3.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Reynolds number is a convenient method in predicting the
condition of the fluid’s flow which can be laminar,
transition and turbulent flow. It is mathematically defined
as the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces which is
given in equation 1.
𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝜌𝑣𝐷
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = = [1]
𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝜇
Where 𝜌 is the density of the fluid, 𝑣 is the velocity, D is
the diameter of the tube and 𝜇 is the fluid’s dynamic
viscosity.
Giving a brief background of these flow starting with
Laminar which is known as the steady state condition
where streamlines follow straight path and has no
interaction or mixing of fluids. Transitional flow is a
mixture of Laminar and Turbulent, usually the turbulence
is within the center of the pipe and laminar within the
edges. And Turbulent flow, this denotes an unsteady state
flow condition since it shows irregular movement of the
fluids particles that can cause mixing of the fluids and it
is the most common type of flow.
Now within the experiment, the group was assigned to
determine the condition of the fluid’s flow within
different valve openings and data were collected (see
Table A.1 of Appendix Section) also some supporting
parameters that are needed for the computation (see Table
A.2 of Appendix Section).The different groups
determined the flow by observation of the dye that is
injected in the Reynolds number apparatus.
Within the results gathered the ¾ valve opening has
projected a Laminar flow and the rest of the opening
projected a turbulent flow. The basis of the observation as
said earlier is the green dye. In the smallest valve the dye
injected appeared to form a single line. And virtually there
is no mixing between the water and the dye. While the rest
of the openings somehow projected the dye dispersing
quickly and has an irregular movement which causes
mixing within the end. Further illustration can be seen
below (Figure A.1)
Experiment 1 |
Figure A.1 Determination of flow through dye
Source: https://www.cradle-cfd.com/tec/column05/019.html
Besides the dye, Reynolds number is also computed in
order to check that the assumption made is correct.
Limited parameters were only recorded (see Table A.1
and A.2 of Appendix Section) hence there’s no given of
the fluid’s velocity. Equation 2 is used for the
computation of the velocity.
Q=vA [2]
Where Q is the volumetric flowrate of the fluid which can
be solved by volume of the discharged divided by time
and A is the area of the pipe or tube. And after getting all
the parameters Reynolds number can be solved (see table
A.3 of appendix section).
The flow can be determined as Laminar if the Reynolds
number is less than 2100 while for transitional flow it is
between 2100-4000 and Turbulent for 4000 and above.
Below is the summary of results based within the
computation.
Table 1. Type of Flow based on computation
Valve Opening Type of Flow
1/4 Laminar
1/2 Turbulent
3/4 Turbulent
7/8 Turbulent
Full Turbulent
The data of observation and computed generated the same
results. As seen the smallest valve has only the laminar f
1
flow. The smallest valve also generated the smallest
flowrate and velocity as computed (see table A.3 5. APPENDIX
appendix section), meaning within the experiment the
velocity is the main factor that is affecting the flow since Table A.1. Raw Data
𝜌, 𝐷, and 𝜇 are constant within the whole experiment. The Valve Opening: ¼
higher the velocity, the greater is the disturbance. Trial Discharge Time Observation
volume
1 333 mL 10 sec Laminar
4. CONCLUSION 2 328 mL 10 sec Laminar
3 330 mL 10 sec Laminar
Valve Opening: ½
Laminar flow is a steady state condition where
Trial Discharge Time Observation
streamlines follow a path and there are no mixing between
volume
fluids. Its Reynolds number is within less than 2100.
1 840 mL 5.30 sec Turbulent
Transitional flow is in between laminar and turbulent flow
2 805 mL 5.27 sec Turbulent
where the irregularities can be seen within the center of
3 780mL 5.13 sec Turbulent
the pipe and laminar flow near its edges, its Reynolds
Valve Opening: ¾
number ranges between 2100 – 4000. Turbulent flow it is
Trial Discharge Time Observation
the common type flow, and it denotes unsteady state volume
condition which particle movement of the fluids are 1 710 mL 2.26 sec Turbulent
irregular and there’s mixing of the fluid. 2 730 mL 2.39 sec Turbulent
3 760 mL 2.45 sec Turbulent
The smallest valve has a laminar flow since within the Valve Opening: 7/8
observation the green dye can be seen clearly and it Trial Discharge Time Observation
projected a straight line. Unlike the 4 valve openings, the volume
green dye injected formed a zigzag pattern quickly, also 1 420 mL 1.055 sec Turbulent
the dye cannot be distinguished because of the mixing 2 395 mL 0.975 sec Turbulent
happening. And it has been proven correct based on the 3 440 mL 1.18 sec Turbulent
calculations of Reynolds number. Valve Opening: FULL
Trial Discharge Time Observation
volume
Increasing the valve openings is also increasing the 1 410 mL 1 sec Turbulent
volumetric flowrate and disturbance which makes the 2 420 mL 1 sec Turbulent
flow from laminar to turbulent. It can be said that only the 3 480 mL 1 sec Turbulent
velocity within the experiment is affecting the flow and
Reynolds number since the other parameters used are Table A.2. Supporting Parameters
constant throughout the whole experimentation. PARAMETER VALUE
Temperature 28 °C
Pressure 1 atm
Diameter 0.025 m
Area 4.90874E-04 m2
Dynamic Viscosity 8.3506E-04 Pas
Density 996.1904 kg/m3

Table A.3. Computation of v and Reynolds Number

Experiment 1 | 2
 Valve Opening: ¼ 𝑘𝑔 𝑚
𝜌𝑣𝐷 (996.1904 3 )(0.64 𝑠 )(0.025𝑚)
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = = 𝑚
Trial Q (m3/s) V (m/s) Re 𝜇 8.3506𝐸 − 04 𝑃𝑎 𝑠
1 0.0000333 0.0678382 2022.36297
2 0.0000328 0.06681961 1991.99716
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 19079.403 − −→ 𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤
3 0.000033 0.06722705 2004.14349
Valve Opening: ½
Trial Q v Re
6. REFERENCES
1 0.00015849 0.32287433 9625.38897
[1] Geankoplis, C.(2003). Principles of Transport
2 0.00015275 0.31118264 9276.84152
Processes and Separation Process. Pearson Education
3 0.00015205 0.30974716 9234.04762
Inc.
Valve Opening: ¾
Trial Q v Re
[2] Green, D. W., & Perry, R. H. (2008). Perry's
1 0.00031416 0.64000005 19079.403
Chemical Engineering Handbook, Eight Edition. New
2 0.00030544 0.62223589 18549.8256
York, Chicago, San Francisco, Lisbon, London, Madrid,
3 0.0003102 0.63194257 18839.1967 Mexico City, Milan, New Delhi, San Juan, Seoul,
Valve Opening: 7/8
Singapore, Sydney, Toronto: McGraw-Hill.
Trial Q v Re
1 0.0003981 0.81101135 24177.5173 [3] Ueyama, A. (n.d.). Laminar Flow and Turbulent
2 0.00040513 0.8253204 24604.0926 Flow. Retrieved from https://www.cradle-
3 0.00037288 0.75962766 22645.6891 cfd.com/tec/column05/019.html
Valve Opening: FULL
Trial Q v Re [4] Reynolds Number. (n.d.). Retrieved from
1 0.00041 0.83524514 24899.9646 https://www.nuclear-power.net/nuclear-
2 0.00042 0.85561697 25507.2808 engineering/fluid-dynamics/reynolds-number/
3 0.00048 0.97784797 29151.178

Appendix B. Sample Computation

At Valve Opening: ¾, Trial 1

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑑 710 𝑥 10−6 𝑚3

𝑄= =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 2.26 𝑠
𝑚3
𝑄 = 0.0003146
𝑠
𝑄 = 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑥 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑒
𝑚3
0.0003146 = 𝑣 𝑥 4.90874 𝑥 10−4 𝑚2
𝑠
𝑚
𝑣 = 0.64 𝑠

Experiment 1 | 3