Eastern Mediterranean University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Laboratory Handout

COURSE: Fluid Mechanics MENG353

Semester: Fall (2009-2010)

Name of Experiment: Minor Major Losses

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Sezai

Submitted by:
Student No:
Group No:
Date of experiment:
Date of submission:

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EVALUATION

Procedure & Activity During Experiment 30 %

Results & Graphs 35 %

Discussion & Answer to Questions 30 %

Neat and tidy report writing 5%

Overall Mark

Name of evaluator:
1 OBJECTIVE

The aim of this experiment is to determine the head loss coefficients for pipe bends and also to
determine the loss coefficients of various fittings.

2 APPARATUS

The schematic of the apparatus is shown in the Fig.1. There is a pipe network which consists of
light blue pipes and dark blue pipes with various fittings. The flow rate is measured by a rotameter.
Water manometers are used to measure the pressure at points under consideration.

Fig.1 Minor-Major loss apparatus

3 THEORY

A quantity of interest in the analysis of pipe flow is the pressure drop P (or pressure loss)
since it is directly related to the power requirements of the fan or pump to maintain flow. However,
in the analysis of piping systems, pressure losses are commonly expressed in terms of the
equivalent fluid column height, called the head loss hL . From fluid statics P = ghL , then the
pipe head loss is obtained as
P
hL = L (1)
g
A fluid in a typical piping system has head loss in the straight pipe parts of the system (major
losses) in addition to the losses across various fittings, valves, bends, elbows, tees, inlets, exits,
enlargements and contraction (minor losses).
In the chapter 8 of the text book, it is offered the minor and major losses in details. However at the
first step to find them, it needs to write the energy equation for two considered points and then
calculate the hL . With using following equations:
 2
fL Vavg
Equation for finding Major loss: hL = (2)
D 2g

2
Vavg
Equation for finding Minor loss: hL = k L (3)
2g
Where f is the Darcy friction factor, and k L is the loss coefficient. In the case of finding both losses
(the minor and the major losses with together), one should use:

L V2 V2
Total head loss (including major and minor) hL ,total = f +k (4)
D 2g 2g

4 WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT

1- For 6 different flow rates record the rotameter reading and head loss for some fittings such as:
90 smooth bend ( h1 2 = h2 h1 ), straight pipe ( h3 4 = h4 h3 ), without vanes 90 miter bend
( h56 = h6 h5 ) and the valve ( h7 8 = h8 h7 ).
2- Record the length and diameter of pipes.

5 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

L 12 = 805 mm L3 4 = 914 mm L56 = 832 mm

# D12 = 13.6 mm D3 4 = 13.6 mm D56 = 13.6 mm D7 8 = 13.6 mm
z12 = 833 mm z 7 8 = 0
z 3 4 = 0 z 56 = 45 mm

Rotameter
Reading h1 2 h3 4 h56 h78
6 RESULTS

V12 2 L3 4 V32 4 V52 6 V 72 8

m hL 12 hL 34 hL 56 hL 78
2g D3 4 2 g
2g 2g

7 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE (in your own words, 6 -7 sentences)

8. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS

V12 2
1- Plot h2 h1 versus (minor loss). Find the slope ( K1 2 ) and compare with the value
2g
found from text book.(Discuss)
L V2
2- Plot h4 h3 versus 3 4 3 4 (major loss). Find the slope ( f 3 4 ) and compare with the
D3 4 2 g
value found from Moodys chart.(Discuss)
V52 6
3- Plot h6 h5 versus (minor loss). Find the slope ( K 56 ) and compare with the value
2g
found from text book.(Discuss)
V72 8
4- Plot h8 h7 versus (minor loss). Find the slope ( K 78 ) and compare with text
2g
book.(Discuss)
5- Using f 3 4 from part 2 make correction for K 3 4 and K 56 (using equation 4. (Discuss)
6- Give one sample calculation for major and minor losses.
7- Count the error sources in this experiment.
8- Write your own conclusion on this experiment.

APPENDIX
 Use this graph to find the mass flow rate from rotameter reading.

cm

m (kg/s)
Fig.2 Rotameter calibration curve