11/29/2017

HYDRUALICS
FLOW IN CLOSED CONDUITS

Single Pipelines
Classifying flow is essential for selecting the
Classifying Flows proper equation for calculating head loss.

Flow in a conduit is classified as Turbulent

being either: Flow
Laminar Flow
It is characterized by smooth
Laminar
streamlines and highly ordered
Flow The transition from laminar
motion to turbulent flow does not
occur suddenly; rather, it
Transitional Flow occurs over some region in
It corresponds to a the type of which the flow fluctuates
flow that is unpredictable between laminar and
turbulent flows before it
because it can changes back and becomes fully turbulent.
forth between laminar and
turbulent states. The transition from laminar
to turbulent flow depends on
Turbulent Flow the geometry, surface
The behavior of colored
fluid injected into the flow
It is characterized by velocity roughness, flow velocity, in laminar and turbulent
surface temperature, and
fluctuations and highly type of fluid, among other
flows in a pipe.
disordered motion things.

HYDRUALICS
FLOW IN CLOSED CONDUITS

Single Pipelines
Reynolds Number Based on Reynolds’ experiments, engineers use
guidelines to establish whether or not flow in a conduit
According to Osborne Reynolds, he discovered will be laminar or turbulent. The guidelines used are
that the flow regime depends mainly on the
ratio of internal forces to viscous forces in the
fluid.
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑽𝑫 𝝆𝑽𝑫 or
𝑹𝒆 = = =
𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝝊 𝝁
Where:
V = average flow velocity Recognize that precise values of Reynolds number versus
D = characteristic length of the geometry, flow regime do not exist. Thus, the guidelines given are
diameter approximate and other references may give slightly
different values.
𝝊 = 𝝁 𝝆 = kinematic viscosity of the fluid
𝝁 = coefficient of viscosity or the dynamic (or The Reynolds number at which the flow becomes
absolute) viscosity of the fluid turbulent is called the critical Reynolds number, Recr.
Recr = 2000
ρ = density of the fluid
Recr = 2300

1
 11/29/2017

HYDRUALICS
FLOW IN CLOSED CONDUITS

Single Pipelines
Reynolds Number The Reynolds number for fluid
flowing through a non circular
For flow through noncircular pipes, the channel is calculated by substituting
Reynolds number is based on the the hydraulic diameter of the flow
hydraulic diameter Dh defined as path for the pipe diameter.

𝑽𝑫𝒉 𝝆𝑽𝑫𝒉
𝑹𝒆 = =
Where: 𝝊 𝝁
Ac = the cross-sectional area of the pipe
p = its wetted perimeter.
provides a method by which non-circular pipe work
and ducting may be treated as circular for the
purpose of pressure drop and fluid flow rate
calculations.

The concept of the hydraulic diameter allows the use

of relationships developed for circular pipes with non-
circular conduits. It works well for turbulent flow
where geometry is less important, but should not be
used for the laminar flow regime, which is influenced
to a much higher degree by conduit geometry.

HYDRUALICS
FLOW IN CLOSED CONDUITS

Single Pipelines
EXAMPLE: ANSWERS:
Oil of specific gravity 0.80 The critical velocity is 1.02
flows in a 200-mm m/s
diameter pipe. Find the
critical velocity. Use
𝝁 = 𝟖. 𝟏𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 Pa-s.

2
 11/29/2017

HYDRUALICS
FLOW IN CLOSED CONDUITS

Single Pipelines
EXAMPLE: ANSWERS:
For laminar flow D ≥ 626 mm
conditions, what size of
pipe will deliver 6 liters
per second of oil having
kinematic viscosity of 6.1
x 10-6 m2/s?

HYDRUALICS
FLOW IN CLOSED CONDUITS

Single Pipelines
EXAMPLE: ANSWERS:
Glycerin (sp. gr. = 1.26 and The flow is laminar.
𝝁= 1.49 Pa-s) flows
through a rectangular
conduit 300 mm by 450
mm at the rate of 160
lit/sec. Is the flow laminar
or turbulent?