Lecture 9 – Problems related to

Reynolds Number

1. Reynolds Number:

Reynolds Number is expressed as following:

�𝝆 𝐃𝑽
𝑫𝑽 �
𝑹𝑹 = =
𝝁 𝝂
where,

Re = Reynolds Number

D = diameter of pipe or tube

𝑉� = average velocity of liquid

𝜌 = density of liquid

𝜇 = viscosity of liquid

𝜈 = kinematic viscosity of liquid

2. Numerical problems:

Following numerical problems must be solved by the students themselves:

a) Problem No. 1:

𝒎
Water at 10°C is flowing at an average velocity of 2 𝒔
in a 100 mm diameter pipe with a

dynamic viscosity of 1.35 cP. Calculate the Reynolds number. What type of flow is this?

b) Problem No. 2:

ft
Oil with a specific gravity of 0.78 and a viscosity of 20 cP is flowing at 5 in a 2″ (2 inch)
s
diameter pipe. Calculate the Reynolds number. What type of flow is this?

Fluid Mechanics-I (CHEN-2103)

BS Chemical Engineering – BS-CHEN-4 – Spring 2020
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c) Problem No. 3:

kg
100% glycerol with a density of 1240 and viscosity of 100 P at 60°C is flowing at a
m3
m
velocity of 0.3 through a 15 mm diameter tube. Calculate the Reynolds number. What type
s
of flow is this?

d) Problem No. 4:
lit m2
A fluid has a flowrate of 1387 , specific gravity of 1.87, and kinematic viscosity of 0.03
min s

3″ 3
and is flowing through a circular pipe of ( 4 inch) radius. Calculate the Reynolds number.
4
What type of flow is this?

e) Problem No. 5:

A fluid is flowing through a 4 mm inside diameter venturi tube with a specific gravity of 1,
2
-6 m kg
kinematic viscosity of 1.028 × 10 , and mass flow rate of 1 . Calculate the Reynolds
s s
number. What type of flow is this?

f) Problem No. 6:

kg m
Polymer melt with a density of 900 and a viscosity of 1 Pa · s is flowing at 0.2 in a 15
m3 s
mm tube. Calculate the Reynolds number. What type of flow is this?

g) Problem No. 7:

ft
Air at 2 atm pressure and 180°F is flowing at 50 s
in a 12″ duct. The viscosity of the air at

this temperature is around 0.02 cP. Calculate the Reynolds number. What type of flow is this?

3. Hints for solving these problems:

1. Reynolds number is dimensionless number; the answer should only be a numerical

value, if there are still some units left, the solution is wrong.
g
2. 1 P = 100 cP and 1 cP = 0.01 (cP = centipoise)
cm · s
μ dynamic viscosity
3. ν = or kinematic viscosity =
ρ density

Fluid Mechanics-I (CHEN-2103)

BS Chemical Engineering – BS-CHEN-4 – Spring 2020
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 density of liquid
4. Specific gravity of liquid =
density of water at 20°C

5. Mass flow rate of liquid = Volumetric flow rate of liquid × Density of liquid
6. Volumetric flow rate of liquid = Velocity of liquid × Cross-sectional area of the pipe
or tube
7. For very viscous liquids like polymer melt, if the viscosity is provided, use the
�𝜌
𝐷𝑉 �
D𝑉
Reynolds number expression, 𝑅𝑅 = =
𝜇 𝜈

8. Ducts are typically used for gases like air in Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and
refrigeration (HVACR) systems. These are usually rectangular in shape and can be
considered as tubes.
9. For gases at a specific temperature and pressure, use the Reynolds number formula,
�𝜌
𝐷𝑉 �
D𝑉
𝑅𝑅 = =
𝜇 𝜈
g
10. The molar mass of air 28.9647
mol
11. The density of the gases can be found by using ideal gas law, i.e., PV = nRT where,
P = absolute pressure
T = absolute temperature
R = ideal gas constant, some typical values of ideal gas constant, R are given below:
m3 · Pa
8.314
mol · K
L · bar
0.08314
mol · K
L · atm
0.08206
mol · K
L · mm Hg
62.36
mol · K
ft3 · atm
0.7302
lb. mole · R
ft3 · psia
10.73
lb.mole · R
J
8.314
mol · K
cal
1.987
mol · K
Btu
1.987
lb mole · R

Fluid Mechanics-I (CHEN-2103)

BS Chemical Engineering – BS-CHEN-4 – Spring 2020
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