Experimental investigation of fluid flow in horizontal pipes system of various cross-section geometries

E Farsirotou,D Stamatopoulou,D Kasiteropoulou,Tomáš Vít,Petr Novotný,Petra Dančová

doi:10.1051/epjconf/20146702026

E Farsirotou, D Stamatopoulou + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20146702026

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Abstract

The current research work presents experiments of an essentially incompressible fluid flow in pipes. The experimental equipment consists of a horizontal pipe including a gate valve, a Venturi meter, a wide angle diffuser, an orifice plate, a 90-degree elbow and pressure tappings. An elbow connects the pipe to a rotameter with further pressure tappings. All pressure tappings connected to manometers held on a vertical panel behind the pipe work and show pressure at various points. The effect of the pipe geometry in the flow pattern is presented. Furthermore head losses are estimated, at specific stream-wise cross-sections, for mass flow rate numbered from 0.056 to 0.411 l/s. The manometers measure and clearly show pressure distribution against a calibrated scale. The diagrams of mass flow rate and head losses are presented in specific cross- sections, where geometry changes. All measurements were calibrated and validated in a maximum standard deviation difference of 5%. The head losses decrease as the mass flow rate decreases, for all pipe geometries. In the future the experimental results can be used to verify numerical simulation results.

Highlights

The measurement of fluid flow is important in many applications ranging from blood-flow rates detection in human artery to the measurement of liquid oxygen in a rocket
The most widely used flow metering principle involves placing a fixed area flow restriction of some type in the pipe or duct carrying the fluid. This flow restriction causes a pressure drop that varies with the flow rate
The experimental equipment consists of a horizontal pipe including a gate valve, a Venturi meter, a wide angle diffuser, an orifice plate, a 90-degree elbow and pressure tappings

Summary

Introduction

The measurement of fluid flow is important in many applications ranging from blood-flow rates detection in human artery to the measurement of liquid oxygen in a rocket. The most widely used flow metering principle involves placing a fixed area flow restriction of some type in the pipe or duct carrying the fluid This flow restriction causes a pressure drop that varies with the flow rate. The experimental equipment consists of a horizontal pipe including a gate valve, a Venturi meter, a wide angle diffuser, an orifice plate, a 90-degree elbow and pressure tappings. In the experimental set-up water from the hydraulic bench enters the horizontal circular pipe through a venturi meter, which consists of a gradually converging section, followed by a throat, and a long gradually diverging section. The flow follows a further settling length, a right-angled bend and enters to a rotameter This consists of a transparent tube in which a float takes up an equilibrium position.

Experimental set-up

Analysis of experimental results

Findings

Conclusions