Experiment No.

13
AIR FLOW RIG
LOSS COEFFICIENT, KL, FOR PIPE BENDS AND ELBOWS

Object:
To determine KL for pipe bends and elbows (KL=b and KL=e)

Apparatus:
1. Air flow rig with Ф80 standard inlet nozzle.
2. Two auxiliary fittings, viz.(a) Mitred bend, and (b) Smooth elbow

Equipment Setup:

Fig. 13.1 Head loss in pipe bends and elbows

Theory:

Loss of head hL in a bend or elbow is given by:

v2
hL = KL (13.1)
2g
where KL is the coeff. of loss and V is velocity;
 2 2
h L .2 g .( d )
h 4
K L  2 L 
V / 2g Q2
(13.2)

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 
where Q = Qo = Cd-oAo 2 gho  ...... x (5) 2 x 1962 x 656 h ok (refer to Expt. # 10 &
4
11)
= …. hok (13.3)
where o & k denote orifice and kerosene oil respectively.

From (13.2) and (13.3),


656 hLK x 1962 ( x ....2 ) 2
KL = 4
..... hok
hLk
i.e KL = …. (13.4)
hok

i) Mitered bend pipes

Without guide vanes: KL-b ≈ 1.1
With guide vanes: KL-b ≈ 0.2

ii) Smooth elbows

R
KL = Ф (Ө, ) (13.5)
d

Fig. 13.2 KL for smooth elbows (R = 200,000)

(after Ito)

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 Experimental Procedure:

24 24 24 11 4 8.5 57 47.5 23.5 3cm (NTS)

Orifice Plate
Inlet

OTM
OTM

Open to
OTM
Atmosphere

Fig. 13.3: Air flow pipe with pressure tappings and Manometer Board (Diagrametic)

1. Insert the 80Ф standard nozzle in the inlet.

2. Insert the orifice plate in position with proper side facing the inflow.
3. Fix the mitered bend to the inlet.
4. Turn on the fan with low air flow (damper plate almost closed). (Ctd.)
5. Read the manometer level. h2k.
6. Repeat step 4 with two increased discharges.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 after replacing mitered bend with the smooth elbow.

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 Observations and Calculations:

Table 13.1

Orifice dia, do = 5cm Standard nozzle dia, d = 8cm Mitered bend: dia, d = 7.9cm
R
Smooth elbow: R = 22.9cm; dia, d = 7.9cm; = 2.9; Ө = 900
d
hk of pressure tapping # KL = KL-e
hok =
orifice plate h from
Auxiliary S. h6k – h7k hLk = h2k .... Lk Ito’s
Fitting No. 7 6 2 hok
diagram
cm Cm cm cm cm
Mitered 1
bend
(without
guide 2
vanes)

Aver.KL-b ……

Elbow 4
(smooth)

Aver.KL-e …… ……

Comments:

Sig. of Lab.Lecturer: ________________________ Date: __________

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