UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN KIMIA

PROCESS ENGINEERING LABORATORY I
(CPE453)
NAME
STUDENT NO.
GREXPERIMENT
DATE PERFORMED
SEMESTER
PROGRAMME / CODE
SUBMIT TO

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Title
Abstract/Summary
Introduction
Aims
Theory
Apparatus
Methodology/Procedure
Results
Calculations
Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
Reference / Appendix
TOTAL MARKS

: MUHAMMAD AZIZI BIN MOHD ZULKIFLI

: 2014248582
: OSBORNE REYNOLDS APPARATUS
: 12TH OCTOBER 2015
:3
: EH241 3A
: MISS HABSAH ALWI

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Remarks:
Checked by :
--------------------------Date :

ABSTRACT
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Osborne Reynolds experiment is used to investigate the characteristic of the flow of the liquid
in the pipe. This experiment is also can determine the Reynolds Number for each state of the
flow. Reynolds Number had been compute and the type of flow had been observed by the
pattern of the ink dye either it was laminar, transitional or turbulent flow. The velocity of the
flow was control by the valve to differentiate the type of the flow. The time had been
calculated for each of the flow to fill the tank exactly with 2 litre. The Reynolds Number had
vd
been calculated by using the Reynolds Number formula, Re

From the experiment it was proved that the laminar flow fall in range of 0 to 2100, transition
state range between 2100 to 4000 and turbulent flow had Reynolds Number more than 4000.

INTRODUCTION
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Reynolds most famously studied the conditions in which the flow of fluid in pipes
transitioned from laminar flow to turbulent flow. From these experiments came the
dimensionless Reynolds number for dynamic similarity is the ratio of inertial forces to
viscous forces. In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is fluid regime characterized
by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high
momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time.
Laminar flow, sometimes known as streamline flow, occurs when a fluid flows in parallel
layers, with no disruption between the layers. At low velocities the fluid tends to flow without
lateral mixing, and adjacent layers slide past one another like playing cards. There are no
cross currents perpendicular to the direction of flow, nor eddies or swirls of fluids. In laminar
flow the motion of the particles of fluid is very orderly with all particles moving in straight
lines parallel to the pipe walls. In fluid dynamics, laminar flow is a flow regime characterized
by high momentum diffusion and low momentum convection. When a fluid is flowing
through a closed channel such as a pipe or between two flat plates, either two types of flow
may occur depending on the velocity of the fluid: laminar flow or turbulent flow. Laminar
flow is the opposite of turbulent flow which occurs at higher velocities where eddies or small
packets of fluid particles form leading to lateral mixing. In nonscientific terms laminar flow
is smooth, while turbulent flow is rough.

THEORY
Reynolds number, Re formula can be identified the transition from laminar to
turbulent flow occurs at a definite value of the dimensionally property:
Re =

vd

Where:

v = velocity =

Q
A

d = pipe diameter
Q = volumetric flow rate =

v
t

= viscosity
A = cross sectional area of cylinder glass tube
= density
V = volume of the flow
t = time taken (s)

Above picture shows three flow regimes, that is:

(a) Laminar
(b) Transitional
(c) Turbulent
Flow in which the kinetic energy dies out due to the action of fluid molecular viscosity is
called laminar flow. While there is no theorem relating Reynolds number to turbulence, flows
with high Reynolds numbers usually become turbulent, while those with low Reynolds
numbers usually remain laminar. For pipe flow :
Re 4000 = turbulent flow
Re < 2100 = laminar flow
2100 < Re < 4000 = transition region

OBJECTIVES
1. To observe the characteristics of laminar, transition and turbulent flow
2. To prove that the Reynolds number is dimensionless by using formula

APPARATUS
A) Osborne Reynolds Demonstration apparatus which consist :
1. Hydraulic bench model FM110
2. Ink dye injector
3. Ink dye reservoir
4. Bell mouth
5. Water inlet valve
6. Clear observation tube
7. Control valve
8. Overflow pipe
9. Water outflow pipe
10. Water inflow pipe
11. Head tank
12. Overflow valve
13. Water inflow valve
14. Water outflow valve

Figure 1 : Hydraulic bench Model FM 110

Figure 2 : Ink dye injector

Figure 3 : Flow pipe

B) Beaker and measuring cylinder

C) Stopwatch

PROCEDURE
1. Set up the apparatus before the experiment started.
2. The main switch is switched on.
3. The head tank is filled by water until the water level reached higher than aluminium
rod using the control valve.
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4. The ink dye injector is opened during the experiment and let the ink flowed through
the observation tube and let the amount of ink flow is fixed.
5. The amount of water that flow out through the out flow pipe is taken in 10 seconds by
6.
7.
8.
9.

using measuring cylinder in order to calculate the flowrate.

The pattern of dye ink flow through the observation tube is been observed.
The experiment is repeated for three times to get the average volume.
The experiment is repeated with different type of flow by adjust the over flow valve.
The data is recorded. The Reynolds number is calculated and tabulated for the three
types of flow.

RESULT.
Pattern of the three different flows :
A) Laminar flow

B) Transition flow

C) Turbulent flow

Volume (ml)
Type of
flow

Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3

Average
volume
(ml)

Q
(l/s)

Q
3
( m /s)

Reynolds
Number

Laminar
flow

100

102

99.5

100.5

0.1005

1.005
105

922.29

Transition
flow

260

223

224

235.7

0.0235
7

2.357
105

2163.00

Turbulent
flow

460

480

460

466.7

0.0466
7

4.667
105

4282.91

CALCULATIONS
Diameter, d : 0.0156 m
6 2
Kinematic coefficient, : 0.89 10 m / s

Area, A : r

0.0156 2
4 2
= ( 2 ) = 1.91 10 m
10

A) Laminar flow

Average volume :

Flowrate, Q :

volume
time

Reynolds number, Re :

B) Transition flow

Average volume :

Flowrate, Q :

Reynolds number, Re :

Average volume :

Flowrate, Q :

=
Qd
A

=
Qd
A

Reynolds number, Re :

=
Qd
A

= 0.01005 ml/s =

1.005 105 m3 / s

(1.005 105 )(0.0156)

(1.91 104 )(0.89 106 )

= 922.29

= 235.7 ml = 0.2357 l

0.2357
10

= 0.02357 ml/s =

2.357 105 m3 / s

460+480+ 460
3

volume
time

= 100.5 ml = 0.1005 l

0.1005
10

260+ 223+224
3

volume
time

C) Turbulent flow

100+102+ 99.5
3

(2.357 10 )(0.0156)
(1.91 104 )(0.89 106 )

= 466.7 ml = 0.4667 l

0.4667
10

= 2163.00

= 0.04667 ml/s =

4.667 105 m3 / s

(4.667 105)(0.0156)
(1.91 104 )(0.89 106 )

= 4282.91

DISCUSSION
Laminar flow is highly ordered fluid motion with smooth streamlines. Transition flow is a
flow that contains both laminar and turbulent regions while turbulent flow is a highly
disordered fluid motion characterized by velocity and fluctuations and eddies.

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According to the Reynolds`s experiment, laminar flow will occur when a thin filament of
ink dye injected into laminar flow appears as a single line. There is no dispersion of ink dye
throughout the flow, except the slow dispersion due to molecular motion. While for turbulent
flow, if the ink dye filament injected into a turbulent flow, it disperse quickly throughout the
flow field, the lines of dye breaks into myriad entangled threads of dye.
In this experiment we have to firstly is to observe the characteristic of the flow of the fluid in
the pipe, which may be laminar or turbulent flow by measuring the Reynolds number and the
behaviour of the flow, secondly to calculate the range for the laminar and turbulent flow and
lastly to prove that the Reynolds number is dimensionless by using the Reynolds number
formula. After complete preparing and setup the equipment we run this experiment. But
firstly we have to calculate the area of bell mounted glass tube, the viscosity of water and the
density of water. The density of water is 1000 kg/m, the area of glass tube is
1.91 104 m2 while the viscosity of water is 0.89

106 m2 / s. This is done for easy

step by step calculation. We observe that the ink dye line change with the increasing of water
flow rate. The pattern change from thin threads to slightly swirling which still contains
smooth thin threads and then fully swirling. We can say that this change is from laminar flow
to transitional flow and then to turbulent flow and it is not occurs suddenly.

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, as water flow rate is increasing, the Reynolds number will automatically
increase as well, and the red dye line change from straight line to swirling streamlines.
Likewise, it is proven that the Reynolds number is dimensionless, since no unit is
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representing the value of Reynolds number. Laminar flow is obtained if the Reynolds number
is less than 2100; meanwhile the Reynolds number for turbulent flow is more than 4000. The
Reynolds number for transition flow is in between 2100 until 4000.

RECOMMENDATION
Compare with the result diagram in the laboratory, there are bit different between the results
collected. This might be some of parallax error such as the slow response during collecting

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the water, the position of eyes during taking the value of water volume, time taken for the
volume of water and regulating the valve which control the flow rate of water unstably.
During the experiment there are several precaution steps that need to be alert. The experiment
should be done at suitable and unshaken place. To get appropriate laminar smooth stream
flow, the clip and the valve which control the injection of red dye must be regulate slow and
carefully. When removing the beaker from the exit valve, we notice that some water still enter
the beaker because of the slow response between the person who guide the stop watch and
collecting beaker.
So to avoid this parallax error, it is better to take same person who guard the stopwatch and
the collecting beaker. Lastly, do this experiment at steady place, control the clip and valve
carefully to get long thin of laminar dye flow, and remove the beaker which uses to collect
the amount of water at sharp when the time is up, to avoid error flow rate error. The
experiment can be repeated twice to get an accurate and better result.

REFERENCES

Lecture note Fluid Mechanics, Dr Atikah Kadri

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High-Reynolds number Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence. D.Livescu; J.R.Ristorcelli;

R.A.Gore; S.H.Dean; W.H.Cabot; AWCook. 1st January 2009.

Fluid Mechanics by Dr. Andrew Sleigh (J. Franzini / E. Finnemore),McGraw Hill.
F. M. White, Fluid Mechanics (Mc-Graw Hill, Inc., New York,1994).
www.pipeflow.co.uk

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APPENDIX

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