CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

REYNOLD’S NUMBER
TITLE
Experiment No.: 2

• CHE 402-V2 • ChE LABORATORY 1

Date Started: February 11,2019 Group no. 5
Date Finished: February 11,2019 Members:
1. Lloyd Roy C. Habasa
2. Aura Kristine Ouano
3. Grant Devin Codilla
4. Ruth Micah Rebusit
5. Cariela Bongansico

Prepared by: Lloyd Roy C. Habasa

Prepared for: Engr. Kirsten Gail T. Miaga
 ABSTRACT

__________________________________________________________________________________

The goal of the experiment is to calculate the fluid’s Reynolds number under a

certain degree of parameters and to characterize its flow. It was found out that

the flow undergoes three states namely, laminar, transition, and turbulent fluid

flow. Fluid’s temperature was also recorded to get its specific density and

viscosity at that certain point of temperature for accuracy purposes since

density and viscosity has a great effect on Reynolds number. The experiment

only characterized two types of fluid flow which is transitional flow and

turbulent flow caused by the technical error on the apparatus itself.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 1. INTRODUCTION

In fluid mechanics, Reynold’s number phenomena is a criterion of whether a

fluid (liquid or gas) flow is in absolute steady state (streamlined, or laminar) or on the

average steady with small unsteady increment or fluctuations (turbulent). Reynold’s

number is significantly used to predict the flow of a certain fluid. Whenever the Reynold’s

number has 2000 as it’s numerical value, it is said to be laminar in flow and values greater

than 2000 is said to be in turbulent flow. Flow of fluids actually undergoes 3 states; the

third state is the transition state which simply occurs not at a specific value of the

Reynolds number but usually in a range beginning between 1,000 to 2000 and could

extent upward between 3000 to 5000 as its numerical value. To be much simpler,

transition state is simply the state where the fluid’s flow starts changing from laminar to

turbulent one.

Reynold’s number in its broadest sense is the ratio of inertial forces

(density, pipe diameter, and velocity) to the viscous forces. One way of determining the

flow of fluid without calculating the Reynold’s number is simply through looking at eddy’s

in the fluid itself caused by the difference of the fluctuated flow and difference in

directions. The objective of the experiment is to determine Reynold’s Number, NRe, as a

function of flow rate and to characterize the type of flow of liquid in a circular pipe.
 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Reynolds number is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces and is a convenient

parameter for predicting if a flow condition will be laminar or turbulent. It can be interpreted

that when the viscous forces are dominant (slow flow, low Re) they are sufficient enough to

keep all the fluid particles in line, and then the flow is laminar. Even very low Re indicates

viscous creeping motion, where inertia effects are negligible. When the inertial forces

dominate over the viscous forces (when the fluid is flowing faster and Re is larger) then the

flow is turbulent.

It is a dimensionless number comprised of the physical characteristics of the flow. An

increasing Reynolds number indicates an increasing turbulence of flow.

The applicability of the Reynolds number differs depending on the specifications of the

fluid flow such as the variation of density (compressibility), variation of viscosity (Non-

Newtonian), being internal- or external flow etc. The critical Reynolds number is the

expression of the value to specify transition among regimes which diversifies regarding type

of flow and geometry as well. Whilst the critical Reynolds number for turbulent flow in a pipe
is 2000, the critical Reynolds number for turbulent flow over a flat plate, when the flow velocity

is the free-stream velocity, is in a range from 105 to 106.

The Reynolds number also predicts the viscous behavior of the flow in case fluids are

Newtonian. Therefore, it is highly important to perceive the physical case to avoid inaccurate

predictions. Transition regimes and internal as well as external flows with either low or high

Reynolds number in use, are the basic fields to comprehensively investigate the Reynolds

number. Newtonian fluids are fluids that have a constant viscosity. If the temperature stays the

same, it does not matter how much stress is applied on a Newtonian fluid; it will always have

the same viscosity. Examples include water, alcohol and mineral oil.
3. EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS:

3.1.1 EQUIPMENTS:
Osbourne Reynolds Number Apparatus
Thermometer
Stopwatch
1 Liter Graduated Cylinder
1 Digital Camera

3.1.2 MATERIALS:

Dye

Continuous water supply

3.2 PROCEDURES:

1. The apparatus was setup and the diameter and cross-sectional area was determined.

2. After setting up, the temperature of the water was recorded for the density and

viscosity of the water to be determined

3. The dye was mounted on top of the head tank and the head tank was supplied with

water and the control valve was opened securing the flow rate of the water supplied

and the flow rate of the control valve was the same.

4. The flow was stabilized for 30 seconds

5. The dye was introduced slowly by adjusting the dye control valve and the behavior of

the dye was observed and a picture was taken.

6. An amount of water was collected in the discharge valve for 10 seconds in order for

the actual flow rate to be determined the Reynold’s number was computed

7. The same procedure was done for five different flow rates.
 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.

The experiment was conducted in fulfillment of characterizing the flow of fluid.

Basically, there are three types of flow. First is the laminar flow in which particle moves

in a straight line in the form of a thing parallel sheets. This flow also denotes steady

condition and under this flow, the dye will remain easily identifiable as a solid core.

Second is the turbulent flow which denotes an unsteady condition where stream line

projects zigzag direction caused by the difference of fluid flow’s speed. Lastly is

transitional flow which is a mixture of laminar and turbulent flow with turbulence in the

center of the pipe and laminar flow near the edges.

The experiment met a lot of technical struggles such as using the old Osbourne

apparatus. Although it still works, but there are certain things that it failed such as a leak

on its dye pipe which caused us not to visually observe the flow of fluid because the dye

and the water itself mixes. Because of these struggles, we only obtained two types of flow

which is the turbulent flow and the transition flow. We couldn’t get laminar flow simply

because we need to have a fast flow on the faucet’s fluid and a large opening on the valve

below to obtain a constant volume on top. That’s the main reason why we got transition

flow as its starting flow. Table 4.1 shows the Reynold’s number at different valve

openings and different time collection.

Table 4.1

Trial Volume of Collection Volumetric Reynold’s Type of

H2 O Time Flow rate Number Flow
Collected (m3/s)
(sec) (NRe)
(mL)

1 150 15 1.0×10-5 3,490.72 Transient

2 100 10 1.0×10-5 3,490.72 Transient

3 170 20 8.5×10-6 2,966.42 Transient

1 80 20 3.05×10-5 10,646.96 Turbulent

2 50 15 3.05×10-5 10,472.91 Turbulent

3 40 10 3.45×10-5 12,043.09 Turbulent

 5. CONCLUSION:

The experiment’s objectives were successfully met, and it was found out that as the flow

of the fluid fluctuates, the Reynold’s number also increases. Thus, the Reynold’s number and

fluid flow is directly proportional under the same degree of parameters. The experiment also

allowed us to characterize three types of fluid flow. However, we only characterized two types

of fluid and that is the transition and turbulent flow caused by the apparatus error and operator

bias.

6. RECOMMENDATION:

To successfully characterize the flow of fluid, it is best to use an operational or without

issues Osbourne apparatus and you also need to have background on how to use the said

apparatus.
 7. REFERENCES:

[1] https://www.britannica.com/science/Reynolds-number

[2] https://www.simscale.com/docs/content/simwiki/numerics/what-is-the-

reynolds-number.html

8. APPENDICES:

DATA:

Trial Volume of Collection Volumetric Reynold’s Type of

H2 O Time Flow rate Number Flow
Collected (m3/s)
(sec) (NRe)
(mL)

1 150 15 1.0×10-5 3,490.72 Transient

2 100 10 1.0×10-5 3,490.72 Transient

3 170 20 8.5×10-6 2,966.42 Transient

1 80 20 3.05×10-5 10,646.96 Turbulent

2 50 15 3.05×10-5 10,472.91 Turbulent

3 40 10 3.45×10-5 12,043.09 Turbulent

COMPUTATIONS:

𝑘𝑔⁄
Cross-sectional Area: Density at 28°𝑪 = 996.29 𝑚3

𝑘𝑔⁄
𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 2 Viscosity at 31°𝑪 = 0.8350 × 10−3 𝑚. 𝑠
𝐴 = 𝜋(3.175 × 10−3 𝑚)2

𝐴 = 1.0839 × 10−5 𝑚2

Velocities:
1 𝑚3
= 0.9225 𝑚⁄𝑠
150 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1
V1 = × × ×
15 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝐿 1.0839×10−5 𝑚2

1 𝑚3
= 0.9225 𝑚⁄𝑠
100 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1
V2 = × × ×
10 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝐿 1.0839×10−5 𝑚2

1 𝑚3
= 0.7842 𝑚⁄𝑠
170 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1
V3 = × × ×
20 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝐿 1.0839×10−5 𝑚2

1 𝑚3
= 2.8139 𝑚⁄𝑠
610 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1
V4 = × × ×
20 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝐿 1.0839×10−5 𝑚2

1 𝑚3
= 2.7678 𝑚⁄𝑠
450 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1
V5 = × × ×
15 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝐿 1.0839×10−5 𝑚2

1 𝑚3
= 3.1829 𝑚⁄𝑠
345 𝑚𝐿 1𝐿 1
V6 = × × ×
10 𝑠 1000 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝐿 1.0839×10−5 𝑚2

FORMULA USED:

Reynold’s Number:

𝜌𝜈𝐷
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝜇
Trial 1:

𝑘𝑔
(996.29 ⁄ 3 )(0.9225𝑚⁄𝑠)(3.175×10−3 𝑚)
𝑚
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑘𝑔 = 3,490.72
0.8350×10−3 ⁄𝑚.𝑠

Trial 2:

𝑘𝑔
(996.29 ⁄ 3 )(0.9225𝑚⁄𝑠)(3.175×10−3 𝑚)
𝑚
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑘𝑔 = 3,490.72
0.8350×10−3 ⁄𝑚.𝑠

Trial 3:

𝑘𝑔
(996.29 ⁄ 3 )(0.7842𝑚⁄𝑠)(3.175×10−3 𝑚)
𝑚
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑘𝑔 = 2,966.42
0.8350×10−3 ⁄𝑚.𝑠

Trial 1:

𝑘𝑔
(996.29 ⁄ 3 )(2.1839𝑚⁄𝑠)(3.175×10−3 𝑚)
𝑚
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑘𝑔 = 10,646.96
0.8350×10−3 ⁄𝑚.𝑠

Trial 2:

𝑘𝑔
(9956.29 ⁄ 3 )(2.7678𝑚⁄𝑠)(3.175×10−3 𝑚)
𝑚
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑘𝑔 = 10,472.91
0.8350×10−3 ⁄𝑚.𝑠

Trial 3:

𝑘𝑔
(996.29 ⁄ 3 )(3.1829𝑚⁄𝑠)(3.175×10−3 𝑚)
𝑚
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑘𝑔 =12,043.09
0.8350×10−3 ⁄𝑚.𝑠