Experimental investigation of fluid flow in horizontal pipes system of various cross-section geometries

Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Department of Civil Engineering T.E. Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece

^a Corresponding author: efars@teilar.gr

Published online: 25 March 2014

Abstract

The current research work presents experiments of an essentially incompressible fluid flow in pipes. The experimental equipment consists of a horizontal pipe including a gate valve, a Venturi meter, a wide angle diffuser, an orifice plate, a 90-degree elbow and pressure tappings. An elbow connects the pipe to arotameter with further pressure tappings. All pressure tappings connected to manometers held on a vertical panel behind the pipe work and show pressure at various points. The effect of the pipe geometry in the flow pattern is presented. Furthermore head losses are estimated, at specific stream-wise cross-sections, for mass flow rate numbered from 0.056 to 0.411 l/s. The manometers measure and clearly show pressure distribution against a calibrated scale. The diagrams of mass flow rate and head losses are presented in specific crosssections, where geometry changes. All measurements were calibrated and validated in a maximum standard deviation difference of 5%. The head losses decrease as the mass flow rate decreases, for all pipe geometries. In the future the experimental results can be used to verify numerical simulation results.