July 28, 2011

EXPERIMENT 1: FLUID FLOW REGIME (REYNOLDS NUMBER APPARATUS)

Materials Reynolds number apparatus 1-L plastic graduated cylinder Stopwatch Thermometer Dye Objectives To analyze the behavior of the dye in the water flowing through the Reynolds number apparatus and relate it to the computed Reynolds number. Interpretation of Results

Experiment 1, entitled Fluid Flow Regime, made use of the Reynolds Number apparatus in analyzing the three types of fluid flow viz.: laminar, transition, and turbulent flow. Reynolds Number Apparatus injects a filament of dye solution into the middle of the stream of free-flowing water in a pipe, whose behavior is observed and will then be related to the obtained value of the corresponding Reynolds number. The calculation on Reynolds number is a function of pipe diameter, fluid velocity, fluid density, and fluid viscosity. The pipe used is one of -in schedule 40, whose diameter is 0.0209m. The fluid density and viscosity is that of water, which were found to be 995.026 kg/m3 and 0.771 cp, respectively, at 32C. Pertinent procedures were carried out at different conditions to be able to obtain values needed for calculation of the Reynolds number, which is a dimensionless number. The independent variable is the volume of fluid collected within a specific span of time, as pipe diameter, fluid density and viscosity were kept, or at least assumed to be constant in the case of water temperature. The fluid velocity was obtained by dividing the volume of water collected per unit time by the cross-sectional area of the pipe. The procedures were done for five trials, each trial varying in the velocity of the fluid by controlling the opening of the valve. The variations were set so as to compare the fluid flow regimes at different fluid velocities. Results of the experiment yielded the three types of fluid flow. That is, laminar for the first trial, transition for the second, and turbulent for the third through the fifth. The values of fluid velocity were varied in an increasing manner. The Reynolds number were obtained by the utilizing formula Re=Du/. The distinction of type of fluid flow is based on its value, which is 2100 for laminar, as in our first trial, 4000 for turbulent, as in our third through the fifth trial, and between 2100 and 4000 for our second trial. We observed the behavior of the dye injected into the middle of the inner pipe to be smooth, orderly for laminar flow, which was done at low velocity. It was observed to move parallel to the tube walls. For the transition flow which was done at a slightly higher velocity, the dye is midway between being orderly and chaotic, as the once smooth flow of dye gradually loses its identity as a consequence of being absorbed into a new environment whose velocity is increased. At this point eddies start to break from the dye filament. For turbulent flow, the dye moves in an irregular and chaotic behavior, and the eddies become larger at the condition of a high velocity. Mapa Institute of Technology

July 28, 2011

EXPERIMENT 1: FLUID FLOW REGIME (REYNOLDS NUMBER APPARATUS)

Conclusion

The experiment on Fluid Flow Regime has demonstrated the differences between the three types of fluid flow with the use of Reynolds Number apparatus. We have observed firsthand the underlying principles and basis of the popular dimensionless number called the Reynolds Number. The grounds for introduction of dye into the free flowing stream of water in the experiment is that to make the flow regime visible and observable, since the velocity of the dye stream is equal to that of the water at the point of introduction. This observation is a hint of the interpretation of the Reynolds number, since its understanding would be quite difficult because of its dimensionless value. As a summary, the three types of fluid flow are the laminar, transition, and turbulent flows. These flows were achieved by means of varying the velocities (or volume of water collected in the graduated cylinder per unit time per unit crosssectional area of the pipe). For a low velocity, or at a value of Reynolds Number below 2100, the flow is laminar, as characterized by smooth and orderly fluid flow. Whereas at a slightly higher velocity, or at a value of Reynolds number between 2100 and 4000, the flow is in transition period, whose flow is gradually forming clusters or eddies. Lastly, above a certain mean velocity, which is relatively high, or at a value of Reynolds number above 4000, the flow is called turbulent flow, and it is characterized by formation of larger eddies and behaves in irregular and chaotic manner.

Mapa Institute of Technology