Fluid Flow Experiment: Single and Double Tank Systems

Abesamis, Mariane Fe A., Amba, Gillian Wyn E., Bongales, Jay T., Dy Pico, Alec Paolo V.
Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology,
Philippines

Abstract
This activity helps students to understand fluid dynamics, specifically more about the
mechanism of fluid flow in tank systems. This was performed by studying how the height of water
varies with time when water flows out through a horizontal tube at the bottom of a 50 cm PVC
tank. The flow of water through an orifice without the tube at the bottom of the cylinder/tank was
also studied. This activity also explores the mechanism of the fluid flow in a two-tank system.
Results showed that the one tank system with the tube has a longer time of fluid flow because the
viscosity effects can’t be neglected.

Keyword: fluid dynamics, viscosity

1. Background
Bernoulli's principle states that for fluids in an ideal state, pressure and density are inversely
related: in other words, a slow-moving fluid exerts more pressure than a fast-moving fluid. It can
be considered to be a statement of the conservation of energy principle appropriate for flowing
fluids (Nave, 2016).
In this experiment, the system will be the tank with an orifice. The height is the variable
for the measurement of the potential energy of the system, the tank is not a closed system thus, the
pressure can be assumed to be the atmospheric pressure, and the time can be related to the kinetic
energy. With these data, the expression for the decay of height of the fluid inside the tank system
with respect to time can be obtained for one-tank and two-tank systems (Encyclopedia.com, 2016).

2. Methods
Tank System Preparation
Two 50 cm PVC pipe with an outside diameter of 3 in. were prepared. Both ends of the
pipes were sealed with a 3 in. diameter PVC cap using PVC solvent cement and epoxy. Then, two
holes were bored near the closed end of both pipes using a power drill. One hole is enough to fit a
body of a pen while the other is slightly larger. Next, the pipes were covered with white bond
paper. After that, the body of a pen was fixed on the smaller hole and a transparent level tube on
the larger hole using an adhesive. The pipes were set aside for some time to let the adhesive dry.

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Finally, on one tank, a tape measure was attached next to the transparent level pipe to measure the
water level.
One-tank system
The prepared PVC tank with the tape measure was placed on a table. Then, a water bucket
filled with water was added a few drops of food coloring and was stirred to get a deep green color.
Next, the pipe’s orifice was closed. Then the tank was filled with the prepared colored water to the
brim. Another bucket was prepared to catch the outflow. Finally, a camera focusing on the water
level on one side and another focusing on the outflow was set up. The recording started once the
orifice was opened. Time taken until the last drop of water has left the system was also recorded.
Two runs were done in this experiment, one with the body of a pen on the orifice and one without
it.
Two-tank system
For the two-tank system. Tank A is the tank placed on a higher elevation and tank B is the
tank with the tape measure. The tank without a tape measure (tank A) was placed on a higher
elevation and the tank with the tape measure (tank B) was placed below it such that it can catch
the outflow of the other tank. The tank A’s orifice was closed then using the same colored water,
it was filled to its brim. A bucket was placed below the tank B to catch its outflow. Finally, the
same areas mentioned on the one-tank system experiment were focused by the cameras. The
recording started once the orifice was opened. Time taken until the last drop of water has left the
system was also recorded. Four runs were done on this experiment. Table 1 shows the systems of
the tanks that were used.

. Results
3.1 Formula and Equations
Using Bernoulli’s Equation,
1
𝑃 + 𝜌𝑔𝑦 + 𝜌𝑉 2 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2
Applying this to two systems A and B:
1 2 1
𝜌𝑉1 + + 𝜌𝑔𝑦 1 + 𝑃0 = 𝜌𝑉22 + 𝜌𝑔𝑦2 + 𝑃0
2 2
where ρ is the density of the fluid, V1 and V2 are the speed of the fluid at A and B and Po is the
atmospheric pressure. Cancelling out Po and ρ we get
1 2
(𝑉 − 𝑉12 ) = 𝑔𝐻(𝑡)
2 2
Using H(t)= (y1 – y2), where y1 is the height of the level of water from the bottom of the cylinder
and y2 is the distance of the horizontal tube from the bottom of the cylindrical tank.

2
To eliminate V1, we use the equation of continuity, which is V1A = V2a, where A is the cross-
sectional area of the cylindrical tank and a that of the tube at the bottom of the tank.

3.2 Figures and Tables

Decay in Elevation of Height in one-tank

System without tube (Experimental vs Theoretical)
0.6
0.5
0.4
H(t) (m)

0.3
Theoretical
0.2
Actual
0.1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
t (sec)

Figure 1. Graph of theoretical data vs experimental data in one tank system without tube

Decay in Elevation of Height in one tank

System with tube (Theoretical vs Experimental)
0.5
0.4
0.3
y(t) (m)

0.2 Theoretical

0.1 Experimental

0
0 50 100 150
-0.1
t(sec)

Figure 2. Graph of theoretical data vs experimental data in one tank system with tube

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 Decay in Elevation of Height in two-tank
System (Theoretical vs Experimental)
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1

y(t) (m)
0.08
Theoretical
0.06
0.04 Experimental
0.02
0
0 50 100 150
t(sec)

Figure 3. Graph of theoretical data vs experimental data in two tank system

4 Conclusions
In the one tank system, the results show that the experimental and theoretical data has
nearly the same results. The one tank system that has a tube showed longer time of fluid flow
compared to the system that has no tube because of the viscosity that emerged in the system.
Meanwhile, in the two-tank system,

5 References
David, W. R., & Anirudh, P. P. (2018). Water Flow Experiment: Single and Double Bottle
Systems. Resonance, 69-81. Retrieved August 27 , 2018, from
https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/023/01/0069-0081.
Encyclopedia.com. (2016). Bernoulli's Principle. Retrieved August 29, 2018, from
https://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/physics/physics/bernoullis-
principle

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Nave, C. R. (2016). Bernoulli Equation. Retrieved August 29, 2018, from http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pber.html

6 Appendices

Appendix A: Experimental set-up

Figure 1. Actual set-up for the one tank system

Figure 2. Set-up for two tank system

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 Appendix B: Raw data of values

Table 1. Experimental data of the decay of elevation of one tank system without tube (time vs
height)
t, s H(t), m
0 0.48
5 0.426
10 0.385
15 0.345
20 0.306
25.48 0.271
30.39 0.239
35.24 0.208
40.6 0.175
45.52 0.149
50.34 0.124
55.28 0.102
60.38 0.081
65.49 0.062
70.43 0.045
75.36 0.032
80.33 0.02
85.04 0.01
91.03 0

Table 2. Theoretical data of the decay of elevation in one tank system without tube (time vs height)
t, s H(t), m
0 0.48
5 0.433809932
10 0.389956112
15 0.348438541
20 0.309257218
25.48 0.268997922
30.39 0.235309849
35.24 0.204245216
40.6 0.172471045
45.52 0.145668438
50.34 0.121604187
55.28 0.099193642
60.38 0.078449755
65.49 0.06010298

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 70.43 0.044686321
75.36 0.031574465
80.33 0.020655234
85.04 0.012437551
91.03 0.004981357

Table 3. Experimental data of the decay of elevation of one tank system with tube (time vs height)
t, s H(t), m
0 0
5 0.035
10 0.067
15 0.097
20 0.124
25 0.154
30 0.179
35 0.204
40 0.229
45 0.252
50 0.274
55 0.295
60 0.314
65 0.333
70 0.351
75 0.368
80 0.383
85 0.399
90 0.41
95 0.424
100 0.436
105 0.44
110 0.455
115 0.462
120 0.47
125 0.475
130 0.483
135 0.488
140 0.49

Table 4. Theoretical data of the decay of elevation of one tank system with tube (time vs height)
t, s H(t), m
0 0.48
5 0.433809932
10 0.389956112
15 0.348438541

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 20 0.309257218
25 0.272412143
30 0.237903317
35 0.205730739
40 0.175894409
45 0.148394327
50 0.123230494
55 0.100402909
60 0.079911572
65 0.061756484
70 0.045937643
75 0.032455051
80 0.021308708
85 0.012498612
90 0.006024765
95 0.001887167
100 8.58161E-05
105 0.000620714
110 0.00349186
115 0.008699254
120 0.016242897
125 0.026122788
130 0.038338927
135 0.052891315
140 0.069779951

Table 5. Experimental data of the decay of elevation of two tank system without tube (time vs
height)
t, s y(t), m
0 0
5 0.035
10 0.068
15 0.093
20 0.11
25 0.125
30 0.139
35 0.145
40 0.149
45 0.152
50 0.152
55 0.149
60 0.142
65 0.133
70 0.12
75 0.109

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 80 0.091
85 0.07
90 0.055
95 0.04
100 0.027
105 0.017
110 0.005
115 0.002
120 0

Table 6. Theoretical data of the decay of elevation of two tank system without tube (time vs height)
0 0
5 0.032667279
10 0.053692988
15 0.067693905
20 0.076451703
25 0.081070574
30 0.082349615
35 0.080918863
40 0.077303488
45 0.071958946
50 0.065292281
55 0.057676042
60 0.049457963
65 0.040968063
70 0.032524122
75 0.02443611
80 0.017009956
85 0.010550906
90 0.005366681
95 0.001770579
100 8.46725E-05