = -------------------
 4×g×( ρP −ρ )×D P
CD=
3×U 2 ×ρ
t = -------------------

Plot the Rep vs CDon log- log graph.

9. Nomenclature:
CD = Drag coefficient
DP = Particle diameter, m
g = Acceleration due to gravity, m/sec2
Rep = Particle Reynolds number
t = Time taken by particle to travel distance X, sec
Ut = Particle terminal velocity, m/sec
X = Distance travel by particle, m
µA, µB, µC = Viscosity of fluid A, B & C, N-sec/m²
ρA, ρB, ρC = Density of fluid A, B & C, kg/m3
ρP = Density of particle, kg/m3

10. Precaution and maintenance Instructions:

10.1 Reading should be taken carefully.
10.2 During experiment upper valve should open and other valve closed.
10.3 If you are not using the equipment more than a period of one month drain the fluids
and clean the columns.
10.4 Closed the upper valve and open the bottom and take out the Iron balls from the
column for reuse.

11. Troubleshooting:
11.1 Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 180 volts & 230 volts.
11.2 Handle the apparatus carefully
11.3 Fill the columns carefully so as to prevent the spillage of fluids.

12. References:
12.1 W.L. McCabe, J.C. Smith, “Unit Operations Of Chemical Engineering”,
7th ed., McGraw Hill, NY, 2005, Page 155-159.
12.2 Dr. R.K.Bansal, “Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Machines”, 9th ed., Laxmi
Publications (P) Ltd.ND, 2008, Page 652-654.