Lab Assignment Information
Number: 2
Title/Topic: Fluid Circuits I – Frictional Head Loss
Due Date: One week from date of experiment
Type: Individual lab memo
Laboratory Demonstration Objectives
1. Evaluate the relative accuracy of the flow meter.
2. Compare experimental and theoretical values of frictional head loss using the Hampden Fluid
Circuits Demonstrator (H-6925).
Additional Information
1. Nominal inner diameter of 3/8’’ pipe: 0.430’’ XXXXXXXXXXmm)
2. Nominal inner diameter of 1/2” pipe: 0.545” XXXXXXXXXXmm)
3. Nominal inner diameter of 3/4” pipe: .785” XXXXXXXXXXmm)
4. Nominal inner diameter of 1” pipe: 1.025” XXXXXXXXXXmm)
5. Nominal roughness (Ks) value of drawn copper pipe: 5 x 10-6 ft (1.5 x 10-3 mm)
6. Apparatus fluid: tap water at room temperature
Laboratory Procedure
1. Flow Meter Testing
a. Work with your instructor to devise a plan for determining the accuracy of the flow meter
2. Frictional Head Loss
a. Turn off the pump
b. Isolate the 48-inch horizontal segment of the smallest pipe (3/8” diameter) ensuring that
flow only goes through that pipe
c. Turn on both digital pressure transducers and set the units to PSI
d. Insert a gauge tap into the upstream and downstream pipe taps located 48 inches apart on
the horizontal portion of the pipe
e. Zero the readings on each gauge
f. Turn on the pump and set/record the discharge in the system
g. Record readings from each gauge every 30 seconds over a period of 3 minutes
h. Repeat steps (a) – (g) for each of the four horizontal segments of pipe in the parallel arrangement
Laboratory Assignment
Please address the following in your lab memo:
1. Discuss the verification of the flow meter and comment on its accuracy.
2. Compare the experimental values of frictional head loss in the 3/8’’, 1/2”, 3/4”, and 1” pipes to those computed using theoretical concepts (i.e. the Darcy-Weisbach equation).
3. Plot the measured values of hf (vertical axis) against the computed values of hf (horizontal axis).
4. Do the Colebrook-White and Jain equations yield significantly different results from the experiment,
and between each other? Why or why not?
5. Please report any inconsistencies or problems you may have had using the system. Did these
problems manifest themselves in the experimental results? If so, how did you account for them in
your analysis?
2/2Laboratory Memo
Be sure your laboratory memo contains at a minimum:
1) a brief introduction to the topic/objectives of the experiment;
2) a very brief methodology of the apparatus and experimental procedures;
3) a concise presentation of your results; and
4) a brief discussion addressing the specific points listed under “Laboratory Assignment” above. If you have to cite/reference published material, please use footnotes instead of formal in-text citations and a bibliography.