Experimental and Numerical analysis

of flow through pipe for different

geometry

Authors : Kamrul Hasan Rahi, Md. Rakibul Alam, Golam Md.

Mortuza
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khulna University of Engineering &
Technology, Khulna-9203, BANGLADESH
 Objectives
• To investigate the flow characteristics of fluid flowing through pipe for
different geometry experimentally and numerically
• To determine the minor loss of the flow.
• To compare the experimental and numerical data and validate the results.
 Introduction
• A pipe is a closed conduit which is used for carrying fluids under pressure
• The resistance to the flow of fluid is in general known as frictional resistance
that is also called major loss
• Energy losses are developed in terms of the fluid height known as the head
losses
• Losses are major losses and minor losses
 Experimental method

• Loss of energy due to sudden

expansion,
• Loss of energy due to sudden
contraction,
 Numerical method
Assumptions
The assumption for both this experiment are:
• Two dimensional
• Incompressible
• Steady state
 Numerical method(contd.)
Governing equations:
Continuity equation (for incompressible) :

Euler’s equation

Bernoulli’s equation
 Numerical method(contd.)

• ANSYS FLUENT
• Kappa epsillon
 Numerical method(contd.)

• Mesh validation : 4 times.

• Final mesh : 250*117
• No. of nodes for that mesh are
25838 & no. of elements are
25470.
dden Experiment
nsion Type

Observation no.
Experimental data:

3
2
1
Volume
V
()

3.504
3.344
3.185

Time
T(s)
30
30
30

Manometer
Reading ∆P
Results and Discussion

(mmHg)
2.8
2.6
2.5

Head loss (m of
water)
0.038
0.035
0.034
 Results and Discussion (contd.)
Sudden expansion:
• Velocity decreases.
• The streamline takes a typical diverging
pattern. This creates pockets of turbulent
eddies in the corners resulting in the
dissipation of mechanical energy into
intermolecular energy. Thus the energy loss
happens. Velocity contour for sudden expansion
 Results and Discussion (contd.)

Dynamic pressure, P =

Pressure contour for sudden expansion

 Results and Discussion (contd.)
Sudden expansion:
0.045
Minor loss (m of water)

0.04 Numerical Experimental

0.035
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Velocity (m/s)
 Results and Discussion (contd.)
Sudden contraction

• Velocity increases.
• The variation in pressure is due to
Contraction of the flow to the vena
contracta and expansion to the wall of the
small pipe

velocity contour for sudden contraction

 Results and Discussion (contd.)

Dynamic pressure, P =

pressure contour for sudden contraction

 Results and Discussion (contd.)
Sudden Contraction

0.8
Minor loss (m of water)

0.7
Numerical Experimental
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.5 1
Velocity (m/s)1.5 2 2.5 3
 Conclusion
• The experimental and numerical simulation of flow through sudden
expansion and sudden contraction are presented in this paper.
• Losses due to change in geometry is calculated both experimentally and
numerically.
• The computational results are almost same as the experimental result.
• The calculated deviation between experimental and numerical results is
(2025)% on average.
 Future recommendation
• The numerical investigation can be done for pipes with gradual change in
diameter. In that case, minor losses may be reduced.
• Instead of k-epsilon model k-omega model can be used for comparison.
Any Questions?
Thank you