EXPERIMENT NUMBER: 9

A) EXPERIMENT NAME: Reynolds Number and Transitional Flow

B) EXPERIMENTAL SETUP: Reynolds Number and Transitional Flow Demostration

Apparatus

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram og Reynolds Number and Transitional Flow Demostration

Apparatus with Optional Temperature Control Module

C) AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT: In this experiment the Reynolds Number will be

calculated and fluid flow type will be determined for different flow rates of water.

D)EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE:

1) Set up the apparatus as previously described, turn on the water supply and adjust the
water level as just above the overflow pipe in the constant head tank. This is the
condition required for all tests and for different flow rates the supply has to be adjusted
to maintain the fluid level.

2) Partly open the discharge valve.

3) Open and adjust the dye injector valve to obtain a fine filament of dye in the flow
down the glass tube. If the dye is dispersed in the tube reduce the water flow rate by
both closing the supply and discharge valves partly. A laminar flow should be achieved
in which the filament of dye passes down the complete length of the tube without
disturbances.

4) Measure the time for collecting of a known quantity of water namely 500 ml. Record
the temperature of the water.

5) Increase the flow rate of water by opening the valves such that the dye filament
becomes rapidly diffused. Small eddies will be noted just above the point where dye
filament completely breaks down. This can be regarded as turbulent flow. Measure the
time for a known quantity of water and record the temperature as done in Step 4.

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

Reynolds Number is an expression used for the ratio of inertia forces to viscous forces. It
is a non-dimensional number. Such as;

Inertia Force=m.a

Viscous ( Shear ) Force = τ. A

where : shear stress and we know that shear stress for Newtonian fluids
𝒅𝒗
τ = μ𝒅𝒚

𝑰𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒂 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒎.𝒂 𝝆.𝑽.𝒗 𝝆.𝑸.𝒅 𝝆.𝒗.𝒅

Re= = = 𝒖 = =
𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝝉.𝑨 𝒕.𝝁. .𝑨 𝝁.𝑨 𝝁
𝒅

Where

d= the diameter of the pipe

v= average velocity of the fluid

ρ= density of the fluid

μ= dynamic viscosity
𝝁
-The term dividing is called kinematic viscosity ν and it is often convenient to write
𝝆
the equation as
𝒖.𝒅
Re= 𝒗

Reynolds Number will be calculated and fluid flow type will be determined for different
flow rates of water.
 Volume Time (s) Q (m3/s) v (m/s) 𝒗 x10-6 Re Flow
(m2/s) regime
(ml)

E) REQUIREMENTS IN REPORT: Experiment number, name and aim of the

experiment. The table values, calculations and explanations.