Fluid Bench Project

Muhammad Abdullah 237369

Muhammad Zaid Javid 217527
Suaid Tariq Balghari 220790

ME-09-A

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL & MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
ISLAMABAD

A report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the semester

project of
ME-235: Fluid Mechanics II
(Semester 4)
 Turnitin Report

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 Acknowledgements

We are grateful first to Allah almighty, by whose will and beneficence were we able
to do anything. We are grateful to our parents whose support help us on our every path. We
are extremely thankful to our teachers who have guided us on our every problem and have
made it possible for us to understand the complexities of nature.

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Abstract

This report is aimed at summarizing our findings and learning from the Fluid Bench
Project organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers IMechE NSC. The challenge for
us was to develop a pipe network system capable of providing the preset pressure heads at a
total of 5 points. We were able to successfully record the required heads at the designated
points using pipes and connecting systems.

Key Words: Fluid Bench, Reynolds Number, Hardy Cross Method, Flow rate, Pressure head

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Table of Contents

Turnitin Report............................................................................................................................................................ I
Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................................................................II
Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................... III
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................................... IV
List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................................. V
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................................. VI
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPROACH ................................................................................................................................................................2
PIPE NETWORK ........................................................................................................................................................3
CALCUALATIONS & EXPLANATION..................................................................................................................5
THEORETICAL RESULTS ......................................................................................................................................6
ERROR SOURCES .....................................................................................................................................................7
POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS .................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................................................... 10

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List of Figures

Figure 1:Bench Configuration (9)

Figure 2: Heads Alloted to Group (9)
Figure 3:Pipe Network Schematic (10)
Figure 4:Excel Iteration Sheet (11)

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List of Tables

Table 1:Pipe Lengths (12)

Table 1:Heads Obtained (12)
Table 3:Cost Analysis (13)

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INTRODUCTION

In this project, we were to design a pipe network which satisfied the requirement of
provided static heads at different points. Each group was provided with different static head
values which their network had to satisfy.
Pipe networks can be classified into two types: parallel and series.
In parallel network, the flowrate is divided between the pipes while the head loss is same
across each pipe provided the pipes are of the same cross section and length.
In series network, the flowrate remains constant while the head loss varies in different
pipes. The head loss is dependent on the cross section and the length of the pipe so with change
of cross section or length, the head loss changes.
We were not constrained to use either network specifically, so we could use a
combination of the two to achieve out required heads.

APPROACH

Our approach to the problem was iterative and thorough. We were provided with the initial
flowrate and the pressure heads to achieve. Following was the allocation of points on the fluid
bench:

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 Figure 1.1 Bench Configuration

The heads provided to us were:

Figure 2 Heads Alloted

Initial head was 1.2 m and the head loss between two points was to be equal to the difference
between the two heads.
Initial flowrate provided wasn’t accurate and so we had to assume a flowrate and do our
calculations accordingly. We assumed a flowrate of 4 throughout the network. The design which
we selected was a combination of series and parallel and it was selected to assist us in achieving
the heads despite the non-ideal conditions as will be shown in the next section. We then
calculated the values of the lengths by simply substituting in the formulas provided in the next
sections. We used an excel sheet to assist us in doing so as it was an iterative method. In this
way, we were able to find the required lengths.

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PIPE NETWORK

Figure 3: Pipe network Schematic

CALCULATIONS & EXPLANATION

Our network is stated as follows in the diagram. The inlet is connected to a T joint since
it was clear from our theoretical analysis that in other cases the points would overflow. Therefore

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after T the two pipes are connected to points F and H where our 35 cm heads are required. Pipes
from the these points are then diverted to ‘B” and ‘G’ where 25 cm heads are required. The
length of pipe was what we got from our iterations. The pipes then go to the X points where head
can be variable. Point E is attached to D where 15cm head is required. The two pipes then join to
another T from where they are exited to a reservoir.
It was observed that our pipe lengths required were now dependent on how much this initial
length from T joint to the two 35 heads were i-e G and H. Therefore we used excel for iterations
until we found a suitable length for our network.

Figure 4 Excel Iteration Sheet

This sheet gave us the required lengths

THEORETICAL RESULTS

From above the required lengths of the pipes were found. However after testing we found discrepancies in
the head values and so had to change some lengths in order to acquire the heads. The lengths were as
follows:

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 Points Length (m)
Inlet to Tee 1.2

Tee to G 1.7

Tee to H 1.7

H to G 0.96

F to B 0.96

E to D 1

D to exit Tee 1

A to exit Tee 1

B to C 0.75

T to outlet 0.46

E to G 1

Total 11.73
Table 1: Length Required

We got the following heads on the demonstration day:

Point Head (m)

A Variable

B 0.26

C Variable

D 0.15

E Variable

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 F 36

G 28

H 35

Table 2 Heads Obtained

ERROR SOURCES

There can be error sources in. Firstly the flow rate could have been a real issue since as
opposed to ideal case there is flow rate loss in pipes as well so the flow rate at exit was not equal
to flow rate at inlet. Error in theoretical application and underlying assumptions maybe another
reason. Another source of error is the network pipes not being on the level since coiling was
present of the pipes. We did try to overcome this by using zip ties at various points.

POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS

The flow rate fluctuations could have been calculated better. A flow rate measurement
device could have been used to help with the iterations and testing.

COST ANALYSIS

Following table gives our finance summary for the entire project. It is to be kept in mind that we
did buy any connectors, rather reusing ones in the lab which gave fine results.
Component Cost
Pipe of length 12 meter Rs 1200

2 T-connecters Nil

Transportation (Metro) Rs 250

TOTAL Rs 1450
Table 3 Cost Analysis

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CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that our team learned a lot from the project interms of pipe network
planning. We got almost all our heads correct and within tolerance range. The project gives an
insight to practical application of fluid mechanics processes and how theoretical application is
important.

REFERENCES

1. https://teachingfluids.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/pipe-networks-and-head-
loss/?fbclid=IwAR2pCd-nAPxha6PWTnRHezfjDCjN7JJO6Sq0xxeWmswxfQHd6qPT4YFdImE
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardy_Cross_method?fbclid=IwAR0GySE-
dprd9w2sxHdJe20tUMAMYn6FjDRd5qO9YEVaJ4orpkxHYtea6Fw

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxCWxGHKo2M&fbclid=IwAR0UGED9pm7Te9P
EzXobHv0SSy_InUbIxEDlOP3d6K5s1nqX_tehykDJnVY

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_network_analysis?fbclid=IwAR12BEzaoM6n10yK6gIzZeaLxW1eOHf
Lo74Hr4n5Y1fYPKlnhT2LemZUqnU

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