0

Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture
Saint Louis University
LABORATORY REPORT EVALUATION SHEET
Laboratory Course: _________ChE 425___________ Schedule: _____7:30-10:30 Daily_____
Experiment Number: _____________1_____________
Experiment Title: Reynolds Number Experiment_____
Group Number: ___________3_______________ Date Performed: _June 8, 2017______
Group Members: Domalanta, Marcel Roy B._________ Date Submitted: _June 15, 2017______
Agabin, Angelica S._______________
Cagaoan, Monica M.______________
Caero, Rizzanine Mae M.__________
Elitan, Yvonne Rhane S.___________
Javier, Arriana Joy B.______________
Mat-an, Margaret P._______________
Rivera, Patricia Anne S.____________
CONTENTS TOTAL REMARKS SCORE
POINTS
I. Abstract 10
II. Chapter 1: Introduction 15
III. Chapter 2: Design and Methodology 10
IV. Chapter 3: Results and Discussion 20
V. Chapter 4: Conclusion and 10
Recommendation
VI. References 5
VII. Appendices 15
a. List and Uses of Apparatus
b. Definition of Terms
c. Computations
d. Problems
VIII. Table of Contents / List of Tables / 5
List of Figures
IX. Format and Neatness 10
TOTAL POINTS: 100 SCORE: ______

Evaluated by: Engr. Ray Limuel C. Laureano__________ Date: ___________________

 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract2

Introduction.3

Design & Methodology...6

Results & Discussion.....7

Conclusion & Recommendation....9

References..11

Appendices

a) List & Uses of Apparatus...12

b) Definition of Terms...12

c) Computations.....12

List of Tables

Table 1.7

List of Figures

Figure 1...6
 2

ABSTRACT

THE REYNOLDS NUMBER EXPERIMENT IS USED TO OBSERVE THE

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLUID FLOW. IT IS AN

EXPERIMENT USED TO DETERMINE THE REYNOLDS NUMBER FOR EACH

TYPE OF FLOW. THE DESIGN OF THE APPARATUS ALLOWED STUDYING THE

CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FLOW OF THE FLUID IN THE PIPE, THE BEHAVIOR

OF THE FLOW AND ALSO TO CALCULATE THE RANGE FOR THE LAMINAR,

TRANSITIONAL AND TURBULENT FLOW WHERE THE CALCULATION IS USED

TO PROVE THE REYNOLDS NUMBER IS DIMENSIONLESS BY USING THE

REYNOLDS NUMBER FORMULA. FROM THE DATA THAT WE HAVE OBTAINED

WE WERE ABLE TO ESTIMATE THE RANGE FOR LAMINAR, TRANSITIONAL

AND TURBULENT FLOW. TO PROVE THAT THE REYNOLDS NUMBER IS

DIMENSIONLESS, WE CALCULATE BY USING THE UNITS ONLY AND USING

THE APPROPRIATE FORMULA. BY THAT, IT IS PROVED THAT THE REYNOLDS

NUMBER IS DIMENSIONLESS PARAMETER.

Key words: Reynolds Number, Laminar, Turbulent, Transitional

 3

Chapter 1

Introduction

The flow of real fluids can basically occur under two very different regimes namely

laminar and turbulent flow. The concept was introduced by George Gabriel Stokes in 1851, but

the Reynolds number was named by Arnold Sommerfeld in 1908 after Osborne Reynolds (1842

1912), who popularized its use in 1883. Reynolds conducted an experiment for observation and

determination of these regimes of flow. By introducing a fine filament of dye in to the flow of

water through the glass tube ,at its entrance he studied the different types of flow. At low

velocities the dye filament appeared as straight line through the length of the tube and parallel to

its axis, characterizing laminar flow. As the velocity is increased the dye filament becomes wavy

throughout indicating transition flow. On further increasing the velocity the filament breaks up

and diffuses completely in the water in the glass tube indicating the turbulent flow.

After conducting his experiment with pipes different diameters and with water at

different temperatures Reynolds concluded that the various parameters on which the regimes of

flow depend can be grouped together in a single non dimensional parameter called Reynolds

number. It is represented as:

The critical velocity V averaged across the cross section at which laminar pipe flow changes to

transitional flow, or transitional flow changes to turbulent flow, is believed to be a function

primarily of the pipe diameter d, the fluid density , and the fluid viscosity .

Reynolds Number is a ratio of the inertial (destabilizing) force to the viscous damping

(stabilizing) force. As R increases, the inertial forces grow relatively larger, and the flow gets

destabilized into full-blown turbulence. A similar effect is created by the introduction of a

 4

stream of higher velocity fluid, such as the hot gases from a flame in air. This relative movement

generates fluid friction, which is a factor in developing turbulent flow. Counteracting this effect

is the viscosity of the fluid, which as it increases, progressively inhibits turbulence, as more

kinetic energy is absorbed by a more viscous fluid. The Reynolds number quantifies the relative

importance of these two types of forces for given flow conditions, and is a guide to when

turbulent flow will occur in a particular situation.

The laminar flow is characterized by fluid particles moving in the form of lamina sliding

over each other, such that at any instant the velocity at all the points in particular lamina is the

same. The lamina near the flow boundary move at a slower rate as compared to those near the

center of the flow passage. This type of flow occurs in viscous fluids , fluids moving at slow

velocity and fluids flowing through narrow passages.

The turbulent flow is characterized by constant agitation and intermixing of fluid

particles such that their velocity changes from point to point and even at the same point from

time to time. This type of flow occurs in low density.

This ability to predict the onset of turbulent flow is an important design tool for

equipment such as piping systems or aircraft wings, but the Reynolds number is also used in

scaling of fluid dynamics problems, and is used to determine dynamic similitude between two

different cases of fluid flow, such as between a model aircraft, and its full size version. Such

scaling is not linear and the application of Reynolds numbers to both situations allows scaling

factors to be developed.

The Reynolds number can be defined for several different situations where a fluid is in

relative motion to a surface. These definitions generally include the fluid properties of density

and viscosity, plus a velocity and a characteristic length or characteristic dimension (L in the
 5

above equation). This dimension is a matter of convention for example radius and diameter are

equally valid to describe spheres or circles, but one is chosen by convention. For aircraft or

ships, the length or width can be used. For flow in a pipe or a sphere moving in a fluid the

internal diameter is generally used today. Other shapes such as rectangular pipes or non-spherical

objects have an equivalent diameter defined. For fluids of variable density such as compressible

gases or fluids of variable viscosity such as non-Newtonian fluids, special rules apply. The

velocity may also be a matter of convention in some circumstances, notably stirred vessels.

The Reynolds Experiment determines the critical Reynolds number at which laminar

flow becomes transitional, and transitional flow becomes turbulent. The advantage of using a

critical Reynolds number, instead of a critical velocity, is that the results of the experiment are

applicable to all Newtonian fluid flows in round pipes of all diameters.

 6

Chapter 2

Design & Methodology

First we placed the die injector within the glass cylinder. Afterwards we connected the hose to

the water outlet. Then we allowed the water to flow through the inner part of the glass cylinder

and opened the plastic outlet valve of the water to the canal. We placed some ink at the ink

station and regulated its flow through the equipment. After the ink flow has been stabilized as

well as the water flow, we slowly closed the ink inflow line and the plastic gate valve. Lastly we

gradually opened the exit valve, such that it lead to successively higher velocities, then we

measured the time it took to fill the 1000 mL beaker

Figure 1. Reynolds Number Apparatus

 7

Chapter 3

Results & Discussion.

Table 1. DR1
Flow Regime Trial Time (sec) Velocity (m/s) Reynolds
Number
Laminar 1 338 .0377 376.6570

2 355 .0359 358.6201

Transition 1 46 .2768 2767.6117

2 37 .3441 3440.8145

Turbulent 1 17 .7490 7488.8315

2 15 .8488 8487.3421

The objective of the experiment is to observe the characteristics of the different types of

flow of liquid in the pipe and also determine the Reynolds Number for each type of flow. In the

experiment we should be able to observe in actual the flow of liquids in laminar, transition and

turbulent flow and prove that the Reynolds numbers that were obtained experimentally are well

within the parameters of the said flow. This experiment was carried out using a Reynolds

Number apparatus.

The three different types of flow were studied in this experiment. First is the laminar

flow: this type of flow occurs in viscous fluids, fluids moving at slow velocity and fluids flowing

through narrow passages. In the Reynolds Number apparatus this flow appeared to be a steady

straight line. Second is the laminar flow: this characterized by constant agitation and intermixing

of fluid particles such that their velocity changes from point to point and even at the same point
 8

from time to time. This type of flow occurs in low density. The turbulent flow appeared to be a

zigzag pattern in the Reynolds Number apparatus. As the flowrate was increased it was observed

that the transition of the flow from laminar to turbulent was a gradual process, this was the

transitional flow. The transitional flow is defined as the disturbance when the flow changes from

laminar to turbulent.

In this experiment, we have observed that the ink flow changes with the increasing of

water flow rate. The first is a straight line (laminar), then a disturbance in the ink flow like s

curves (transitional) and lastly the ink disappears into the water (turbulent). So as the flowrate is

increasing it changes from laminar to transitional to turbulent, and it was observed that it changes

gradually not instantaneous.

 9

Chapter 4

Conclusion & Recommendation

Basing on the experiment it can be concluded that there are three different types of fluid

flow in the Reynolds Number apparatus namely laminar, transitional and turbulent. Also it can

be concluded that the laminar flow occurs when the flowrate is slow or low and the turbulent

flow occurs when the flowrate is fast or increased. And the transitional flow occurs when we

decrease or increase the flowrate or when the fluid flow changes from laminar to turbulent and

vice versa.

As the flow rate of the water increases, the computed Reynolds number also increases

and the dye line change from thin thread to swirling in shape Laminar flow occurs, we have

calculated the values 376.6570 & 358.6201 for trial 1 & trial 2 respectively and this is well under

2300 which is the condition for laminar flow. Transitional flow occurs when the computed

Reynolds Number is between 2300 and 4000, in this experiment we were able to calculate the

Reynolds numbers as 2767.6117 & 3440.8145 for trial 1 & trial 2 respectively, these values are

also within the given conditions. And lastly we have computed Reynolds Numbers of 7488.8315

& 8487.3421 for trial 1 & trial 2 respectively and these are way above 4000 which is the

condition for turbulent flow. It is mathematically proven that the Reynolds Number is a

dimensionless number since all of the units have cancelled out and there were no units left.

In this experiment the calculated Reynolds Numbers calculated had some significant

discrepancies and this was due to some errors in the performance of the experiment. One of the

significant errors is that we were not able to make the ink flow the way we want it to be exactly.

So it is highly recommended that we precisely adjust the flowrate of the water such that we have

a clear straight ink flow or a squiggly ink flow. While conducting the experiment, there are some
 10

error such as the slow response when collecting the water in the beaker once we get the flow

(laminar, turbulent or transition flow). Besides, the slow response to start the time taken for the

volume of water and regulating the valve which control the flow rate of water. So, the person in

charged should be more alert and focus during the experiment in order to obtain the accurate

result. There are also some parallax error while conducting the experiment. For instant, the

position of the eyes during taking the value of water volume of 300mL is not in the same level

with the readings. Therefore, the readings taken from the beaker should be taken at eye level

which is perpendicular to our eyes to avoid parallax error. Also it is recommended that we

perform more than 2 trials so as to get more accurate and precise readings of the time which will

lead to more accurate and precise calculations of the Reynolds Number.

 11

References

Retrieved June 7, 2017, from

http://research.me.udel.edu/~lywang/meeg331/labs/reynolds.pdf

REYNOLDS EXPERIMENT. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2017, from

https://theconstructor.org/practical-guide/reynolds-experiment/2052/

Reynolds number - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2017, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_number
 12

Appendices

a) List & Uses of Apparatus

Thermometer - used to measure temperatures or temperature changes with a high degree

of precision

1000 mL beaker used for storing industrial laboratory chemicals and reagents

stopwatch used to record the time the beaker is filled up

Reynolds Number Apparatus - used to display laminar and turbulent flows

b) Definition of Terms

Reynolds Number - A dimensionless number used in fluid mechanics to indicate whether

fluid flow past a body or in a duct is steady or turbulent.

Laminar Flow a kind of liquid or gas flow wherein a fluid passes through a conduit

regularly or smoothly

Turbulent Flow - a kind of liquid or gas flow wherein fluid goes through mixing and

irregular fluctuations

c) Computations

Given: D = 10 mm = m

( )

Handbook values: water @ 21 C

( )
( )
Velocities: ( )

( ) ( )

Laminar:
 13

( ) ( )

Transition:

( ) ( )

Turbulent:

Reynolds Number:

( )( )( ) ( )( )( )
Laminar:

( )( )( ) ( )( )( )
Transition:

( )( )( ) ( )( )( )
Turbulent: