Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY (CvSU)

DON SEVERINO DE LAS ALAS CAMPUS
Indang, Cavite

pdo@cvsu.edu.ph

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY

Name Gary B. Sadol Date Performed May 8, 2022 _

-

Student No 201912396 Date Submitted May 21, 2022 _

Grades in Points

Laboratory Experiment No. 2

HEAD LOSS IN PIPES CONNECTED IN SERIES

Objectives:

1. To measure the head losses in pipes connected in series.

2. To determine the friction loss and minor loss coefficients in pipes.

Apparatus:

Pipes of different diameters connected in series, water tank, plastic tubing

with stand, water container.
Concept:

Loss head in pipes is caused by 1) pipe friction along the straight sections
of pipe of uniform diameter and uniform roughness and 2) changes in velocity of
direction of flow.

The loss of head due to pipe friction is referred to as the major loss and
loss due to charges in velocity or flow direction as minor losses. Minor losses
may be caused by reduction or enlargement in cross section, by obstruction or by
bends or curves in pipes.

The well known pipe formula, called the Darcy-Weisbach formula is

given by

ℎ𝑓 = fL𝑣 2 / D2g

Minor losses is generally written as

ℎ𝑚 = k𝑣 2 / 2g

The loss of head in pipes is determined from the hydraulic grade line. The
hydraulic grade line is the piezometer head line drawn through the tops of the
piezometer columns.

Fig 8 shows different diameter pipes connected in series. The difference in

water level in the piezometer represents the loss head.

Fig. 8. Pipes in Series

Procedure:

1. Attach the piezometer tubes in the pipes connected in series. Use a

manometer stand to hold the plastic tubing.

2. Determine the length and diameter of each pipe.

3. Switch on the motor pump and open the gate valve. Wait until the flow
becomes constant.

4. Open the piezometer cap to allow water to rise in the piezometer.

5. Determine the actual discharge and compute the actual velocity. (Follow the
procedure 6 and 7 in experiment no. 10 on page 41 and 42 in determining the
actual discharge)

6. Determine the difference in elevation of water levels in the piezometer.

Record as follows:

ℎ𝑓 = loss of head due to pipe friction

ℎ𝑐 = loss of head due to contraction

ℎ𝑒 = loss of head due to enlargement

Computations:

ℎ𝑟 𝐷
Q = V/t v = Q/A f =
𝐿 𝑣 2 / 2𝑔

Tabulation of Measured and Computed Data:

Q = 215 L/sec = 0.215 m^3/sec

Pipe
no.
ℎ𝑓 D L v 𝑣 2 / 2𝑔 f
 27.3747
1 0.0458 m 100 m 6m 38.1943 m 0.02
m/s

48.6660 120.7127
2 0.0322 m 75 m 1m 0.02
m/s m

12.1665
3 0.0040 m 150 m 4m 7.5445 m 0.02
m/s

Table 1. Friction Factor f

Questions:

1. What is the importance of determining the friction factor in pipe flow? Does it
affect the discharge?

- it is important to determine the friction factor of pipes in designing pipe

systems. Friction factor can affect the choice of pipe sizes and lengths since
it inversely affects the discharge of water. The greater the friction factor,
the lower the discharge of water in pipes.

Observations:

Pipes in series connections have uniform discharge throughout the different

sizes of pipes. However, each pipe section has different head loss, and the total
head loss of the system is the summation of the different head loss.

Conclusion:

It is important to determine head loss in a pipe system. Head loss affects

the energy throughout the system. Major head loss can be determined if other
values such as length, diameter, discharge and friction factor of the pipe is known.
Minor losses on the other hand, can be determine if loss coefficient is known.