ME 313 Fluids Lab:

Lab #1

ME 313 Fall 2017 Semester

Professor Lu

9/14/17

Aaron Nash
Sam Olsen
Lindsey Mateja
James Newman
Alexander Morales
Objective

The objective of this experiment was to adjust the discharging flow rate of water
travelling through a cylinder to achieve three specific flow patterns depicted through a thin dye
stream. By measuring the velocity and mass of the water discharging the Reynolds number for
the fluid at laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow regimes were determined.

Description of Apparatus

The experimental apparatus for Lab 1 consisted of a control volume system with one inlet
and one outlet. It had the main apparatus which consisted of multiple parts. The frame held most
of the parts together. There were hoses connecting water from the building to the apparatus and
a valve controlled the flow of that water. On the front of the frame was a cylinder to hold the
water temporarily while the flow was set up. On the bottom of this cylinder were glass spheres to
both filter and make sure the cylinder itself did not affect the flow pattern. On top of this cylinder
was a container for the red dye used as a marker to observe the flow regime. The bottom of the
cylinder was a connected to the observation tube.

Procedure

The experiment was conducted first by weighing an empty bucket so that it could be used
for weighting the water later on. After obtaining the empty weight of the bucket the bucket was
then moved to the apparatus with the fluid and hoses. The first step in creating a flow of any
kind was opening the downstream output flow valve on the apparatus. Without opening this
valve if one were to open the upstream input valve the apparatus would eventually overflow.
After opening the output valve the input valve was then opened. Once the fluid was flowing one
just has to adjust the valves to create the desired flow regime. After the fluid was flowing the
dye was adjusted to observe the flow pattern. After a particular flow was obtained, the output
hose was used to fill the bucket to a specified volume. A stopwatch was used to document the
amount of time it took to fill this measured amount, thus giving a flow rate.

Data and Observations

 Miscellaneous Measurements
Viscosity of Water
Density of Water (kg/m^2) (Ns/m^2) Diameter (m)
998 0.001003 0.012

Laminar Flow
Time to Fill Mass Flow Rate
Trial Weight (lbs) Mass (kg) (s) Volume (L) (kg/s) Re
1 1.047 0.474910824 108 0.5 0.004397322444 465.1748776
2 0.887 0.402336104 67 0.5 0.006005016478 635.2462983

Transitional Flow
Mass Flow Rate
Trial Weight (lbs) Mass (kg) Time to Fill (s) Volume (L) (kg/s) Re
1 0.887 0.402336104 22.5 0.5 0.01788160462 1891.62231
2 0.887 0.402336104 21.3 0.5 0.01888901897 1998.192581

Turbulent Flow
Mass Flow Rate
Trial Weight (lbs) Mass (kg) Time to Fill (s) Volume (L) (kg/s) Re
1 1.337 0.606452504 29.9 0.5 0.02028269244 2145.623637
2 0.987 0.447695304 26.65 0.5 0.01679907332 1777.105722

Calculations
Derivation of Reynold’s Number Equation Used:

Re=ρVD/μ ṁ=ρVA A=(πD^2)/4

Let Re=ρVD/μ *A/A Substitute ṁ into this equation: Re=(ṁD)/μA

Substitute A into this equation: Re=(ṁD)/μ * 4/(πD^2)

Simplify: Re=4ṁ/μπD

Sample calculation of Re using Laminar flow trial 1 data:

ṁ=0.004397322444 (kg/s) μ=0.001003 (Ns/m^2) D=.012 (m)

Re=4*0.004397322444/(0.001003*π*.012)
Re=465.1748776
Results

Laminar Transitional Turbulent

Flow Flow Flow
Re Trial 1 465.1748776 1891.62231 2145.623637
Re Trial 2 635.2462983 1998.192581 1777.105722

Laminar Flow Re<2300

Transitional
Flow Re=2300

Turbulent Flow Re>2300

Laminar Transitional Turbulent

Discussion of Results

The Reynolds number is useful because it provides information about the type of flow a
fluid experiences. In the results section above, it can be seen that the experimental values for Re
do not fall perfectly into the defined bounds for laminar, transitional, and turbulent. The laminar
Re values are indeed under 2300 as expected. Transitional values hover near 2300, but are
slightly low, and turbulent values are slightly low as well. Despite this, the Re values are on an
increasing trend from laminar to turbulent which still successfully demonstrates the physical
representation of the Reynolds number.

The causes of the Re variance could be numerous. The methods of collecting water and
weighing it was haphazard and not very exact. Also it was difficult to ensure that the volume of
water in the upper cylinder was remaining constant being that this was being determined purely
visually. Finally, the categorization of the type of flow was made using the best judgements of
students and was possibly inaccurate. Despite the error opportunities, the experiment still
displayed the meaning of the Reynolds number successfully.

As partially demonstrated through the derivation of the Re equation used for calculations,
mass flow rate and the Reynolds number are mathematically linked.

Derivation of Reynold’s Number Equation Used:

Re=ρVD/μ ṁ=ρVA A=(πD^2)/4

Let Re=ρVD/μ *A/A Substitute ṁ into this equation: Re=(ṁD)/μA

Substitute A into this equation: Re=(ṁD)/μ * 4/(πD^2)

Simplify: Re=4ṁ/μπD

It can be seen above that mass flow rate can be used to calculate the Reynolds number
through the use of strategic substitution of other equations. Ultimately, the resulting equation,
Re=4ṁ/μπD, tells us that Re and ṁ have a proportional relation if all other variables are held
constant. This lends itself well to what would logically make sense based on the knowledge we
have from everyday life. The Reynolds number provides insight into the type of flow a fluid is
experiencing, and turbulent flow is characterized by a high Re value. With this, is makes sense
that Re and ṁ have a proportional relationship. Ṁ represents the rate at which mass flows. The
faster mass flows, the more turbulent we would expect the flow to be based on world experiences
and vice versa. This expectation is validated by the relationship between Re and ṁ.

Reynolds number is known to be a dimensionless parameter. Through analysis of the Re

equation, we can mathematically prove that this is true.

Re=ρVD/μ

State units and dimensions for variables within the Re equation:

 ρ=kg/m^3=M/L^3 V=m/s=L/T D=m=L

μ=Ns/m^2=kgms/s^2m^2=kg/ms=M/LT

Substitute dimensions in for variables in the Re equation to ensure all dimensions cancel:

Re=(M/L^3 * L/T * L) / M/LT

Mass, Length, and Time dimensions indeed all cancel, proving that Re is a dimensionless
parameter.

Conclusion

This lab introduced the Reynolds number for laminar, transitional, and tubular flow
patterns. Overall, the experiment succeeded in finding the Reynolds number of each flow rate of
the water and demonstrating the relationship between the Reynolds number and the three types
of flows as shown in the results. For the first laminar flow the values are indeed under 2300 as
expected in the appendix A. The transitional flow has values near 2300 with a slightly low, and
the turbulent flow had low values as well. However, the experiment was still successful in
displaying the physical meaning of the Reynolds number.