FLOW THROUGH CIRCULAR CONDUITS

PRE REQUEST DISCUSSION

This page has an in dept dealing of laminar flow through pipes, boundary layer concept, hydraulic and energy gradient, friction factor, minor losses, and flow through pipes in series and parallel.

Boundary layer is the region near a solid where the fluid motion is affected by the solid boundary. In the bulk of the fluid the flow is usually governed by the theory of ideal fluids. By contrast, viscosity is important in the boundary layer. The division of the problem of flow past an solid object into these two parts, as suggested by Prandtl in 1904 has proved to be of fundamental importance in fluid mechanics.

This concept of hydraulic gradient line and total energy line is very useful in the study of flow This concept of hydraulic gradient line and total energy line is very useful in the study of flow of fluids through pipes. f fluids through pipes.

HYDRAULIC GRADIENT AND TOTAL ENERGY LINE

1.Hydraulic Gradient Line

It is defined as the line which gives the sum of pressure head (p/w) and datum head (z) of a flowing fluid in a pipe with respect to some reference line or it is the line which is obtained by joining the top of all vertical ordinates, showing the pressure head (p/w) of a flowing fluid in a pipe from the centre of the pipe. It is briefly written as H.G.L (Hydraulic Gradient Line).

2.Total Energy Line

It is defined as the line which gives the sum of pressure head, datum head and kinetic head of a flowing fluid in a pipe with respect to some reference line. It is also defined as the line which is obtained by joining the tops of all vertical ordinates showing the sum of pressure head and kinetic head from the centre of the pipe. It is briefly written as T.E.L (Total Energy Line).

BOUNDARY LAYER

Concepts

 The variation of velocity takes place in a narrow region in the vicinity of solid boundary. The fluid layer in the vicinity of the solid boundary where the effects of fluid friction i.e., variation of velocity are predominant is known as the boundary layer.

1 FLOW OF VISCOUS FLUID THROUGH CIRCULAR PIPE

 For the flow of viscous fluid through circular pipe, the velocity distribution across a section, the ratio of maximum velocity to average velocity, the shear stress distribution and

 drop of pressure fora given length is to be determined. The flow through circular pipe will be viscous or laminar, if the Reynold’s number is less than 2000.

 .2 DEVELOPMENT OF LAMINAR AND TURBULENT FLOWS IN CIRCULAR PIPES

1.Laminar Boundary Layer

At the initial stage i.e, near the surface of the leading edge of the plate, the thickness of boundary layer is the small and the flow in the boundary layer is laminar though the main stream flows turbulent. So, the layer of the fluid is said to be laminar boundary layer.

2.Turbulent Boundary Layer

The thickness boundary layer increases with distance from the leading edge in the down-stream direction. Due to increases in thickness of boundary layer, the laminar boundary layer becomes unstable and the motion of the fluid is disturbed. It leads to a transition from laminar to turbulent boundary layer.

3 BOUNDARY LAYER GROWTH OVER A FLAT PLATE

Consider a continuous flow of fluid along the surface of a thin flat plate with its sharp leading edge set parallel to the flow direction as shown in figure 2.7.The fluid approaches the plate with uniform velocity U known as free stream velocity at the leading edge. As soon as the fluid comes in contact the leading edge of the plate,its velocity is reduced to zero as the fluid particles adhere to the plate boundary thereby satisfying no-slip condition.