EXPERIMENT NO.

6
ENERGY LOSSES ACROSS A GATE VALVE

Year and Section : 4CE-A

Date Performed: February 08, 2013

Group Number

Date Submitted : February 15, 2013

Group Members:
PION, Angeline G.
PUACHE, Ramar Kristoffer A.

REYES, Aira Mia

RIEGO, John Philip O.

PUNZALAN, Mark Alvin A.

ROSAURO, Jashar Aaron S.

REVALO, Clinton M.

SANTIAGO, Patrick Jerome A.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the loss factors for flow through a range of pipe fittings including gate
valves.
APPARATUS
The F1-10 Hydraulics Bench
The F1-22 Energy Losses
in Bends and Fitting Apparatus.
Stopwatch

PROCEDURE Equipment Set up

1. Set up the losses apparatus on the hydraulic bench so that its base is horizontal (this
is necessary for accurate height measurements from the manometer).
2. Connect the test rig inlet to the bench flow supply and run the outlet extension tube
to the volumetric tank and secure it in place.
3. Open the bench valve, the gate valve and the flow control valve. Start the pump to fill
the test rig with water.
4. In order to bleed air from pressure tapping points and the manometers, close both
the bench valve and the test rig flow control valve and open the air bleed screw and
remove the cap from the adjacent air valve. Connect a length of small-bore tubing
from the air valve to the volumetric tank. Now, open the bench valve and allow flow
through the manometers to purge all air from them; then, tighten the air bleed screw
and partly open both the bench valve and the test rig flow control valve. Next, open
the air bleed screw slightly to allow air to enter the top of the manometers, re-tighten
the screw when the manometer levels reach a convenient height.

5. Check that all the manometer levels are on scale at the maximum volume flow rate
required (approximately 17 litters per minute). These levels can be adjusted further
by using the air bleed screw and the hand pump supplied. The air bleed screw
controls the air flow through the air valve, so when using the hand pump, the bleed
screw must be open.
6. To retain the hand pump pressure in the system, the screw must be closed after
pumping.
PROCEDURE Taking a Set of Results
1. Clamp off the connecting tubes to the mitre bend pressure taping (to prevent air
being drawn into the system).
2. Start with the gate valve closed and open fully both the bench and the test rig flow
control valve.
3. Now open the gate valve by approximately 75% of one turn (after taking up any
backflash) for each of at least 5 flow rates by use of the test rig flow control valve.
Once the measurement has started, do not adjust the gate valve.
4. Determine the volume flow rate by timed collection. Repeat this procedure for the
gate valve opened by approximately 100% and 125% of a turn.
DATA AND RESULTS
(P1-P2)
TRIAL
75% of
one
turn
100%
of one
turn
125%
of one
turn

BAR

Volume
(m3)

Time
(s)

Discharge
(m3/s)

Z1
(m)

Hg
(m)

kg

4L

16.060

2.491x10-4

0.150

6.264

180.132

0.600

m of
H2O
6.114

0.350

3.567

4L

14.800

2.703x10-4

0.150

3.717

90.840

0.200

2.038

4L

14.170

2.823x10-4

0.150

2.188

49.000

FIGURES

Opening The gate valve.

Adjusting the flow rate by means of

the flow control valve.

Taking time measurements.

Observation of the losses

apparatus.

FORMULAS AND COMPUTATION

1
10.19 m of H 2 O

0.6 Bar x

= 6.14 m of H2O

0.2 Bar x

1
10.19 m of H 2 O

= 2.038 m

of H2O

0.35 Bar x

hg =

1
10.19 m of H 2 O

P1 P 2
w

= 3.567 m of H2O

+ 0.15

hg75% = 6.114 + 0.15 = 6.264 m

hg100% = 3.567 + 0.15 = 3.717 m

hg125% = 2.038+ 0.15 = 2.188 m

Discharge = Volume / Time
Q75% =

0.004
16.06

= 2.491x10-4 m3/s

Q75% =

0.004
14.17

= 2.823x10-4 m3/s

Q100% =

0.004
14.80

= 2.703x10-4 m3/s

Velocity = Discharge / Area

V75% =

2.491 x 104
(9.81 x 103 )2

= 0.826 m/s

V100% =

2.703 x 104
(9.81 x 103 )2

0.896 m/s
V75% =

kg =

kg75% =
90.84

2.823 x 104
3 2
(9.81 x 10 )

= 0.936 m/s

hg(2 g)
V2
6.264 ( 2 ) (9.81)
0.826 2

= 180.132

kg100% =

3.717 ( 2 ) (9.81)
0.896 2

kg75% =

2.188 ( 2 ) ( 9.81)
2
0.936

= 49

SOURCES OF ERROR
From the time the equipment was set up, a few errors could have already been
made such as not properly calibrating the equipment and not fully getting rid of the air in the
manometers. Air inside the system may have a great effect on the data obtained. It was
possible that the gate valve was not accurately adjusted to 75%, 100% and 125% of a turn
as desired in the procedure. Since this experiment, like the previous ones performed, deals
with obtaining the flow rate, a minor source of error is the inaccuracy in measuring the time.
Human and parallax errors could also have been encountered while taking the volume
readings.

REMARKS
Energy losses in pipe flows are the result of friction between the fluid and the pipe
walls and internal friction between fluid particles. Minor (secondary) head losses occur at
any location in a pipe system where streamlines are not straight, such as at pipe junctions,
bends, valves, contractions, expansions, and reservoir inlets and outlets. In this experiment,
a minor head loss through a pipe section that has a gate valve was measured. On opening
the gate valve, the flow path is enlarged in proportion with respect to the percent of the
opening. When fully open, the typical gate valve has no obstruction in the flow path,
resulting in very low or even negligible friction loss. Moreover, a gate valve was used in
performing this experiment and a pressure gage to measure the difference in heads. As
there were two different types of valves, a gate valve and a globe valve, the group suggests
that future experiments may involve other types of valves so respective loss coefficients can
be compared as to which type is more efficient to use in certain circumstances.