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Principles of Fluid Flow in Pipes

• In laminar flow , the fluid travels as parallel layers (known as
streamlines) that do not mix as they move in the direction of
the flow.
• If the flow is turbulent, the fluid does not travel in parallel
layers, but moves in a haphazard manner with only the
average motion of the fluid being parallel to the axis of the
pipe.
• If the flow is transitional , then both types may be present at
different points along the pipeline or the flow may switch
between the two.
• In 1883, Osborne Reynolds performed a classic set of
experiments that showed that the flow characteristic can be
predicted using a dimensionless number, now known as the
Reynolds number.

Principles of Fluid Flow in Pipes

• The Reynolds number Re is the ratio of the inertia forces in
the flow to the viscous forces in the flow and can be
calculated using:

• If Re < 2000, the flow will be laminar.

• If Re > 4000, the flow will be turbulent.
• If 2000<Re<4000, the flow is transitional
• The Reynolds number is a good guide to the type of flow

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Principles of Fluid Flow in Pipes

Principles of Fluid Flow in Pipes

• The Bernoulli equation
defines the relationship
between fluid velocity (v),
fluid pressure (p), and
height (h) above some fixed
point for a fluid flowing
through a pipe of varying
cross-section, and is the
starting point for
understanding the principle
of the differential pressure
flowmeter.
• Bernoulli’s equation states
that:

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Bernoulli’s equation can be used to measure flow rate.

Consider the pipe section shown in figure below. Since the pipe is horizontal, h 1 = h 2,
and the equation reduces to:

Principles of Fluid Flow in Pipes

• The conservation of mass principle requires that:

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VENTURI
• Venturi is a device used for measuring the rat of flow of a fluid flowing
through a pipe

VENTURIMETER

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VENTURIMETER

VENTURIMETER

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ORIFICE
• A Device used for measuring the rate of flow oa fluid flowingthrough a
pipe
• It is a cheaper device as compared to venturimeter.
• It consists of flatplate which has a circular hole in concentric with the pipe.
This called ORIFICE.
• The diameter of orifice is generally 0,5 times the diameter of the pipe (D),
although it may vary from 0,4 to 0,8 times the pipe diameter.

The Orifice Plate

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ORIFICE

ORIFICE

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ORIFICE

ORIFICE

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PITOT-TUBE
• A device used for measuring the velocity of flow at any point in a pipe or a
channel.
• Principle: if the velocity at any point decrease, the pressure at that point
increase dueto the conservation of the kinetic energy into pressure energy
• In simple form, the pitot tube consists of glass tube, bent at right angles.

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PITOT-TUBE

Variable Area Flowmeters

• The term variable area flowmeters refers to those
meters in which the minimum cross-sectional area
available to the flow through the meter varies with
the flow rate.
• Meters of this type include the rotameter and the
movable vane meter used in pipe flows, and the weir
or flume used in open-channel flows.
• The measure of the flow rate is a geometrical
quantity such as the height of a bob in the rotameter,
the angle of the vane, or the change in height of the
free surface of the liquid flowing over the weir or
through the flume.

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Rotameter
• Rotameter consists of a conical
transparent vertical glass tube
containing a “bob”.
• The flow rate is proportional to the
height of the bob.
• The rotameter is characterized by:
– Simple and robust construction
– High reliability
– Low pressure drop

Rotameter
• Applicable to a wide variety of gases and liquids
• Flow range 0.04 L/h to 150 m3/h for water
• Flow range 0.5 L/h to 3000 m3/h for air
• Uncertainty 0.4% to 4% of maximum flow
• Insensitivity to nonuniformity in the inflow (no
upstream straight piping needed)
• Typical maximum temperature 400°C
• Typical maximum pressure 4 MPa (40 bar)
• Low investment cost
• Low installation cost

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Weir

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