Fluid Flow Experiment

Dr. Russell Chen

Design Objective:

Design a piping system that pumps 5000 gallon of ethylene glycol at 150°F from one tank to another tank that is located 300 feet away and 40 feet above. Discuss the possibility of using the pump in the lab for this job.

Experimental Objectives:

The following experimental objectives are to be taken:

Calibrate the orifice plate
Investigate the pressure drop in horizontal pipe flow.
Verify the pump performance curve provided by the manufacturer.
Investigate the flow through fittings.
Compare the flow through two parallel pipes of different size. (In order to measure the flows, one of the pipe must be the one containing the orifice plate.)

Equipment and supplies:

The equipment consists of a series of schedule 40 pipes. Horizontal pipes are available in the following dimensions; iron - 1/8"; PVC - 1/2", 1", 11/2", and 2". A 1/2" vertical pipe section is also available. Scattered throughout the unit are a number of other typical pipe features; expansions, contractions, elbows, etc. There are 3 different flowmeters on the unit, a rotameter, a vortex shedder, and an orifice plate (plate diameter = 1.12"). Two different pumps are used, a 1/30 hP submersible pump for the 1/8" pipe and a 3/4 hP centrifugal pump for all others. A manometer is used for the 1/8" pipe and a pressure gauge is used for all others. There are a number of other equipment specifications which you need, but they are readily measured by you in the lab.

Emphasis:

A thorough understanding of fluid flow, Reynolds number, orifice coefficient, friction factor, and loss coefficient.
Use of equations in fluid flow.
Understanding of pump performance curve.
Statistical tools required for the estimation of error, t-test.

Hints:

Do a preliminary design to identify the fittings you need to investigate.
Pressure corrections are on the panel.

Send e-mail to Dr. Chen at: chenw@ohio.edu

Prelab Report Grade Breakdown

Prelab Discussion 10% Experimental Methods/Operating Procedure 10%

Experimental and Design Objectives 10% Experimental Methods/Safety Concerns 10%

Introduction/Experimental Plan Overview 10% Expected Data and Results 10%

Experimental Methods/Schematic and Description of Apparatus 10% Data Analysis/Sample Calculations 10%

Experimental Methods/Test Matrix 10% Data Analysis/Statistical Methods 10%

Prelab Discussion	10%	Experimental Methods/Operating Procedure	10%
Experimental and Design Objectives	10%	Experimental Methods/Safety Concerns	10%
Introduction/Experimental Plan Overview	10%	Expected Data and Results	10%
Experimental Methods/Schematic and Description of Apparatus	10%	Data Analysis/Sample Calculations	10%
Experimental Methods/Test Matrix	10%	Data Analysis/Statistical Methods	10%

Postlab Report Grade Breakdown


Report Overall/Experimental Uncertainty	10%	Presentation of Results/ Experimental Methodology	10%
Report Overall/Quantitative vs Qualitative	10%	Presentation of Results/ Sample Calculations	10%
Report Overall/Presentation style	10%	Discussion/Statistical Analysis	10%
Objective	10%	Discussion/Analysis of Trends or Anomalies	10%
Presentation of Results/ Actual Results	10%	Conclusions	10%

(Last Modified on 09/07/04)