The field of fluid mechanics of incompressible fluids a distinction can be made between pipe flow and open-channel flow. With sufficient pressure and flow velocity in the completely filled pipe, the flow is considered as one-dimensional for reasons of simplicity. Due to this precondition physical phenomena can easily be described and calculated. Open-channel flow in contrast is always multidimensional.
The compact experimental unit enables a variety of experiments on the fundamentals of incompressible flow in open channels and pipes.
A pump supplies water from the storage tank through the supply line into the open channel or the pipe. The flow processes are clearly visible since all parts are made of transparent plastic.
In the pipe section the water flows through an orifice, a Venturi nozzle, a contraction, an enlargement as well as pipe bends and pipe angles of varying diameters. The open channel has a broad-crested weir and a sharp-crested weir. A valve is used to close off or open up the two different working sections.
A pressure sensor is located on the device for differential pressure measurement. This sensor can be connected to the measuring points in the pipe via a hose. The supply line contains a flow rate sensor to determine the flow rate. The measured values are transmitted directly to a PC via USB. The software is included and clearly displays the results of the experiments.
The water level is determined with an electronic water level gauge.
The well-structured instructional material sets out the fundamentals and provides a step-by-step guide through the experiments.
Learning Objectives / Experiments
Fundamentals of pipe flow and open-channel flow
Differential pressure measurement at the orifice, Venturi nozzle, pipe bends and pipe
angles, contraction and enlargement
Investigation of weir structures in an open channel in conjunction with the power meter
Recording a pump characteristic
Specification:
Investigation of the fundamentals of different areas of incompressible flow
Closed water circuit with pump
Transparent pipe section and open channel
Experiments on pressure losses at pipe bends and pipe angles, Venturi nozzle, orifice plate
One broad-crested weir and one sharp-crested weir
Horizontally travelling level gauge with vertically travelling probe tip to measure the water levels
Pressure measuring points for differential pressure measurement before and after the respective pipe resistances
Measurement of the power consumption of the pump with power meter
Software with data acquisition via USB under Windows Vista or Windows 7