Pipe Fitting Losses

Aim
To estimate the frictional losses in variety of pipe fitting. To determine the values of KL (fitting loss coefficient) and Leq (equivalent length for the given value of velocity and diameter).

Apparatus
The apparatus consists of a loop of pipe along which various pipe fittings are attached in series. A differential mercury manometer is being provided to measure the pressure difference across the required pipe fitting. The mercury manometer has control valves to engage it parallel to the required cross section. Centrifugal pump is use to circulate the water in the test rig from sump tank. Measuring tank and stop watch are also being provide to measure the flow rate Q exp. The various pipe fittings that we are going to study are given below. 12.7 mm ( ) bend and elbow, sudden expansion from 16.5 mm diameter to 27mm diameter, sudden contraction from 27 mm diameter to 16.5mm diameter, 12.7 mm ( )ball valve , and 12.7 mm ( ) gate valve.

Sudden contraction, sudden expansion, ball valve, standard elbow

Theory
Head losses in pipes are mainly due to friction at the inner surfaces of the pipe. The losses due to pipe fitting are negligible. However, these losses become significant if pipe length is small or if the number of pipe fittings are too much. Here we assume the flow is streamline. Here we assume that the flow follows corrected Bernoullis equation as given below. Equation 1 Where, h1= height of cross section 1 from datum point ME-313, IIT Gandhinagar, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering Page 1
1 2 1 2 1 + 2 + = 2 + 2 + + +

h2= height of cross section 2 from datum point v1= velocity of fluid at cross section 1 v2= velocity of fluid at cross section 2 P1= pressure of fluid at cross section 1 P2= pressure of fluid at cross section 2 hf= head losses due to friction in pipe hL= head losses due to pipe fittings g=acceleration due to gravity = density of fluid used Note that h1 and h2 are equal in the Equation 1. hf is assumed to be zero as test section length is very small. The value of hL is found from the formula given below Equation 2 Where, Leq= equivalent length of pipe with the given diameter and velocity KL= fitting loss coefficient D= diameter of pipe Substituting the Equation 2 in Equation 1, we get, Equation 3 =
2 2

= 2 =

(2 )

Equation 2 and Equation 3 hold true only if the velocity along the pipe fitting remains constant. However in case of sudden contraction and sudden expansion the velocity of fluid changes along the pipe fitting. In case such as these h L can be found out from the formula given below. Equation 4 Where, A1= area of cross section 1 A2= area of cross section 2 Since A1 and A2 are constant for a given pipe flow they can be included into the constant KL. However we will have to plot values of KL with respect to Din/Dout ratio for various flow velocities. There cannot be determination of Leq in this case. =
( 1 2 )2 2

= 1 1
2

2 2 1 2

Procedure
Clean the apparatus and fill th Sump tank with clean water and ensure that no foreign particles are present. Keep bypass valve open and close rest of the control valves. Mercury level in differential manometer should be half. If it is less then fill it. Close all pressure taps of differential manometer connected to different pipe fittings. Page 2

ME-313, IIT Gandhinagar, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Ensure that On/Off Switch given on the Panel is at OFF position. Now switch on the main power supply (220 Volts AC, 50 Hz) and switch on the Pump. Operate the flow control valve to regulate the flow of water in the desired Test Section. Engage the mercury manometer across the desired cross section. Now open the air release valve provided on the Manometer, slowly to release the air in manometer and close the air release valve when there is no air in the manometer. Adjust water flow rate in the desired section with the help of control valve. Record the Manometer reading. Measure the flow of water discharged through the desired test section using stop watch and measuring tank. Repeat same procedure for different flow rates of water, operating control valve and bypass valve. When the experiment is over for one desired test section, open the bypass valve fully. Then close the flow control valve of running test section and open the control valve of the next desired test section. Repeat same procedure for selected test section and so on.

Data
Specific gravity of Hg = 13.6 kg/lit Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2 Diameter of smaller pipe, D1 = 0.0165 m Diameter of larger pipe, D2 = 0.027 m Crosssectional area of Smaller Diameter pipe A1 = 2.14 x 104 m2 Crosssectional area of Larger Diameter pipe A2 = 5.73 x 104 m2 Area of measuring tank Atank = 0.1 m2

Observation
p(mm Hg) Flow 1 Flow 2 Flow 3 900 bend 30 10 17 expansion 5 2 4 contraction 31 9 16 Union Joint 18 6 10 Ball valve 17 6 9 Standard elbow 31 10 18 H (cm) 17.9 8.8 12.1 T (s) 45.97 45 45

ME-313, IIT Gandhinagar, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

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Sample Calculation
Flow rate = =

0.10 17.9 45.97

= 0.000389 m3/s
1 1

Velocity of flow through smaller pipe = v1 = Velocity of flow through smaller pipe = v2 =

= 1.819553 m/s = 0.679554 m/s

Head loss due to sudden expansion = h L= P*Hg/Water = 0.005*13546/1000= 0.068 m Pipe fitting loss coefficient = KL = hL*2*g/(v1-v2)2 = 0.2507

Calculation
Q (m3/s) Flow 1 Flow 2 Flow 3 0.000389 0.000196 0.000269 900 bend hL(m) KL 0.4080 0.8463 0.1360 1.1185 0.2312 1.0057 expansion hL(m) KL 0.0680 0.2507 0.0272 0.3977 0.0544 0.4207 contraction hL(m) KL 0.4216 1.5547 0.1224 1.7896 0.2176 1.6828 Union Joint hL(m) KL 0.2448 0.5078 0.0816 0.6711 0.1360 0.5916 Ball valve hL(m) KL 0.2312 0.4796 0.0816 0.6711 0.1224 0.5324 Standard elbow hL(m) KL 0.4216 0.8745 0.1360 1.1185 0.2448 1.0649

Graphs

KL Vs Pipe fittings
2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (KL) Fitting loss coefficient

flow 1 flow 2 flow 3

Pipe fittings

ME-313, IIT Gandhinagar, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

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Precaution
Never start the pump when bypass valve is closed. Never fully close, the delivery line and bypass line valves simultaneously. To prevent clogging of moving parts, run the pump at least once a fortnight. Frequently grease/oil the rotating parts, once in three months.

Errors
Due to use of stop watch manual errors in timings are introduced.

Conclusion
Head losses in various pipe fittings was found out to be KL for 900 bend =0.99 KL for sudden expansion =0.36 KL for sudden contraction =1.68 KL for union joint =0.59 KL for ball valve =0.56 KL for standard elbow =1.02

-Vrushiket Patil(09003044) Mechanical Btech 2009

ME-313, IIT Gandhinagar, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

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