Fluid Mechanics (CLB 11003)

Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

TUTORIAL 6

1) The differences between pipe in series and pipe in parallel.

Pipes in Series

- When pipes of different diameters are connected end to end to form a pipeline, so
that the fluid flows through each in turn, the pipes are said to be in series.
- For pipes in series:
i. The flow rate is the same in each branch of the pipe system.
ii. The total head loss over the system is equal to the sum of the head losses
in the individual branches.

Figure 1: Pipes in Series

Pipes in Parallel

- When two reservoirs are connected by two or more pipes in parallel, the fluid can
flow from one to the other by a number of alternatives routes.
- For pipes in parallel:
i. The total flow rate is equal to the sum of the flow rates in the individual
branches.
ii. The head loss across each branch is the same.

Figure 2: Pipes in Parallel

2) The functions of valve.

- Stopping and starting fluid flow

- Varying (throttling) the amount of fluid flow
- Controlling the direction of fluid flow
- Regulating downstream system or process pressure
- Relieving component or piping over pressure

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Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

3) The difference between stop valve and check valve.

Stop Valve Check valve

Used to shut off or, in some cases, partially
shut off the flow of fluid.
Controlled by the movement of the valve
stem.
Mechanical valves that permit gases and
liquids to flow in only one direction,
preventing process flow from reversing.
One-way directional valves; fluid flow in the
desired direction opens the valve, while
backflow forces the valve closed.

4) Definition of pump.

Mechanical device that moves fluid by pressure or suction.

Operational principals of centrifugal pump and reciprocating pump.

- Centrifugal pumps consist of a set of rotating vanes, enclosed within a housing or

casing, used to impart energy to a fluid through centrifugal force.
- The pump has two main parts: a rotating element which includes an impeller and a
shaft, and a stationary element made up of a casing (volute or solid), stuffing box,
and bearings.
- Centrifugal pumps operate using kinetic energy to move fluid utilizing an impeller
and a circular pump casing.
- The impeller produces liquid velocity and the casing forces the liquid to discharge
from the pump converting velocity to pressure. This is accomplished by offsetting
the impeller in the casing, and by maintaining a close clearance between the
impeller and the casing at the cutwater.
- The fluid enters the pump near the center of the impeller and is moved to its
outside diameter by the rotating motion of the impeller.
- The vanes on the impeller progressively widen from the center of the impeller that
reduces speed and increases pressure. This allows centrifugal pumps to produce
continuous flows at high pressure.

- Plunger pumps are reciprocating pumps using a plunger to move the media
through a cylindrical chamber.
- Plunger pump works on the principle that a plunger can draw in fluid when the
plunger rod extends out of a cylinder bore and can then discharge the fluid when
the plunger rod retracts.

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Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

- When the plunger is pulled out, an increasing volume is formed within the cylinder.
The ball check valve at the inlet port allows fluid to enter and fill this void.
- After the cylinder is filled, the plunger is pushed in. The ball check valve at the inlet
closes, and the ball check valve at the outlet port unseats. A decreasing volume is
formed within the cylinder. This action positively ejects the fluid out of the outlet
port.
- The plunger rods are connected to a driveshaft flange by ball-and-socket joints. A
universal link connects the cylinder block to the driveshaft to provide alignment and
positive drive.
- As the driveshaft rotates the cylinder block, the plungers are forced to reciprocate
inside their cylinders.
- The constant cycling of the plungers results in a pulsating rate of flow at whatever
pressure of the external system.

Outlet Ball Check Valve

Inlet Ball Check Valve

5) The advantages of reciprocating pumps over centrifugal pumps.

i. They can be designed for higher heads than centrifugal
pumps.
ii. They are not subject to air binding, and the suction may be
under a pressure less than atmospheric without necessitating special devices
for priming.
iii. They are more flexible in operation than centrifugal pumps.
iv. They operate at nearly constant efficiency over a wide range of
flow rates.

6) The advantages of centrifugal pumps over reciprocating pumps.

i. The simplest centrifugal pumps are cheaper than the
simplest reciprocating pumps.
ii. Centrifugal pumps deliver liquid at uniform pressure without
shocks or pulsations.
iii. They can be directly connected to motor derive without the use
of gears or belts.
iv. Valves in the discharge line may be completely closed without
injuring them.
v. They can handle liquids with large amounts of solids in
suspension.

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Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

7) Factors that influence the selection of pump.

- The quantity of liquid to be handled.
- The head against which the liquid is to be pumped.
- The nature of the liquid to be pumped.
- The nature of power supply.
- If the pump is used only intermittently.

8) Net positive suction head (NPSH) is defined as the difference between the pump’s
inlet stagnation pressure head and the vapor pressure head.
�P V 2 � P
NPSH = � + � - v
�r g 2 g �
pump inlet
rg

Required net positive suction head (NPSHrequired) is defined as the minimum NPSH
necessary to avoid cavitation in the pump.

9) Cavitation is defined as formation of an air or vapor pocket (bubble) due to

lowering pressure in a liquid. It occurs when the pump suction is under a low
pressure / high vacuum condition where the liquid turns into a vapor (bubbles) at the
inlet of the pump (P < Pv).
The effects of cavitation phenomenon are:
– a loss in capacity
– no longer build the same head (pressure)
– efficiency drops
– causing noise, vibration and damage to many of the
components

10) Compressor is a device that is design to compressed air or gas from low inlet
pressure to higher outlet pressure.
Its function is to increase the pressure of air or gas and automatically decrease the
volume of air or gas.

11) Four basic principles of compressor designs

i. Intake
ii. Compression
iii. Discharge
iv. Re-expansion

12) Given:
Q = 6 L/s
r = 999.7 kg/m3
 = 1.307 x 10-3 kg/m.s
 = 0.00026 m (cast iron pipe)
d = 5 cm
z2 = 4 m
KL sharp-edged entrance = 0.5
KL elbow flanged = 0.3

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Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

KL gate valve = 0.2

KL exit = 1.06

We choose points 1 and 2 at the free surfaces of the two reservoirs. We note that the fluid at both
points are open to the atmosphere (and thus P1 = P2 = Patm) and the fluid velocities at both points
are zero (V1 = V2 =0). Then the energy equation for a control volume between these two points
simplifies to

13) Given:
r = 920 kg/m3
 = 0.045 kg/ms
KL slightly-rounded entrance = 0.12
KL 90 smooth bend = 0.3
 = 1.05
 = 0 (smooth plastic pipe)
p = 0.82

We choose point 1 at the free surface of oil in the reservoir and point 2 at the exit of the hose in the
tanker. Both points are open to the atmosphere, thus P1 = P2 = Patm and the fluid velocity at point 1,
V1 = 0. We take the free surface of the reservoir as the reference level (z1 = 0). Then the energy
equation for a control volume between these two points simplifies to

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Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

P1 u2 P u2 u2
+  1 1 + z1 + hpump,u = 2 +  2 2 + z 2 + hL  hpump,u =  2 2 + z 2 + hL
rg 2g rg 2g 2g

where
2
 L  V2
h L = h L,total = h L,major + h L,minor =  f
 D
+ K L 
 2g

The flow rate is determined from the requirement 2

that the tanker must be filled in 30 min,
Tanker
Vtanker 18 m 3
Q= = = 0.01 m 3 /s 18 m3 5 cm 5m
t (30  60 s)

Then the average velocity in the pipe and the Reynolds number become 20 m 1
3
Q Q 0.01 m /s Fuel oil
u2 = = = = 5.093 m/s
A D / 4  (0.05 m) 2 / 4
2
Pump

ru 2 d (920 kg/m )(5.093 m/s)(0.05 m)

3
Re = = = 5206
 0.045 kg/m  s
which is greater than 4000. Therefore, the flow is turbulent.

From the Moody graph, f = 0.0370.

The sum of the loss coefficients is

K L = K L ,entrance + 2 K L, bend = 0.12 + 2  0.3 = 0.72

The total head loss

2 2
 L u  20 m  (5.093 m/s)
hL =  f +  K L  2 =  (0.0370) + 0.72  2
= 20.5 m
 d  2g  0.05 m  2(9.81 m/s )

The pump head

u 22 (5.093 m/s) 2
hpump, u = 2 + z 2 + hL = 1.05 + 5 m + 20.5 m = 26.9 m
2g 2(9.81 m/s 2 )

Then the required power input to the pump become

Qrghpump, u (0.01 m 3 /s)(920 kg/m 3 )(9.81 m/s 2 )( 26.9 m)  1 kN  1 kW 
W pump = =    = 2.96
 pump 0.82  1000 kg  m/s
2
 1 kN  m/s 
 1.341hp 
= 2.96kW   = 3.97 hp
 1kW 
14) Given:
 = 1.21 x 10-5 ft2/s
r = 62.4 lbm/ft3
L = 500 ft
d = 5 in
 = 5 x 10-6 ft (drawn aluminium tubing)
Q = 1500 gpm
P1 = 65 psig
P2 = 30 psig
p = 0.75
hL,minor = 0

The volume flow rate and velocity of water are

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Chapter 6: Equipment in Fluid Flow

1500 gal ft 3 1 min

Q=   = 3.34 ft 3 / s
min 7.48 gal 60 s
Q 3.34 ft 3 / s
u= = = 24.5 ft / s
A   5in  2 1 ft 2

4 144in 2

The Reynolds number become

rud (0.93)(62.4lbm / ft 3 )(8.27 ft/s)(4 ft)  lbf 
Re = =   = 1.71  10 5
 3.5  10 lbf/s
-4
 32.174lbm. ft / s
2


The relative roughness of the pipe is,

 5  10 -6 ft
= = 1.2  10 -5
d 1 ft
5in 
12in

From the Moody graph, f = 0.012

Assumption: z1 = z2, u1 = u2 (1 = 2)

P1 u12 P2 u 22 P
+ 1 + z1 + hpump, u = + 2 + z 2 + hL  hpump, u = + hL
rg 2g rg 2g rg

where
 500 ft   24.5 ft / s  2
2
Lu
hL = hL , total = hL ,major + hL , min or = f = 0.012  = 134.22 ft
 5 / 12 ft  2 32.2 ft / s 
2
d 2g

Power reaching the fluid

.
W horsepower = Qrghpump, u = Q P + hL rg 
ft 3 
= 3.34
s 
 (65 - 30) psi 
1lbf / in 2 144in 2
1 psi

ft 2
 
+ 134.22 ft 62.4lbm / ft 3 32.2 ft / s 2  32.1741lbm
lbf
. ft /

 -3

 5040 + 8382 lbf2  1.341 10 hp  = 81.5hp
3
ft
= 3.34
s ft  0.7376lbf . ft / s 
Required power input
. .
W horsepower . W horsepower 81.5hp
p =  W pump = = = 108.67hp
.
W pump p 0.75

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