MOMENTUM TRANSFER AND UNIT

OPERATIONS LABORATORY
Experiment Number : 6
Title : Losses Due to Pipe Fittings, Sudden Enlargement & Contraction.
Group No : 2
Name

Roll Number

Sourav Pal

001210301049

Sulagna Majumder

001210301050

Deep Das

001210301051

Suryansh Singh

001210301052

Debayan Saha

001210301053

Sudipta Dutta

001210301054

Date of Experiment : 19th August, 2014.

Date of Submission : 2nd September, 2014.
Object of Experiment :
1. To determine the loss of head in the fittings at the various water flow rates.
2. To determine the loss coefficient for the pipe fittings.

Name of Teacher Concerned : Dr. Sudeshna Saha.

Experiment No: 6
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Title: Losses Due to Pipe Fittings, Sudden Enlargement & Contraction.

Theory:
Loss of head due to change in cross-sections, bends, elbows, valves and
fittings of all types fall into the category of minor losses in pipelines. In long
pipelines the friction losses are much larger than these minor losses and hence the
latter are often neglected. But, in shorter pipelines their consideration is necessary
for the correct estimate of losses. The minor losses in contraction can be expressed
as:
hL = kL (V12 / 2g)
The minor losses in enlargement can be expressed as:
hL = kL (V1 - V2)2 / 2g
where,
hL = minor loss or head loss
kL = loss coefficient
V1 = velocity of fluid in pipe of smaller diameter
V2 = velocity of fluid in pipe of larger diameter

Description:
The apparatus consists of a inch bend and elbow, a sudden expansion from
inch to 1 inch, sudden contraction from 1 inch to inch, a inch ball valve and
a gate valve. Pressure tappings are provided at inlet and outlet of these fittings at
suitable distance. A differential manometer fitted in the line gives pressure loss due
to fittings. Supply to the pipeline is made through centrifugal pump, which delivers
water from a tank. The flow of water in pipeline is regulated by means of a control
valve and a bypass valve. Discharge is measured with the help of a measuring tank
and stop watch.

Utilities Required:
1. power supply: single phase, 220 volt, 50 hz, 5 Amp with Earth
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2. water supply
3. drain
4. space required :1.6m * 0.6m

Formula For Calculation:

Loss of head (for contraction):
hL = kL (V12 / 2g)
Loss of head (for expansion):
hL = kL (V1-V2)2 / 2g
Discharge:
Q = V/t
Volume:
V = A* R
Velocity in inch and 1 inch pipe:
V1 = Q/a1
V2 = Q/a2
Where,
V1= velocity of fluid in pipe of smaller diameter
V2= velocity of fluid in pipe of larger diameter
V = volume of water collected in measuring tank
R = rise of water level in measuring tank
t = time taken for R

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Schematic of Equipment Arrangement

Equipment Data:
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A = area of measuring tank = 0.1 sq m

S = specific gravity of Hg = 13.6 gm/cc
g = acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2
d1 = diameter of small pipe = 0.016m
d2 = diameter of larger pipe = 0.028m
a1 = cross-sectional area of smaller dia pipe = 0.00020106 sq m
a2 = cross sectional area of larger dia pipe = 0.0006157 sq m

Experimental Data:
Observation No. 1
Rise of water in tank = R = 0.16 m
Volume of water = V = 0.16 * 0.1 = 0.016 cub.m
Time taken = t = 10 sec
Volumetric flow rate = Q = 0.016/10 = 0.0016 cub.m/sec
Velocity through inch dia pipe = V1 = 0.0016/0.000201 =7.9601 m/sec
Velocity through 1 inch dia pipe = V2 = 0.0016/0.0006157 = 2.5986 m/sec
Sl.no

Type of fitting

Height difference
h (m)

90 smooth bend

0.012

90 sharp bend

0.027

Expander

0.016

Reducer

0.015

Globe valve

0.009

Gate valve

0.031

Calculations:

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 Observation No. 1

Sl.no

Type of
fitting

Height
difference

Pressure
drop

Head
loss

h (m)

P (Pa)

hL =
P/

90
smooth
bend

0.012

1473.27

1.48

90 sharp
bend

0.027

3327.36

3.33

Expander

0.016

1977.69

Reducer

0.015

Globe
valve

Gate
valve

kL
kL
calculated theoretical

0.79

0.92

1.98

0.13

0.45

1844.09

1.85

0.05

0.32

0.009

1102.45

1.11

0.031

3821.78

3.83

0.28

0.22(wide
open)

Discussions:
The loss coefficients for the pipe fittings are calculated, though the values
obtained experimentally differ from the actual values.
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 The errors present may be due to instrumental error.

The flow rates should be calculated every time before measuring the
pressure drop but in the experiment the flow measurement was very difficult
so we have measured the flow rate once before each observation.
The flow within the pipe should be steady.

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