Objective:

To study the losses due to various fittings in pipelines, friction in a straight pipe.

Aim:
1. To determine the loss of head in the fittings at the various water flow rates.
2. To determine the loss co-efficient for the pipe fittings and determine the flow.
3. To determine friction co-efficient for flow through straight Pipe and in valves.

Theory:
Every sort of flow geometry changes in a pipe, such as a bend, elbow, or T junction, results in losses
because of secondary flow production. The energy is thus wasted. These fittings, which include
valves, reducers, elbows, and tees, are a crucial part of most pipe systems' pressure loss. The K-value
approach, sometimes referred to as the Resistance Coefficient or Velocity Head, can be used to
quantify the pressure losses of several small pieces of equipment and pipe fittings.

The fundamental method for figuring out the loss in piping systems is to write the Bernoulli equation
between two known-to-be-condi-tions sites that are connected by a streamline. For instance,
between a pipe exit and the reservoir's surface.

The main losses in a straight pipe are caused by the roughness, and the pressure drop is determined
by the head losses in terms of friction factor. Small losses occur when the flow is disturbed by
expansion, contraction, diffusers, bends, elbows, joints, and valves, among other things. Each has a
unique K value that is taken into account when calculating the head loss.The K model exhibits some
error when the flow is laminar since it is only valid for high Reynolds numbers, or in the turbulence
regime, not in the laminar regime.

Equations Used:
Formula for Calculating Head Loss from K Values:
For straight pipe:

It is found that the total friction resistance to fluid flow depends on the following:

1. The area of the wetted surface

2. The density of the fluid

3. The surface roughness

4. It is independent of the fluid pressure

5. It increase with the square of the velocity

Line Diagram:
Procedure:
• Close all the available valves.
• Fill Sump Tank 3/4 with fresh water, making sure there are no foreign
objects present.
• Open the PU pipe from the fitting attached to the bottom-most point of the
manometer, fill it with mercury to half the level, and then reattach the
pipe. Open by-pass valve.
• Verify that the ON/OFF switch on the panel is set to the OFF position.
• Turn on the primary power source.
• Turn on the pump.
• Open flow control valve of, upper pipe (for bend, sudden enlargement,
sudden contraction, Globe valve, elbow and Tee flow 180o or middle pipe
(for gate valve, pipe friction and Tee flow 90o ) or lower pipe (for Ball valve
and orifice meter).
• Open the pressure taps on the associated test section's manometer very
gradually to prevent water from blowing on the manometer fluid.
• Now carefully open the air release valve on the manometer to let the air
out of the instrument.
• Close the air release valves after there is no air left in the manometer.
• Use the control valve and bypass valve to change the water flow rate in the
chosen region.
• The manometer reading should be noted.
• Rotameter-record the water flow.
• Repeat the process for various water flow rates, while running the control
valve and the bypass valve.
• Repeat the experiment with different pipe fittings that you've chosen.
• Open the by-pass valve entirely once the experiment for the test segment
of the chosen pipe is finished. Then, close the pipe's flow control valve and
then, open the pipe's other control valve.
• Repeat the process for the remaining exam sections. Close the pressure taps on the
manometer after the experiment.
• Drain the apparatus entirely using the given drain valves. Turn off the
pump. Turn off the electricity to the panel.

Utilities Required:
• Electricity Supply: Single Phase, 220 V AC, 50 Hz, 0.5 kW with Earth connection
• Water supply
• Drain Required
• Floor Area Required: 1.5 m x 0.75 m
Results & Calculations:
1. For major losses due to friction at the pipe walls:
 Head Loss vs Flow Rate
0.6

0.5

0.4
Head Loss(m)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
-0.1
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5

Friction Factor vs Flow Rate

0.0350

0.0300

0.0250
Friction factor

0.0200

0.0150

0.0100

0.0050

0.0000
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5

 Log(Friction Factor) vs Log(Re)

-1.13.400 3.600 3.800 4.000 4.200 4.400 4.600 4.800 5.000

-1.3
Log(Friction Factor)

-1.5

-1.7

-1.9

-2.1

-2.3

-2.5
Log(Re)

Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5

2. For different Bends

 Head Loss vs Flow Rate
0.06

0.05

0.04
Head Loss(m)

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
-0.01
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Bend A Bend B Bend C Bend D

 Loss Coefficient vs Flow Rate
2.500

2.000
Loss Coefficient(KL)

1.500

1.000

0.500

0.000
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Bend A Bend B Bend C Bend D

3. For sudden expansion and contraction:

 Head Loss vs Flow Rate
0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12
Head Loss(m)

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Sudden Contraction Sudden Expansion

Loss Coefficient vs Flow Rate

3.500

3.000

2.500
Loss Coefficient(KL)

2.000

1.500

1.000

0.500

0.000
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Sudden Contraction Sudden Expansion

 4. For different valves:

Head Loss vs Flow Rate

7.000

6.000

5.000
Head Loss(m)

4.000

3.000

2.000

1.000

0.000
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Ball Valve Gate Valve Glove Valve

 Loss Coefficient vs Flow Rate
80.000

70.000

60.000
Loss Coefficient(KL)

50.000

40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

0.000
0.00E+00 5.00E-05 1.00E-04 1.50E-04 2.00E-04 2.50E-04 3.00E-04 3.50E-04 4.00E-04 4.50E-04
Flow Rate(m^3/s)

Ball Valve Gate Valve Glove Valve

5. Laminar flow in Line 1

Conclusion:
The friction factor decreases with the flow rate and seems to settle at a value for higher flow rates
(this is due to the increasing Reynold’s number and the diminishing effect of the boundary layer)

Head losses vary across different types of bends of equal length and diameter

Very high losses for globe valves are observed as compared to Ball and Gate valves.

➢ It is evident from the graphs acquired above that KL continues to fall as flow rate

increases while head loss begins to increase.

➢ Rotameter is a more accurate flow meter than an orifice meter.

➢ Ball valves experience less head loss than gate valves because they have a lower KL

value.

➢ According to the graph shown above, Elbow experience a greater head loss than Bend,

and Bend also turns the flow more forcefully.

➢ The globe valve experiences the most head loss among the ball, gate, and plots obtained

minor losses, which is why it does so.

➢ The head loss in the Tee 1800 is lower than in the Tee 900 since it is obvious that flow

separation will occur later, resulting in significant pressure loss.

The KMNO4 dye in the range of Reynolds number varying till 700 was seen to move in a straight line
and no mixing of different jet-streams was observed

While measuring friction coefficient for flow through different pipes, the effective pipelength is
taken away from the inlet and outlet regions of the pipe to eliminate entry length and exit length
effects.

We observed Friction coefficient as follows:

In line 2 of copper, F.C .= 0.0048

In line 3 of copper, F.C. = 0.0059

In line 4 of aluminium, F.C. = 0.0056

In line 5 of acrylic, F.C. = 0.0086

Precautions:
➢ Never run the apparatus if power supply is less than 180 volts and above 230 volts.
➢ Never fully close the flow control valves and by-pass valve simultaneously.
➢ To prevent clogging of moving parts, Run Pump at least once in a fortnight.
➢ Always keep apparatus free from dust.
➢ Keep the flow rate low in case of glove valve to avoid high pressure drop.
➢ Use DPI (Digital Pressure Indicator) for the Valve since Pressure difference is very high
Lab DataSheets