Experiment Title : Flow Through a Convergent-Divergent Duct

Subject : UEME2123 Fluid Mechanics I

Course : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Name of Student : Dylan Yong Chun Yen

Student ID No : 1405534
Received by:-
Year and Trimester : Y3S3

Date of Experiment : 7 June 2018 ________________________

Lab Assistance / Lab Officer
Name of Lecturer : Ms. Bee Soo Tueen
Date :

Receipt of Lab Report Submission (to be kept by student)

Experiment Title : Flow Through a Convergent-Divergent Duct

Subject : UEME2123 Fluid Mechanics I

Course : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Mechanical Engineering

Name of Student : Dylan Yong Chun Yen

Student ID No : 1405534
Received by:-
Year and Trimester : Y3S3
________________________
Date of Experiment : 7 June 2018 Lab Assistance / Lab Officer
Date :
.
Objective:
To demonstrate the application of the Bernoulli equation as applied to the flow in a convergent-
divergent duct.
Introduction:
The Bernoulli’s equation is statement of conservation of energy where four the assumptions were
made that the flow is steady, incompressible, frictionless and along a streamline. The idea of pressure
head, kinetic energy and also the potential energy are the same before and after the flow of the fluid is
shown in the Bernoulli equation. So to sums it up, the kinetic energy, pressure head and potential energy
will also remain constant. The flow is also considered as laminar flow. The Bernoulli equation can only
calculate or determine the kinetic and potential energy in ideal cases. Formula for the Bernoulli is shown
below:
2 2 2 2
V1 V p1 V1 p V
p1    z1  p 2   2  z 2 or   z1  2  2  z 2
2 2 1 g 2 g  2 g 2g

Procedures:

1. The water outlet tube was made sure that it was directed to the sump of apparatus.
2. The water pump was switched on.
3. The main input water flow valve was kept fully opened, the bypass water valve was then adjusted
to control the volume flow rate.
4. The water flow rate to the maximum possible flow rate was adjusted by closing the bypass valve.
The flow that is to stabilize was allowed and all air bubbles in the system were removed.
5. The air pump provided was fitted the right end of the manifold on top of the manometers.
6. The pump was used to control the base line level of the manometer readings by increasing or
decreasing the pressure in the manifold. The base line is not needed to fall exactly at the zero
line because the velocity calculations use only the pressure difference.
7. The pressure in the manifold can be increased by pumping action of the air pump.
8. The pressure in the manifold can be decreased by pressing on to the needle valve on the right
hand side of the manifold to release the air in the manifold.
9. The volume flow rate reading was taken and also for the manometer reading. The readings were
entered into the spreadsheet in the computer provided for the purpose.
10. The bypass valve was adjusted to decrease the flow rate to obtain different sets of manometer
readings for flow rates of 6.5, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0 and 3.0 gallons/min.
Results:
Point 1 of 1st table,
p
Q= 0.0004100 m3/s, ρg (experimental) = 169.6 mm, d= 26 mm = 0.0026 m, Z=30 mm

Q= AV
V= Q/A
π
V = Q /( 4 d2 )
3.14
= (0.0004100) /( )(0.0026 )²
4

= 0.77 m/s

p V2
Actual Total Head = + +z
ρg 2g

(0.77)2 (1000)
= [169.6 + (2)(9.81)
+ 30] mm

= 230.0 mm

Head Loss = Ideal Total Head − Actual Total Head

= 230.0 − 230.0 = 0 mm

Discussion:

For this experiment, by using the convergent-divergent duct by pumping water through it, the
Bernoulli’s equation was studied. Bernoulli’s equation stated the pressure and the density are inversely
proportionate with each other in ideal cases. Fluid that flows really will have higher pressure than a
faster moving flow. Due to the continuity of the equation, for a given period of the time, volume that
flow s through from small diameter system to a large diameter system will remained unchanged.
When fluid that flows in a smaller diameter, the fluid will have to flow at a faster rate to ensure
that the volume rate will remained constant along the whole streamline. For example, water in smaller
diameter hose will flow at a very fast rate and able to shoot the water longer while hose that is bigger in
diameter will flow slower and can only shoot the water at a short distance. The theory of incompressible
fluid is behind this phenomenon. The pressure acts as the force for the fluid to move in higher velocity
within smaller region along a streamline which will assume the energy from one point to another is
conserved. (Sébastien, 2016)
There was actually a big difference in the result between the actual and ideal pressure head. This
is because there are always energy losses due to the friction in flowing fluid. Maybe some of the internal
of pipe wall has great friction than the others that had affected the results during the experiment. Human
errors was also contributed in the error of the results. There are other factors such as disordered motion
of the water flowing through the system due to the inconsistent placement of the pipe.
If the duct was inclined upwards, the pressure head will then increase at the upstream of the fluid
due to difference in height, but the total head loss will remain constant. The fluid will keep flowing until
the pressure head at upstream will equal to the elevation head at downstream thus velocity head will be
zero and the fluid will come to a rest.
The Bernoulli’s equation can also be useful in practical application. For example, calculating the
life span of an airfoil such as airplanes. The pressure difference at different altitude on the airplanes
could be approximated by using the equation.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Bernoulli equation can be used to determine various value such as the pressure,
kinetic and potential energy at different specific points in a system given that the flow is incompressible,
frictionless, steady and also along a streamline.
The Bernoulli’s equation can be used to determine the pressure, kinetic and potential energy at
specific points in a flow system given that the flow is incompressible, frictionless, steady and along a
streamline.