CL 333 Chemical Engineering Lab-2 [2022]

Experiment Number FM 301

Title Piping Network

Sub-group Code A2b

Date of Experiment 18 August 2022

Date of Report Submission 24 August 2022

Roll Number Name Responsibility owned

(data, analysis, plots,
report, none)

200020036 Awasthi Gaurav Data, analysis, plots,

report

200020148 Suraj Kumar Report

(For use by examiners only)

Criterion Faculty assigned marks

Calculations [35]

Graphical plots [20]

Hypothesis testing [35]

Report quality [10]

Initials with date

R&P TA initials with date

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr. No. Title Page No.

1. Objective and Introduction 3

2. Apparatus and Schematic Diagram 3

3. Experimental Procedure 4

4. Observations 5

5. Raw Data 5

6. Calculations 8

7.. Results 10

8. Plots 12

9. Observations, hypothesis and conclustion 14

10. Appendix: Python codes for plots 15

2
 OBJECTIVES

1. To measure the pressure drop in the straight section of smooth, rough and
fitting as a function of flow-rate.
2. To calculate Reynolds number and fanning friction factor using measured flow
rate and pressure drop.
3. To calculate roughness parameter using calculated experimental fanning
friction factor.
4. To understand the effect of Reynolds number and roughness on friction factor.

INTRODUCTION

Pipelines are of immense importance in any industry for the transport of fluids.
The sizes of pipes have to be optimised based on their function and their cost.

This experiment serves to determine the friction factor for pipes of different
diameters and different Reynolds numbers.

APPARATUS REQUIRED

● Five pipes of different diameters and inner surface roughness

● Ball valves and globe valves
● Flow meters
● Differential pressure transducer
● Measuring cylinder
● Stopwatch

3
 SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF APPARATUS

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of apparatus

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

1. Turn on the centrifugal pump after ensuring that only the outlet and bypass
valves are open.
2. Ensure that the pressure tappings are properly connected and that there are
no air bubbles present in the piping system. If present, remove them by
opening the faucet and draining some of the water.
3. Open the inlet valve of one of the pipes completely and direct the water flow
through the appropriate flow-metre.
4. Turn on the flowmeter and differential pressure transducer.
5. Recheck that there are no air bubbles in the tubes connected to the pressure
tapings, remove if any air bubbles are present.
6. Wait for the flow to reach steady state. Even if fluctuations are present, they
should be within a constant bound.
7. Record the corresponding flow rate (litre per min) and pressure readings
(bar). Use the less precise flowmeter in case the flow rate is more than 10
lpm, otherwise use the more precise one.
8. Use the globe valve to change the flow rate (note, do not use the ball valves
at the beginning of each pipe).
9. Repeat the above steps for the rest of the pipes.
10. After recording the readings, switch off the pump, flowmeter and pressure
gauge. Open the bypass valve and close the inlet valves.

Notes on Procedure:
In our apparatus, flow-meter 1, used for flow rates greater than 10 lpm, was not
functional. Therefore, to obtain the readings for that range, a measuring cylinder and
a stopwatch were used.

4
 OBSERVATIONS
Pipe diameters:

Pipe Number Inner diameter (m)

1 0.003175

2 0.00635

3 0.009525

4 0.015875

5 0.009525

Data:
Density of water (ρ) = 1000 kg/m3
Viscosity of water (µ) = 0.001 Pa.s
Distance between pressure taps (L) = 0.85 m
Least counts:
a. ΔL = 1mm
b. ΔD = 0.001mm
c. Least count of measuring cylinder = 0.1 L
d. Least count of timer = 0.01 s
e. For physical constants least count is 0

RAW DATA

Pipe 2:

Pipe Volume Time Pressure drop (bar) Average Average

Number (l) interval flow rate pressure
(s) Qavg drop ΔP
(m3/s)

Min Max

2 10.3 65.5 0.391 0.396 0.00016 0.3935

2 14.3 47.48 1.255 1.26 0.00030 1.2575

Pipe Flow rate (lpm) Pressure drop (bar) Average Average

Number flow rate pressure
Qavg drop ΔP
(m3/s)

Min Max Min Max

2 4.3 4.4 0.115 0.124 0.000072 0.1195

5
 2 5.6 5.7 0.187 0.191 0.000094 0.189

2 6.2 6.3 0.226 0.232 0.000104 0.229

2 7.3 7.9 0.289 0.298 0.00013 0.2935

2 8.5 8.6 0.374 0.382 0.00014 0.378

Pipe 3:

Pipe Volume Time Pressure drop (bar) Average Average

Number (l) interval flow rate pressure
(s) Qavg drop ΔP
(m3/s)

Min Max

3 13.4 38.80 0.328 0.337 0.000345 0.3325

3 14.5 59.00 0.153 0.172 0.000246 0.1625

3 12.8 44.30 0.222 0.235 0.000289 0.2285

3 16.0 60.28 0.186 0.204 0.000265 0.195

3 13.2 62.37 0.118 0.125 0.000212 0.1215

Pipe 4:

Pipe Volume Time Pressure drop (bar) Average Average

Number (l) interval flow rate pressure
(s) Qavg drop ΔP
(m3/s)

Min Max

4 14.5 63.35 0.006 0.011 0.00023 0.0085

4 14 55.35 0.006 0.017 0.00025 0.0115

4 13.8 49.5 0.007 0.016 0.00028 0.0115

4 13.8 41.2 0.013 0.021 0.00033 0.017

4 13 33.9 0.045 0.052 0.00038 0.0485

4 13.8 30.18 0.027 0.038 0.00046 0.0325

6
 Pipe Flow rate (lpm) Pressure drop (bar) Average Average
Number flow rate pressure
Qavg drop ΔP
(m3/s)

Min Max Min Max

4 6.9 7.1 0.042 0.049 0.00012 0.0455

4 4.0 4.1 0.013 0.02 0.000068 0.0165

Pipe 5:

Pipe Flow rate (lpm) Pressure drop (bar) Average Average

Number flow rate pressure
Qavg drop ΔP
(m3/s)

Min Max Min Max

5 3.6 3.6 0.013 0.018 0.00006 0.0155

5 4.9 4.9 0.019 0.025 0.000082 0.022

5 6.6 6.8 0.034 0.040 0.00011 0.037

5 3.9 4.0 0.014 0.018 0.000066 0.016

5 7.0 7.1 0.036 0.043 0.00012 0.0395

5 8.9 9.1 0.054 0.060 0.00015 0.057

7
 CALCULATIONS

The following equations were used:

𝑄𝑎𝑣𝑔
Average velocity: 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 2
π𝐷𝑖 /4
ρ𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔
Reynolds number: 𝑅𝑒 = µ
∆𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑔𝐷𝑖
Experimental friction factor: 𝑓𝑒𝑥𝑝 = 2
2∆𝐿ρ (𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 )

Theoretical friction factor:

For laminar flow, 𝑓𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜 = 16/𝑅𝑒

For turbulent flow,

1 ϵ 1.255 ϵ 4.67
= − 4 𝑙𝑜𝑔10( 3.7𝐷 + ) = 2. 28 − 4 𝑙𝑜𝑔10( 𝐷 + )
𝑓 𝑅𝑒 𝑓 𝑅𝑒 𝑓

Explicit expression:
1 ϵ 2.185 ϵ 14.5
= − 1. 737 𝑙𝑛[0. 269 𝐷
− 𝑅𝑒
𝑙𝑛{0. 269 𝐷
+ 𝑅𝑒
}]
𝑓

ϵ
Equation for finding 𝐷
:
0.25
−
ϵ 𝑓 1.255
𝐷
= 3. 7 * 10 −
𝑅𝑒 𝑓

Error propagation or uncertainty:

Uncertainty in Reynolds number:
∆𝑅𝑒 ∆𝑄 2 ∆𝐷 2 ∆ρ 2 ∆µ 2
𝑅𝑒
= ( 𝑄
) + ( 𝐷
) + ( ρ
) + ( µ
)

Uncertainty in friction factor:

∆𝑓 ∆𝑃 2 ∆𝐷 2 ∆ρ 2 2∆𝑄 2 ∆𝐿 2
𝑓
= ( 𝑃
) + ( 𝐷
) + ( ρ
) + ( 𝑄
) + ( 𝐿
)

Sample Calculation (Pipe 3, reading 1):

Average velocity:
Volume of water collected = 13.4 litres

Time interval in which this water was collected = 38.8 s

Average flow rate = 13.4/38.8 = 0.345 l/s

Qavg = 0.345 * 10-3 = 0.000345 m3/s

𝑄𝑎𝑣𝑔 0.000345
𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 2 = 2 = 4. 844 𝑚/𝑠
π𝐷𝑖 /4 3.14*(0.009525) /4

Reynolds Number:
ρ𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 3
𝑅𝑒 = µ
= 10 * 0. 009525 * 4. 844/0. 001 = 46139. 1

8
Percentage error in Re:

∆𝑄 ∆𝑉 2 ∆𝑡 2
𝑄
= ( 𝑉
) + ( 𝑡
) [since for this reading, measuring cylinder was used]

0.05 2 0.05 2
= ( 13.4 ) + ( 38.8 )
= 0.0037

∆𝑅𝑒 ∆𝑄 2 ∆𝐷 2 ∆ρ 2 ∆µ 2
𝑅𝑒
= ( 𝑄
) + ( 𝐷
) + ( ρ
) +( µ
)

∆𝑄 2 ∆𝐷 2
= ( 𝑄
) + ( 𝐷
)

2 0.0000005 2
= (0. 0037) + ( 0.009525
)

= 0.00373
Percentage error = 0.373%

Experimental friction factor:

∆𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 0. 0003325 𝑏𝑎𝑟 = 33. 25 𝑃𝑎

∆𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑔𝐷𝑖 33.25 * 0.009525
𝑓𝑒𝑥𝑝 = 2 = 2 = 0. 00675
2∆𝐿ρ (𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 ) 2 * 0.001 * 1000 * 4.844

Percentage error in experimental friction factor:

∆𝑓 ∆𝑃 2 ∆𝐷 2 ∆ρ 2 2∆𝑄 2 ∆𝐿 2
𝑓
= ( 𝑃
) + ( 𝐷
) + ( ρ
) + ( 𝑄
) + ( 𝐿
)

∆𝑃 2 ∆𝐷 2 2∆𝑄 2 ∆𝐿 2
= ( 𝑃
) + ( 𝐷
) + ( 𝑄
) + ( 𝐿
)

0.0005 2 0.0000005 2 2 0.0005 2

= ( 0.3325 ) + ( 0.009525
) + (2 * 0. 0037) + ( 0.85
)

= 0.00875
Percentage error = 0.875%

Roughness:
0.25 0.25
− −
ϵ 𝑓 1.255 0.00675 1.255
𝐷
= 3. 7 * 10 − = 3. 7 * 10 − = 0. 00302
𝑅𝑒 𝑓 46139.1 0.00675
ϵ = 0. 00302 * 𝐷 = 0. 00302 * 0. 009525 = 0. 00002876 = 0. 0000288

Theoretical friction factor:

1 ϵ 2.185 ϵ 14.5
= − 1. 737 𝑙𝑛[0. 269 𝐷 − 𝑅𝑒
𝑙𝑛{0. 269 𝐷
+ 𝑅𝑒
}]
𝑓
2.185 14.5
= − 1. 737 𝑙𝑛[0. 269 * 0. 00302 − 46139.1
𝑙𝑛{0. 269 * 0. 00302 + 46139.1
}]
= 11. 035
𝑓 = 0. 00821

Note: All calculations were done in Google Sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-wuermZuk2gU1-fq45SqYLrSG2Gc9HVSz
R3B0zGew0s/edit?usp=sharing
9
 RESULTS

For pipe 3:

S. No. Flow rate Pressure Reynolds Experimental Roughness

(m3/s) 2
drop (N/m ) Number (Re) friction 𝜖 (m)
factor (fexp)

1 0.000345 33250 46140.73 0.00794 0.0000522

2 0.000246 16250 32900.35 0.00763 0.0000443

3 0.000289 22850 38651.22 0.00778 0.0000480

4 0.000265 19500 35441.43 0.00789 0.0000502

5 0.000212 12150 28353.14 0.00768 0.0000447

For all other pipes:

Pipe 2:

S. Flow Pressur Reynolds Percent Experi Percent Theoret

No. rate e drop Number age mental age ical
(m3/s) (N/m2) (Re) error in friction error in friction
Re factor fexp factor
(fexp) (ftheo)

1 0.0000725 11950 14544.36 1.149 0.00851 2.344 0.0117

2 0.0000942 18900 18890.95 0.885 0.00780 1.783 0.0109

3 0.000104 22900 20897.07 0.800 0.00790 1.630 0.0108

4 0.000127 29350 25410.84 0.658 0.00685 1.393 0.00915

5 0.000142 37800 28587.19 0.585 0.00700 1.239 0.00932

6
0.000157 39350 31546.60 0.486 0.00600 1.006 0.00785

7
0.000301 125750 60420.17 0.350 0.00519 0.747 0.00670

10
Pipe 4:

S. Flow rate Pressure Reynol Percent Experi Percent Theoret

No. (m3/s) drop ds age mental age ical
(N/m2) Number error in friction error in friction
(Re) Re factor fexp factor
(fexp) (ftheo)

1
0.000228 850 18366.99 0.345 0.00593 0.738 0.00717

2
0.000253 1150 20296.77 0.357 0.00657 0.905 0.00751

3
0.000279 1150 22371.26 0.362 0.00541 0.857 0.00667

4
0.000335 1700 26878.09 0.362 0.00554 0.832 0.00658

5
0.000383 4850 30772.32 0.385 0.0120 0.849 0.0122

6
0.000457 3250 36692.43 0.363 0.00568 0.914 0.00645

7
0.000117 4550 9361.887 0.714 0.122 1.473 0.0707

8 0.0000675 1650 5416.520 1.234 0.132 2.495 0.0753

Pipe 5:

S. Flow Pressure Reynolds Percent Experi Percent Theoret

No. rate drop Number error in mental age ical
(m3/s) (N/m2) (Re) Re friction error in friction
factor fexp factor
(fexp) (ftheo)

1 0.0600 1550 8024.47 1.389 0.0122 2.790 0.0129

2 0.0817 2200 10922.20 1.020 0.00937 2.064 0.0102

3 0.112 3700 14934.44 0.746 0.00843 1.524 0.00919

4 0.0658 1600 8804.63 1.266 0.0105 2.541 0.0113

5 0.118 3950 15714.60 0.709 0.00813 1.463 0.00891

6 0.150 5700 20061.19 0.556 0.00720 1.153 0.00799

11
 PLOTS

1. For all pipes: plot theoretical and experimental friction factor vs Reynolds
number
2. Plot experimental friction factor (pipe no. 3 and 5) vs Reynolds number
3. Plot roughness (ϵ) vs experimental friction factor for pipe no. 3

12
In all the figures, a scatter plot of the data points is shown, along with the best fit line
that minimises the linear least squares.

13
 DISCUSSION

Observations:
● Only turbulent flow was observed (the minimum value of Reynolds number
obtained is approx 5000)
● In general, the experimental friction factor decreases with an increase in Re,
as expected from empirical relations
● As expected, the pressure drop along the length of each pipe increases as the
flow rate increases
● The roughness determined for pipe 3 increases monotonically with the friction
factor
● The percent error is greater for friction factor than it is for Reynolds number

Hypothesis:
In general, we see that the friction factors decrease with an increase in the Reynolds
number. Pipe 3 is the only pipe that shows significant deviations from this behaviour.
This may be because of the inaccurate method of measuring the velocity and flow
rate.
Since one of the flow meters was not functional, the flow rate (and thus, average
velocity) were calculated using a measuring cylinder and stopwatch. Since this is
method is inaccurate and introduces both human and least count errors, it could be a
cause of the deviation.

Since this deviation is seen in both the experimental and theoretical values, it
indicates that the error must be in a quantity that is common to them, like the
Reynolds number, and by extension, the velocity.

If we observe the other pipes, like pipe 5, it shows much better agreement between
its values since we measured the average flow rate using a flowmeter.

Conclusion:
● The pressure drop increases with an increase in flow rate
● The friction factor decreases for an increase in Re but shows non-monotonic
behaviour for pipe 3.
● For pipe 3, the roughness lies around 5 * 10-5 for a friction factor of 0.0078.

14
 APPENDIX

import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

#pipe 2
re = np.array([14544.3603, 18890.95073, 20897.06939,
25410.83638, 28587.19093, 31546.59881, 60420.17031])
fexpt =
[0.00851,0.00780,0.00790,0.00685,0.00700,0.00600,0.00519]
ftheo = [0.0117,0.0109,0.0108,0.00915,0.00932,0.00785,0.00670]

a,b = np.polyfit(re, fexpt, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, fexpt)

a,b = np.polyfit(re, ftheo, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, ftheo)
plt.xlabel("Reynolds number (Re)")
plt.ylabel("Friction factor")
plt.title("Theoretical and Experimental Friction Factors for
Pipe 2")
plt.legend(["Experimental", "Theoretical"])

#pipe 3
re = np.array([28353.14, 32900.35, 35441.43, 38651.22,
46140.73])
fexpt = [0.00768,0.00763, 0.00789, 0.00778,0.00794 ]
ftheo =[0.008178157084, 0.008064014047,0.008260692785,
0.008124202356, 0.008210889976]

a,b = np.polyfit(re, fexpt, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, fexpt)

a,b = np.polyfit(re, ftheo, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, ftheo)

plt.xlabel("Reynolds number (Re)")

plt.ylabel("Friction factor")
plt.title("Theoretical and Experimental Friction Factors for
Pipe 3")
plt.legend(["Experimental", "Theoretical"])

#pipe 4
re = np.array([5416.520387,
9361.887089,18366.99012,20296.77418, 22371.26265, 26878.09469,
30772.32166, 36692.42881 ])
fexpt = [0.1323535092,0.1221734617, 0.005929734132,
0.006569556944, 0.005407656878, 0.005537888949, 0.01205350888,
0.005680972945 ]

15
ftheo = [0.0753,
0.0707,0.00717,0.00751,0.00667,0.00658,0.0122,0.00645]

a,b = np.polyfit(re, fexpt, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, fexpt)

a,b = np.polyfit(re, ftheo, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, ftheo)

plt.xlabel("Reynolds number (Re)")

plt.ylabel("Friction factor")
plt.title("Theoretical and Experimental Friction Factors for
Pipe 4")
plt.legend(["Experimental", "Theoretical"])

#pipe 5
re = np.array([8024.47,8804.63, 10922.20, 14934.44, 15714.60,
20061.19])
fexpt = [0.0122, 0.0105,0.00937, 0.00843, 0.00813, 0.00720]
ftheo = [0.0129,0.0113,0.0102,0.00919,0.00891,0.00799]
a,b = np.polyfit(re, fexpt, 1)
plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, fexpt)

a,b = np.polyfit(re, ftheo, 1)

plt.plot(re, a*re+b)
plt.scatter(re, ftheo)

plt.xlabel("Reynolds number (Re)")

plt.ylabel("Friction factor")
plt.title("Theoretical and Experimental Friction Factors for
Pipe 5")
plt.legend(["Experimental", "Theoretical"])

#exp f for pipes 3 and 5

re3 = np.array([28353.14, 32900.35, 35441.43, 38651.22,
46140.73])
f3 = [0.00768,0.00763, 0.00789, 0.00778,0.00794]

re5 = np.array([8024.47,8804.63, 10922.20, 14934.44,

15714.60, 20061.19])
f5 = [0.0122, 0.0105,0.00937, 0.00843, 0.00813, 0.00720]

a,b = np.polyfit(re3, f3, 1)

plt.plot(re3, a*re3+b)
plt.scatter(re3, f3)

a,b = np.polyfit(re5, f5, 1)

plt.plot(re5,a*re5+b)
plt.scatter(re5, f5)

16
plt.legend(["Pipe 3", "Pipe 5"])
plt.xlabel("Reynolds number (Re)")
plt.ylabel("Experimental friction factor")
plt.title("Experimental Friction Factors for Pipe 3 and 5")

#roughness vs experimental friction factor

roughness = [0.0000443, 0.0000447, 0.0000480, 0.0000502,
0.0000522]
f3 = np.array([0.00763, 0.00768, 0.00778, 0.00789, 0.00794 ])

plt.scatter(f3, roughness)
a,b = np.polyfit(f3, roughness,1)
plt.plot(f3, a*f3+b)

plt.xlabel("Experimental Friction Factor")

plt.ylabel("Roughness (m)")
plt.title("Roughness vs Friction Factor for Pipe 3")

The code file can also be accessed at:

https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1rxKZNHa2Qcx6rMR9dCkhqUHb-JZo8ng7?
usp=sharing

17