Objective:

The objective of this lab is to examine fluid motion in a pipe, especially the differences between laminar and turbulent flows, and the pressure loss of the fluid in the pipe.

Theory:
A fluid travelling in a pipe can travel with either a laminar flow, which is smooth, or turbulent flow, which is chaotic and irregular. Laminar flow maintains uniform velocity across the area of the pipe over time, and turbulent flows have random changes in velocity throughout, while maintaining a mean velocity across the area of the pipe. Whether a pipe has turbulent or laminar flow depends on flow rate, external disturbances, system geometry, and fluid properties. With low fluid velocity, the pipe will keep a laminar flow, however, upon reaching the upper critical velocity, the flow will become turbulent. Similarly, a fluid with high fluid velocity will keep a turbulent flow until the lower critical velocity is reached. The upper critical velocity is ordinarily much higher than the lower critical velocity. The flow inside a pipe can be found with the Reynolds number, a unitless ratio. Any number less than the Reynolds number for the lower critical velocity will have a laminar flow, while any number greater than the Reynolds number for the upper critical velocity will be turbulent. Any number in between means the fluid is unstable and can be laminar, turbulent, or switching between them. It is also important to note pressure loss. Pressure is lost in a pipe through friction along the walls. In laminar flows, the pressure loss per unit length of a pipe is proportional to the flow rate, while in turbulent flows, it is proportional to the flow rate squared.

Procedure:
1. The apparatus was turned on and the dye streak was observed and sketched at both low and high flow rates. 2. A blob of dye was injected into the stream at high and low flow rates, and its distortion was sketched. 3. The inclined manometer was set to have a level base, tubes inclined at 45o and a liquid level of 320mm. 4. The downstream valve was opened, and readings were taken of manometer differential pressure and volume flow rates for 10 equal flow increments. 5. The large rotameter was closed, and the small was opened. The manometer was inclined to 15o, and manometer differential pressure readings were taken at 10 equal decrements

of the flow rate. 6. Pressure loss versus flow rate was plotted for the two cases above.

Apparatus:
Reynolds apparatus schematic