EXPERIMENT NO.

5
ENERGY LOSSES IN BENDS AND FITTINGS
Year and Section:
Group Number:
Group Members:

4CE-E
2

Date Started:
Date Finished:
Date Submitted:

CORTEZ, CHRISTINE JOYCE A.

CRUZ, RALEIGH MAE DR.
CUEVAS, MICHAEL GERARD L.
DANAN, JEREMIAH M.

April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016
May 4, 2016

DATILES, JUAN CARLOS C.

INTRODUCTION
Energy losses in pipe flows are the result of friction between the fluid and the pipe walls and
internal friction between particles. Minor (secondary) head losses occur at any location in a pipe
system where streamlines are not straight, such as at pipe junctions, bends valves, contractions,
expansions, and reservoir inlets and outlets. In this experiment, minor head losses through a pipe
section that has several bends, transitions, and fittings will be measured.
OBJECTIVE/S
This experiment aims;
To determine the loss factors for flow through a range of pipe fittings including bends, a
contraction, and enlargement.
APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES
Hydraulics Bench
Energy Losses in Bench and Fittings Apparatus
Stopwatch
PROCEDURE
1. Set up the losses apparatus on the hydraulic bench so that its base is horizontal by adjusting
the feet on the base plate if necessary. (This is necessary for accurate height measurements
from the manometers). Connect the test rig inlet to the bench flow supply and run the outlet
extension tube to the volumetric tank and secure it in place.
2. Fully open the gate valve and the outlet flow control valve at the right hand end of the
apparatus.
3. Close the bench flow control valve then start the service pump.
4. Gradually open the bench flow control valve and allow the pipework to fill with water until all air
has been expelled from the pipework.
5. In order to bleed air from pressure tapping points and the manometers close both the bench
valve and the test rig flow control valve and open the air bleed screw and remove the cap from
adjacent air valve. Connect a length of small bore tubing from the air valve to the volumetric
tank. Now, open the bench valve and allow flow through the manometers to purge all air from
them; then, tighten the air bleed screw and partly open both the bench valve and the test rig
flow control valve. Next, open the air bleed screw slightly to allow air to enter the top of the
manometers, re-tighten the screw when the manometer levels reach a convenient height.
6. Check that all manometer levels are on scale at the maximum volume flow rate required
(approximately 17 liters/minute). These levels can be adjusted further by using the air bleed
screw and the hand pump supplies. The air bleed screw controls air flow through the air valve,
so when using the hand pump, the bleed screw must be open. To retain the hand pump
pressure in the system, the screw must be closed after pumping.
CE 422L: Hydraulics Laboratory | Experiment No. 5: Energy Losses in
Bends and Fittings

7. If the levels in the manometer are too high then the hand pump can be used to pressurize the
top manifold. All levels will decrease simultaneously but retain the appropriate differentials. If
the levels are too low then the hand pump should be disconnected and the air bleed screw
opened briefly to reduce the pressure in the top manifold. Alternatively the outlet flow control
valve can be closed to raise the static pressure in the system which will raise all levels
simultaneously. If the level in any manometer tube is too high then water will enter the top
manifold into adjacent tubes.
8. Adjust the flow from the bench control valve and, at a given flow rate, take height readings
from all of the manometers after the levels have steadied. In order to determine the volume
flow rate, you should carry out a timed volume collection using the volumetric tank. This is
achieved by closing the ball valve and measuring (with a stopwatch) time taken to accumulate
a know value of fluid in the tank, which is read from the sight glass. You should collect fluid for
at least one minute to minimize timing errors. (Note: valve should be kept fully open.)
9. Repeat this procedure to give a total of at least five sets of measurements over a flow range
from approximately 8-17 liters per minute.

4. DATA AND RESULTS

CE 422L: Hydraulics Laboratory | Experiment No. 5: Energy Losses in
Bends and Fittings

Table 5.1- Energy Losses in Bends and Fittings

Fitting
Manometer
Head
Volume
Time
Reading
Loss
h1
h2
h1- h2
Vol
T
(m)
(m)
(m)
(s)
m

LONG
BEND
SHORT
BEND
ELBOW
MITRE

0.36
0
0.31
3
0.25
7
0.14
2

0.35
3
0.27
8
0.19
3
0.05
4

( 3)

Discharge

v 2
2g

Velocity

Coefficient
kb

m
( )
s

m
( )
s

0.007

0.002

7.66

2.611 x 104 0.865

0.038

0.184

0.035

0.002

7.66

2.611 x 104 0.865

0.038

0.918

0.064

0.002

7.66

4
2.611 x 10 0.865

0.038

1.678

0.088

0.002

7.66

4
2.611 x 10 0.865

0.038

2.308

Table 5.2- Internal Diameter of Pipe at Enlargement Outlet and Contraction Outlet= 0.0260m
2
Fitting
h1
h2
Volu
Time
Q
V1
V2
hL
k
v
3
(m)
(m)
me
(s)
m

ENLARGEMENT
CONTRACTION

0.353
0.366

0.368

m
( 3)

0.00
2

7.66

2g

4
2.611 x 10 0.86

0.49
2
0.86
5

5
0.49
2

0.311

0.03
8
0.03
8

0.011

0.288

0.02
9

0.760

5. FORMULAS AND COMPUTATIONS

HEAD
LOSS
FORMULA
S

h1- h2

GIVEN

h1= 0.360m
h2= 0.353m

DISCHARGE Q

Q=

VELOCITY

Volume
Time

V=

Volume= 0.002

ANSWER

hL= 0.3600353

0.007m

Q
A

v
2g

COEFFICIENT

kb=

15.31
2
0.002
Q=
7.66

( 0.865 )2
2(9.81)

Time Ave =

V=

Timeave= 7.66s

2.611 x 10
4
3.017 x 10

V= 0.865m/s

kb=

= 0.038m

Q=2.611 x 10

GIVEN

h L= h1 +

][

v1
v
h2 + 2
2g
2g

h1= 0.353m h2= 0.368m v1= 0.865m/s v2= 0.492m/s g= 9.81

CE 422L: Hydraulics Laboratory | Experiment No. 5: Energy Losses in

Bends and Fittings

0.007 ( 2 ) (9.81)

(0.865)

kb= 0.184

HEAD LOSS (CONTRACTION-ENLARGEMENT)

FORMULAS

hL (2 g)
2
v

hL=0.007
g=9.81
v=0.865

V= 0.865
Q=2.611 x 10
4 2 g= 9.81
A=3.017 x 10 m

Time1= 7.63s
Time2= 7.68s

SOLUTION

VELOCIT
Y HEAD

SOLUTION
ANSWER

h L= 0.353+

][

(0.865)2
(0.492)2
0.368+
2( 9.81)
2(9.81)

hL= 0.011m

6. FIGURES/DIAGRAMS/GRAPHS
Fig 5.1 Open the flow control valve

Fig 5.2 Take note the readings in

the manometer

Fig 5.3 Close the ball valve

Fig 5.4 Observe discharge meter

Fig 5.5 Time the discharge meter

until it reaches 2 liters.(2 trials)

Fig 5.6 Take the average time you

got and use it as your time

CE 422L: Hydraulics Laboratory | Experiment No. 5: Energy Losses in

Bends and Fittings

7. SOURCES OF ERRORS
There were errors observed while performing the experiment. Mainly, these errors come from
human errors. First error observed was when timing for the discharge meter until it reaches the
desired volume/amount of water. Next is when collecting the fluids, the collected fluids may not be in
sync with the time thus, affecting the data. Lastly, there were still bubbles inside the manometer which
clearly means that the air bubbles inside the manometer were not totally extracted.
8. CONCLUSIONS AND REMARKS
In this experiment, we were able to identify that when a fluid moves through a pipe system,
certain properties of the pipes and pipe components can cause the fluids velocity and pressure to be
altered. The pipe itself causes the fluid to experience friction, which causes the fluid to lose kinetic
energy as the fluid travels throughout the pipes. One of the pipe components that can cause energy
losses includes pipe bends.

CE 422L: Hydraulics Laboratory | Experiment No. 5: Energy Losses in

Bends and Fittings