Laboratory Session 1

Head Loss Due to Pipe Fittings

Group members: Azamat Amzebek

Talgat Abayev

Turar Yerkenov

Aigerim Maksot
Date: 13 February 2017

Date of submission: 20 February 2017

Introduction:
Experimental objectives and Hypothesis
When fluid flows through a pipe, the fluid experience some resistance due
to which some energy of fluid is lost. This loss can be categorized as major
and minor depending on dissipation type. Major loss commonly occurs due to
viscosity and friction between fluid and pipe walls. Minor loss, which is main
focus of this experiment, occurs due to any obstructions in pipe, elbows and
bends, contractions or expansions. Particular aim of this experiment is to
identify head loss due to sudden contraction, expansion and globe valve and
to make correlation between its position and fitting coefficient or factor. .
The fitting factor can vary depending on velocity of flow, type of flow, also on
connection type as screwed or flanged. But general relation can be
constructed, as example fitting factor for globe valve can vary from 6 to 30.
There are also different types of reducers as square, tapered or rounded. For
square reduction process investigated in this experiment K number can vary
between 0 and 0,55 for contraction and from 0 to 1 for expansion.
Theoretical background
The amount of energy dissipated due to friction, called head loss, depends
on several factors as velocity of flow, pipe and fitting characteristics and
their connection types. This important value can be quantitatively calculated
using linear expressions. It has been found that minor loss due to pipe
fittings is proportional to velocity of flow as:
2
v
h=K (1)
2g

where proportionality coefficient K is named is fitting factor, v is velocity

of fluid. Second term in equation (1) can be expressed as velocity head:
v2
hv= (2)
2g
Then equation for fitting factor can be rewritten as:
h
K= (3)
hv
The values of K for elbows, valves are found experimentally at different
conditions and tabulated in specific manuals. K value of sudden pipe are
expansion and reduction varies with diameter and geometry of pipe change.
The pipe being investigated has square reduction of area and fitting factor
can be calculated using following equations:
For contraction
A2 2
K c =0.55( 1 ) (4)
A1
For expansion
2
A1
K ex=(1 ) (5)
A2

Experimental Procedure :
- Equipment:
- Experimental Protocol:
- Safety:
Calculations:
For the sudden contraction and sudden enlargement fittings.

First of all, the average volume and average time was calculated for each
measurement.
The value of flow rate was defined by the formula:
V 0.001
Q= (6)
T
where V is the measured volume of fluid per unit time T.
The volumetric flow rate for the first trial of contraction pipe is equal:
0.206 1000
Q= =8.25 105 m3 /s
2.496

The next step was to calculate the velocity of the flow. It can be calculated
as:
Q 4Q
u= = 2 (7)
A D

where Q is the volume flow rate, A is the surface area. The velocity of the
flowing liquid for the first trial was equal to:
4 8.25 105
u= =1.87 m/ s
0.00752
The formula for the velocity head is calculated using equation (2):
 2
1.87
hv= =0.178 m
2 9.81
The last step was to calculate the fitting factor. It can be calculated using
equation (3):
0.3
K= =1.68
0.178

Following the same calculation procedure, the fitting factor for other
measurements were defined and all of them are given in the Table 1 and
Table 2.
Also, the theoretical value of the contraction loss coefficient (fitting factor)
for sudden contraction can be calculated using the equations (4) and (5):
A2 2 d 22 2 0.00752 2
K c=0.55(1 ) =0.55(1 2 ) =0.55(1 ) =0.309
A1 d1 0.01502

For the sudden enlargement, the theoretical value of the expansion loss
coefficient (fitting factor) for the sudden enlargement is equal to:
A2 2 d22 2 0.00752 2
K ex=(1 ) =(1 2 ) =(1 ) =0.563
A1 d1 0.01502

The last step was to calculate the standard devaition by using the following
formula:
K 1+ K 2+ K 3+ + Kn
K avg= (8)
n

S=
( K nK avg )2 ;
n1
(9)

For the sudden contraction pipe K avg =2.007, S = 0.235.

1

For the sudden enlargement pipe K avg = 11.6, S = 1.31.

2

A globe valve

The value of flow rate for each valve opening can be defined as:
N (1
Q= total flow rate( fully opened)
9,5 0)
where N is the number of valve openings(valve position)
Following the same calculation procedure, the fitting factor for globe valve
can be calculated.

Results: Plots and Tables, Results description

Table 1. Measured and calculated data for the sudden contraction pipe.
Num Volum Time Flow Pipe Velocit Velocit Measure Fitting
ber e T rate Diamet y y Head d Head Factor
of V [secs Q er U Hv loss K
3
trials [litres] ] [m /s] D [m/s] [mH2O H
[m] [mH2O]
1 0.206 2.49 8.2510 0.0075 1.87 0.178 0.3 1.68
-5
6
2 2.00 10.6 1.8710 0.0075 4.24 0.918 1.7 1.85
-4
7
3 3.00 11.3 2.6310 0.0075 5.96 1.81 3.65 2.01
-4
9
4 0.164 2.20 7.4510 0.0075 1.69 0.145 0.28 1.92
-5

5 0.201 5.00 4.0210 0.0075 0.91 0.042 0.1 2.37

-5
6
6 2.00 6.61 3.0210 0.0075 6.84 2.39 5.39 2.25
-4
5
7 3.00 8.58 3.4910 0.0075 7.91 3.19 6.30 1.97
-4

Table 2. Measured and calculated data for sudden enlargement sudden

enlargement pipe

Numbe Volum Time Flow Pipe Velocit Velocity Measure Fittin

r e T rate Diamet y Head d Head g
of trials V [secs Q er U hv loss Facto
[litres ] [m3/s] D [m/s] [mH2O] h r
] [m] [mH2O] K
1. 0.190 2.56 7.4210 0.017 0.33 5.4510 0.07 12.7
-5 -3
9
2. 2.00 10.3 1.9210 0.017 0.85 0.036 0.49 13.3
 -4
8 2
3. 2.00 7.64 2.6110 0.017 1.15 0.067 0.75 11.0
-4
5 6
4. 2.00 6.43 3.1110 0.017 1.37 0.096 1.04 10.8
-4
5
5. 2.00 5.81 3.4410 0.017 1.52 0.117 1.21 10.3
-4
1

Table 3. Measured and calculated data for globe valve

Measur
Pipe
Volum Velocity ed Fitting
Time Flow rate Diamet Velocity
e Head Head Factor
er
loss
V T Q D U Hv H K
[secs
[litres] [m3/s] [m] [m/s] [mH2O [mH2O]
]
0,0003898 0,24832583
2 5,13 0,015 2,21 -2,92 -11,7
64 7
0,000205 0,06878832
0,015 1,16 -0,89 -12,9
191 1
0,000246 0,09905518
0,015 1,39 -0,89 -8,98
23 2
0,000328 0,17609810
0,015 1,86 -0,9 -5,11
306 1
0,000328 0,17609810
0,015 1,86 -0,9 -5,11
306 1
0,000369 0,22287415
0,015 2,091 -0,9 -4,04
344 9
0,000389 0,24832583
0,015 2,21 -0,9 -3,62
864 7
Figure 1. Fitting factor K versus Valve position.

Fitting factor versus Valve position [N]

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
-2

-4

f(x) = 0.86x - 12.86

-6 R = 0.88
Fitting factor[K]
-8

-10

-12

-14

Valve position[N]

Discussion: Results explanation

Conclusions