FLUID MECHANICS II. MEJIA. 2018.

10 1

Flow regime report.

Mejía Almeida Rubén Dario
Salesian Polytechnic University
Mechanical Engineering
rmejiaa1@[Link]

Summary.–This document deals with the different flow regimes that fluids have, and has
The main purpose is to determine the speed ranges in which each of these occurs.
Analysis is carried out based on the Reynolds number and the outflow rate, which can be varied with the
help from a water shut-off valve. The visualization of the practice aids in the analysis of the system in
study.

Abstract. - This document deals with the different flow regimes that you have fluids, and its main
The purpose is to determine the ranges of speeds at which each of these occurs. The analysis is made from
the Reynolds number and the output flow rate which can be varied with the help of a water shut-off
valve. The visualization of the practice helps the analysis of the system under study.
Palabras claves.–Régimen de flujo, número de Reynolds, caudal.

Introduction

S It is understood as flow regime, the way in which the movement of a fluid behaves along
a duct. Osborne Reynolds conducted many experiments in 1883 in order to determine the laws
of resistance in pipes. Introducing a colored thread into the flow of water in a glass tube,
He observed that there are two different types of motion which he called: laminar and turbulent.
The purpose of the report is to reinforce the knowledge learned in the subject, delving deeper into each one.
on topics practically, such as the determination of the flow regime, relationship of velocity
with these regimes, among others.

I. Objectives
I.1 General objective:
Determine the range of velocities in which the fluid is in different flow regimes
existing, analyzing the movement of ink inserted into a pipe, so that with the help of the number of
Reynolds understands this topic appropriately.
I.2 Specific objectives.
Analyze the movement of the ink used in the practice, by varying the fluid flow rate.
Use the appropriate fluid mechanics equations to obtain the desired results.
Clearly differentiate each of the different existing flow regimes.
FLUID MECHANICS II. MEJIA. 2018.10 2

II. Theoretical framework

Laminar flow: Laminar flow is the type of movement of a fluid when it is perfectly
ordered, stratified, smooth, so that the fluid moves in parallel layers without mixing.
The adjacent layers of the fluid slide smoothly over each other. The transport mechanism is
exclusively molecular. It is said that this flow is aerodynamic. It occurs at relatively low speeds
or high viscosities.

Figure 1 [Link]

Turbulent flow: It is called turbulent flow when it becomes more irregular, chaotic, and unpredictable, the particles
they move disorderly and the trajectories of the particles intersect forming small whirlwinds
aperiodic. It occurs at high speeds or when abrupt obstacles appear in the movement of the fluid.
2

Figure 2 [Link]

Transitional flow: As the flow rate increases, the sheets continue to move in a straight line.
until they reach a speed at which they begin to ripple and break sharply and diffusely. This
it occurs at the so-called critical speed, known as the transition zone, where the flow is neither laminar nor
turbulent.

Figure 3 [Link]

Reynolds number: The behavior of a fluid, particularly regarding losses

guide, depends on whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. For this reason, a medium is needed to predict the
type of flow without having to actually observe it. Moreover, direct observation is impossible for fluids
they go through opaque tubes. It is demonstrated experimentally and verified analytically that the character
FLUID MECHANICS II. MEJIA. 2018.10 3

The flow in a round tube depends on four variables: the fluid density ρ, its viscosity, the diameter
of the tube D and the average flow velocity. It is possible to predict laminar or turbulent flow if it is known
the magnitude of a dimensionless number, which is now referred to as the Reynolds number. [4]
VDρ
=
η
(1)
Various experiments have shown that for Re = 2000 the regime is laminar while for Re >
3000 the regime is turbulent. In the area between 2000 and 3000 the regime is unstable and can change.
laminar to turbulent or vice versa.

III. Methodology

To carry out this practice, a container is taken in which water is placed to a height of 22 cm with
regarding a reference level, the container is connected to a transparent pipe of section
transversal circular which has a diameter of 16 mm, and at the end of it there is a valve of
closure and opening of water which allows controlling the flow rate with which the fluid is evacuated.

There is also a syringe, which contains a liquid with dye and is injected into the pipe.
transparent, so that by applying a little pressure on it, the liquid with dye enters the
fluid of the container and clearly observe the flow regime in which it is located according to the speed
that the fluid is given through the valve.

In this way, the valve is opened by giving it different degrees of opening.

Entering the liquid with coloring into the pipe, it is clearly observed that as the flow is low, the
the dye traces a fixed line that runs through the pipe, thus clearly showing the laminar flow, while
that as the flow rate increases, the beam of the line formed by the dye begins to deform in several ways.
sections, thus having the flow in transition, while finally by giving a greater flow to the fluid already
the beam of the dye line is completely lost and becomes completely disorganized throughout the pipe, giving
They understand in this way what a turbulent flow is.

IV. Calculations

Determine the range of speeds for the different flow regimes to arise, using
the equation (1).

Properties of the fluid (H2O) [4]

Assuming a T = 20°C Regime

Re
- ρ = 998 Kg/m3
- n = 1.02x10-3Pa.s Laminar flow < 2000
Fluid in transition 2000 - 4000
Properties of the pipe. Turbulent fluid 4000

- D = 0.016m
Re n
=
Dρ
FLUID MECHANICS II. MEJIA. 2018.10 4

(2)

Re n (Pa.s) D (m) p (Kg/m3) V (m/s)

2000 1,02E-03 1,60E-02 9,98E+02 0,1277555
4000 1,02E-03 1,60E-02 9,98E+02 0,255511

IV.1 Results.

Regimen Re V (m/s)
Laminar flow < 2000 < 0.12775551
Fluid in transition 2000 - 4000 0,12775551 - 0,25551102
Turbulent fluid 4000 0.25551102

V. Conclusiones

The range of velocities in which the fluid adopts different flow regimes was determined.
studied, after conducting the analysis of the displacement of a coloring liquid through a pipeline
transparent, and using the limiting values of the Reynolds number for each specific case.

2. By observing the movement of the added dye in the pipe, it is concluded that the greater
the speed at which the fluid moves, it tends to behave like a turbulent fluid,
while, by decreasing the flow rate, it will become a laminar fluid.

3. Using the Reynolds number equation was very helpful for determining the regimes
of flow.

4. As a result of carrying out this practice, the appropriate skill was obtained to clearly differentiate.
the flow regime given in pipes, according to the speed and the fluid that is transported through it, which
It will be of great help in future study topics, such as machine design.

VI. Recommendations.

1. Conduct several repetitions of the experiment so that the sample size gives us more reliable results.
reliable.

2. Change the diameter of the pipe to analyze the results that can be obtained.

3. Use different types of fluids to compare the results that may occur.
FLUID MECHANICS II. MEJIA. 2018.10 5

VII. References

E. d. r. d. flow, 10 08 2014. [Online]. Available:

[Link] [Last access: 21 10 2018].

[Online]. Available: [Link] [Last accessed: October 21, 2018].

[3] L. E. Lisintuña, «Fluidos en movimiento Hidrodinámica,» 2017.

[4] R. L. Mott, Mecánica de fluidos, Mexico: Pearson, 2006.

VIII. Annexes.

Figure 4 Device

Figure 5 Laminar flow