Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines

Code: 3242 Group No.: 2

Course No.: CHE 425 Leader: ALMUETE, Arjone V.

Schedule: 5:00-8:00 TTh Members: DIONISIO, Jake T.

LUNGAO, Louie K.
BACULO, Joana Marie M.
ROSARIO, Elaiza Ann A.
Experiment No.: 1 Date Submitted: January 31, 2017

Experiment Title: REYNOLDS NUMBER EXPERIMENT

Criteria Points Score

1. Report Format and Neatness 5
2. Objectives 5
3. Theoretical Background 5
4. Equipment and Apparatus
a. List of Equipment and Apparatus
5
b. Experimental Set-up
10
5. Procedure 5
6. Data and Results 5
7. Interpretation of Results 10
8. Recommendation 5
9.Sample Questions 5
11. Appendices
a. Graphs Accompanying Data and Results
5
b. References
5

Instructor: Engr. Ray Limuel C. Laureano

 REYNOLDS NUMBER EXPERIMENT

OBJECTIVES:

1. To reproduce the classical experiment conducted by Osborne Reynolds

concerning fluid flow conditions.

2. To observe the laminar, transition and turbulent velocity profile as related to

Reynolds Number.

Chapter III

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:

The Reynolds number (Re) is an important dimensionless quantity in fluid mechanics that

is used to help predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations. It is widely used in

many applications ranging from liquid flow in a pipe to the passage of air over an aircraft

wing. TheReynolds Number is valuable as a guide to the laminar-turbulent transition in a

particular flow situation, and for the scaling of similar but different-sized flow situations,

such as between an aircraft model in a wind tunnel and the full size version. The

predictions of onset of turbulence and the ability to calculate scaling effects can be used

to help predict fluid behaviour on a larger scale, such as in local or global air or water

movement and thereby the associated meteorological and climatological effects.

The Reynolds number is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces within a fluid which

is subject to relative internal movement due to different fluid velocities, in what is known

as a boundary layer in the case of a bounding surface such as the interior of a pipe. A
similar effect is created by the introduction of a 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 speed of flow is another factor that determines the nature of flow. The speed of flow

is either that of a liquid or gas moving across a solid surface or, alternatively, the speed of

a solid object moving through a fluid. The flow patterns in either case are exactly the

same. That is why airplane designs can be tested in wind tunnels where air is made to

flow over stationary test models to simulate the flight of actual planes moving through

the air.

The speed of flow is related to the viscosity by virtue of the fact that a faster moving fluid

behaves in a less viscous manner than a slower one. Therefore, it is useful to take

viscosity and speed of flow into account at the same time. This is done through the

Reynolds number named after the English scientist Osborne Reynolds (1842-1912). This

number characterizes the flow. It is greater for faster flows and more dense fluids and

smaller for more viscous fluids. The Reynolds number also depends on the size of the

solid object. The water flowing around a large fish has a higher Reynolds number than

water flowing around a smaller fish of the same shape.

As long as the shape of the solid surface remains the same, different fluids with the same

Reynolds number flow in exactly the same way. This very useful fact is known as the

principle of similarity or similitude. Similitude allows smaller scale models of planes and

cars to be tested in wind tunnels where the Reynolds number is kept the same by

increasing the speed of air flow or by changing some other property of the fluid.

Viscous flow is when friction forces dominate the behavior of a moving fluid, typically in

cases where viscosity (internal fluid friction) is great. Inviscid flow, by contrast, is where

friction within a moving fluid is negligible. The Reynolds number of a fluid is a

dimensionless quantity expressing the ratio between a moving fluids momentum and its

viscosity.

A couple of formulae for calculating Reynolds number of a flow are shown here:

Where,

Re = Reynolds number (unitless)

D = Diameter of pipe, (meters)

= Average velocity of fluid (meters per second)

= Mass density of fluid (kilograms per cubic meter)

 = Absolute viscosity of fluid (Pascal-seconds)

The Reynolds number of a fluid stream may be used to qualitatively predict whether the

flow regime will be laminar orturbulent. Low Reynolds number values predict laminar

flow, where fluid molecules move in straight stream-line paths, and fluid velocity near

the center of the pipe is substantially greater than near the pipe walls:

High Reynolds number values predict turbulent flow, where individual molecule motion

is chaotic on a microscopic scale, and fluid velocities across the face of the flow profile

are similar:
A generally accepted rule-of-thumb is that Reynolds number values less than 2,000 will

probably be laminar, while values in excess of 10,000 will probably be turbulent. There is

no definite threshold value for all fluids and piping configurations, though.
 Chapter IV

MATERIALS/ EQUIPMENTS/ APPARATUS

A. List of equipments and apparatus

a. Thermometer is an instrument used for measuring the temperature of a system.

b. Beaker is a simple container for measuring, mixing and heating liquids commonly

used in many laboratories.

c. Stopwatch is a handheld time piece which was designed to measure the amount of

time.

d. Reynolds number apparatus is an apparatus used to determine the type of flow of

a liquid if laminar, turbulent or transition.

e. Potassium permanganate solution is a solution used to indicate the type of flow.

 Chapter V

EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE

The laboratory custodian placed the potassium permanganate solution in the ink

station and placed the ink injector in the glass cylinder. Then, the custodian also

connected the hose for the water inlet, another one for the over flow and finally a hose for

the water outlet with the potassium permanganate solution. Then we opened the faucet

valve to allow the water to flow into the glass cylinder. Next, we opened the valve of the

drainage cock and waited for the ink to stabilize in the test pipe section. Once the ink

stabilized, we collected the water coming out for the test pipe and recorded the time it

takes for 1000 ml of water to be collected in the beaker. We measured the temperature of

the collected water and repeated the procedure before we readjust the valve of the

drainage cock. We adjusted the valve so that the ink in the test pipe would look like a

wavelength which indicates that the flow is transitional. We waited for the ink to stabilize

and recollected 1000 ml of water and measured the time and temperature of the water

collected and repeated the procedure for the second trial. Finally, we again readjusted the

valve to its fullest and recorded the time it takes for 1000 ml of water to be collected to

the beaker and measured its temperature then repeated the process for the second trial.
 Chapter VI
DATA AND RESULTS

Reynolds
Flow Regime Trial Time (sec) Velocity (m/s)
Number

Laminar 1 825 0.0107 126.9191

2 819 .0108 128.1053

Transition 1 47 .1881 2231.4798

2 43 .2056 2439.0593

Turbulent 1 25 .3537 4195.1820

2 22 .4019 4767.1761

Table No. 1
 Chapter VII
Discussion or Interpretation of Results

The experiment was carried out to reproduce the classical experiment conducted

by Osborne Reynolds concerning fluid flow conditions and to observe the laminar,

transition and turbulent velocity profile as related to Reynolds Number. Thus, these

objectives were performed well having known and learned the behavior of the flow and

also calculated the range for the laminar, transitional and turbulent flow. The experiment

was carried out by using Osborne Reynolds apparatus. Moreover, it is necessary to

know the differences between laminar, turbulent and transition flow before one is about

to conduct this experiment.

As for laminar flow, it is defined as a highly ordered fluid motion with smooth

streamlines. Under this condition, the dye will remain easily identifiable as a solid core.

Then, turbulent flow which is the type of flow in which the particles move in a zigzag

pattern is known as the turbulent flow. Turbulent flow denotes an unsteady flow

condition where streamlines interacting causing shear plane collapse thus mixing of the

fluid. Because of the fast velocity, the dye seem not to be visible. Whereas transition

flow is known as a flow that contains both laminar and turbulent regions. Under this

condition, the dye streak almost immediately becomes blurred and spreads across the

entire pipe in a random fashion.

Furthermore, the Reynolds number for laminar flow is <2000 whereas for

transition flow 2000< Re <2500. For turbulent flow is Reynolds number is >2500. Based
on the results obtained from conducting the experiment of two trials for each flow, a

results satisfying the facts about the three types of flow was obtained. For the Laminar

flow, the 1st reading was 126.9191 followed by 2nd reading of 128.1053. On the other

hand, the 1st reading and 2nd reading for turbulent flow was 2231.4798 and 2439.0593,

respectively. On these two flows, they were smoothly executed and the results

corresponds to the theoretical values. But the transition flow didnt achieve the

theoretical value due to some errors. We performed the trial thrice for the 1st reading was

2449.890 which is outside the limitation for transition. On the succeeding readings, a

more fulfilling values were obtained which are 4195.1820 and 4767.1761, respectively.

The experiment should be set up perfectly to get accurate data. The water flow, in

and out, should be controlled and remained constant. As much as possible, there must be

an equal flow going in and out the pipe. Most importantly, time should be measured

accurately because it is used to calculated flow rate of water. Because a minor error in

recording the time, it will affect the flow rate calculation. Lastly, an important precaution

for everyone doing the experiment was their observation. The observation must be

correct when looking at the dye, especially on the part of performing the transition flow.

An identification of the flow correctly will avoid major error classifying the flow pattern.
 Chapter VIII

RECOMMENDATION

The experiment relies on observing the behaviour of the flow of ink inside the tube that

will define the type of flow. The errors that occurred in the experiment were due to the human

error and the set-up of the apparatus.

The reaction time and the skills of the observer in reading the measurement of the beaker

is very important in the experiment. It is recommended that as one member was observing the

water flow in the beaker, another member was keeping an eye on the time.

The diameter of the tube was about 12mm so it was a little bit difficult to observe the ink

flowing inside. For best result, perform the experiment in a well-light place. In collecting the

water together with the ink, it is suggested to place the beaker wherein the end of the hose is not

facing upward as it would put a pressure to the liquid, adding resistance to the flow.
 Chapter IX

SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS

Velocity, v

V= 1000 cm3 = 0.001 m

Laminar

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Transition

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Turbulent

Trial 1:
 Trial 2:

Reynolds Number, Re

D = 0.012m

= 1.0097*10-3 Pa-s

= 998.0546 kg/m3

Laminar

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Transition

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Turbulent

Trial 1:
Trial 2:
 APPENDICES

Information-Flow Diagram

D Re = , f(T)
, f(T)

Re
 REFERENCE

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

http://iamechatronics.com/notes/general-engineering/396-fluid-mechanics-reynolds-
number

http://science.jrank.org/pages/2765/Fluid-Dynamics-Reynolds-number.html

Green D. and Perry R. (2008). Perrys Chemical Engineering Handbook. The McGraw

Hill Companies, Inc.