University of zawia

Faculty of oil gas and engineering

Department of chemical engineering
" Unit operation lab 1 CHE432L "

Experiment No 3:

" Energy Loss in Bends and Fittings "

Student's name: Mohammed Alarabe Keshlaf

Student's ID: 1610000162

Instructor's name: Khaled Alfared

Date Experiment Is Conducted: 6-6-2024

Date Lab Report Is Submitted: 27-6-2024

 Introduction:
Fluids, seemingly simple substances, exhibit complex behavior when encountering bends. While we
envision a smooth flow transitioning effortlessly, the reality is often filled with hidden hurdles. One such
hurdle is loss in bending, a phenomenon that affects the energy and efficiency of fluid flow when it
navigates a curved path. This loss has real-world implications across various applications, from designing
efficient pipelines to understanding blood flow in the human body. In pipelines, bends add resistance to
the flow, increasing pressure drops and pumping costs. In biomedical engineering, understanding how
blood bends through vessels helps diagnose and treat circulatory problems

Experimental theory :
Head losses experiments involve two main theoretical aspects: conservation of energy (Bernoulli's
equation) and head loss calculationThese two laws and the definition of work and pressure are the
basis for Bernoulli’s theorem and can be expressed as follows for any two points located on the
same streamline in the flow:

𝑝1 𝑣12 𝑝2 𝑣22
( + + 𝑧1) 𝑖𝑛 = ( + + 𝑧2) 𝑜𝑢𝑡 + ℎ𝑙
𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔
where:
𝑝: pressure

𝑔: acceleration due to gravity,

𝑣: fluid velocity, and

𝛾: 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

z: vertical elevation of the fluid.

ℎ𝑙 : head loss

If the diameter through the pipe fitting is kept constant, then 𝑣𝑖𝑛 = 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 . Therefore, if the
change in elevation head is neglected, the manometric head difference is the static head difference
that is equal to the minor loss through the fitting.

𝑝1 𝑝2
( )𝑖𝑛 _ ( )𝑜𝑢𝑡 = ℎ1 − ℎ2 = ∆ℎ
𝛾 𝛾

which and are manometer readings before and after the fitting.

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The energy loss that occurs in a pipe fitting can also be expressed as a fraction (K) of the velocity
head through the fitting:

𝑣2 ∆ℎ
∆ℎ = 𝑘 𝑘= 𝑣2
2𝑔
2𝑔

The pressure difference ( ) between before and after the gate valve is measured directly using
the pressure gauge. This can then be converted to an equivalent head loss by using the conversion
ratio:

bar= 10.2 m water

To identify the flow regime through the fitting, the Reynolds number is calculated as:

𝑣𝐷
𝑅𝑒 =
𝑢
Where:

v : is the cross-sectional mean velocity

D : is the pipe diameter
: is the fluid kinematic viscosity

The velocity of flow at any section of the duct with a cross-sectional area of is determined as:

𝑄
𝑣=
𝐴
The flow velocity is measured by collecting a volume of the fluid (V) over a time period (t). The
flow rate is calculated as:
𝑣
𝑄=
𝑡
Note : is value will be negative for the contraction since 𝑣𝑖𝑛 > 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 and it will be positive for
enlargement because 𝑣𝑖𝑛 < 𝑣𝑜𝑢𝑡 , note that will be negative for the enlargement.

Objectives of the experiment :-

1- Investigate the relationship between head loss coefficient and volumetric flow rate, and
between head loss and flowrate.
2- Determine the head loss coefficient (K)
3- To investigate the head loss in fittings

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Experimental Tools :
1. F1-10 hydraulics bench
2. F1-15 Bernoulli’s apparatus test equipment
3. A stopwatch for timing the flow measurement.

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Figure 1: F1-15 Bernoulli’s apparatus test equipment

Experimental procedures :

1. Set up the apparatus on the hydraulics bench and ensure that its base is horizontal.
2. Connect the apparatus inlet to the bench flow supply, run the outlet extension tube to the
volumetric tank, and secure it in place.
3. Open the bench valve, the gate valve, and the flow control valve, and start the pump to fill
the pipe system and manometers with water. Ensure that the air-bleed valve is closed.
4. To purge air from the pipe system and manometers, connect a bore tubing from the air valve
to the volumetric tank, remove the cap from the air valve, and open the air-bleed screw to
allow flow through the manometers. Tighten the air-bleed screw when no air bubbles are
observed in the manometers.
5. Set the flow rate at approximately 17 liters/minute. This can be achieved by several trials of
timed volumetric flow measurements. For flow measurement, close the ball valve, and use
a stopwatch to measure the time that it takes to accumulate a known volume of fluid in the
tank, which is read from the hydraulics bench sight glass. Collect water for at least one
minute to minimize errors in the flow measurement.
6. Open the air-bleed screw slightly to allow air to enter the top of the manometers; re-tighten
the screw when the manometer levels reach a convenient height. All of the manometer levels

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 should be on scale at the maximum flow rate. These levels can be adjusted further by using
the air-bleed screw and the hand pump. The air-bleed screw controls the air flow through the
air valve, so when using the hand pump, the bleed screw must be open. To retain the hand
pump pressure in the system, the screw must be closed after pumping [3].
7. Take height readings from all manometers after the levels are steady.
8. Repeat this procedure to give a total of at least five sets of measurements over a flow range
of 8 – 17 liters per minute.
9. Measure the outflow water temperature at the lowest flow rate. This, together is used to
determine the Reynolds number.
10. Results and calculation :
Table 1: the calculation when flow is 0.00005m3/s

Table 4: the calculation when flow is 0.00012m3/s

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 Table 3: the calculation when flow is 0.00016m3/s

Data: Ƿ=998 kg/m3 µ=1.002×10-3 N.s/m2 Internal diameter =0.0183m

Calculation for short bend for flow rate 0.00005 m3/s :

𝑣 0.0005
𝑄= = = 5.56 × 10−5 𝑚3 /𝑠
𝑡 90
𝜋
𝐴 = × (0.0183)2 = 2.63 × 10−4 𝑚2
4
𝑄 5.56 × 10−5 𝑚
𝑣= = −4
= 0.211
𝑣 2.63 × 10 𝑠
𝑣 2 (0.211)2
𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑠 = = 2.27 × 10−3
2𝑔 2 × 9.81
∆ℎ 0.002
𝑘= = = 0.881
𝑣2 2.27 × 10−3
2𝑔
𝑣𝐷 998 × 0.211 × 0.0183
𝑅𝑒 = = = 3845.88
𝑢 1.002 × 10 − 3

Table 4: data of results

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 Chart 1: volumetric rate vs Loss coefficient

Conclusion:-

Energy loss is proportional to the length of the tube and the speed of fluid flow, and energy loss
increases with the number of bends in the tube

The Long Bend has the highest loss coefficient, while the Enlargement has the lowest. The amount
of energy lost per unit of flow through a fitting is expressed in terms of the loss coefficient. It is
computed by dividing the velocity head by the head loss. More energy is lost per unit of
flow the higher the loss coefficient. All things considered, the data points to larger head
losses and loss coefficients for fittings like elbows and contractions that increase turbulence. On the
other hand, enlargements and other fittings that permit smoother flow will have lower head losses
and loss coefficients.