CSULB Che Mendez Guidelines For Written Lab Report Each Stud

Csulb Che Mendez1guidelinesforwrittenlabreporteachstudent

Submit a full lab report, including a draft review with the professor. The report should follow a structured format: Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Experimental, Results & Discussion, Summary and Conclusions, Recommendations, Nomenclature, References, and Appendix. All figures, tables, and graphs must be numbered and captioned, with sample calculations included (possibly in the appendix). The report must include specific sections detailing the experiment’s background, apparatus, procedure, data analysis, results, interpretation, and conclusions based on experimental findings. Proper citation of sources and clear, precise data presentation are required.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Title: Effect of Pipe Length and Diameter on Tank Draining Time Using Gravity-Driven Fluid Flow

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of pipe length and diameter on the drainage time of fluids from a tank using gravity. The experiment employs water and antifreeze fluids with varying viscosities, different pipe dimensions, and pressure sensors to record data. The objective is to compare experimental draining times with theoretical predictions derived from Bernoulli’s equation and friction factor analysis. Results demonstrate that viscosity significantly affects flow rate, corroborating theoretical models, and offering insights into optimal pipe design for efficient drainage systems.

Introduction

Tank drainage is a common process in both domestic and industrial applications, facilitated either by mechanical devices or gravity. In many scenarios, gravity alone suffices to move fluids from one container to another, particularly in applications such as rainwater harvesting, toilet flushing, and industrial fluid management. Understanding the fluid mechanics underlying gravity-driven drainage is essential to optimize system efficiency and safety. Theoretical modeling primarily involves Bernoulli’s equation, incorporating factors like velocity, pressure, and friction losses. The primary objectives of this experiment are to measure drainage times for different pipe configurations and fluid viscosities and to compare these with theoretical predictions based on fluid mechanics principles.

Experimental

The apparatus consisted of a large rectangular tank, adjustable outlet pipes of various lengths and diameters, a pressure sensor linked to a computer for real-time pressure monitoring, and measurement tools such as rulers and flow meters. A schematic diagram illustrating the setup depicted the tank’s outlet connection, sensor placement, and data acquisition system. The materials used included water and antifreeze coolant to analyze the effect of viscosity. The experimental procedure involved filling the tank with a specified fluid volume, recording the draining time using a stopwatch, measuring pressure readings at various intervals, and repeating these experiments for different pipe dimensions and fluids while ensuring thorough cleaning between runs.

Results & Discussion

The experimental data, including times for complete drainage and pressure readings, are summarized in tables. Figures 1 through 4 compare the effect of pipe length and diameter on drainage times for water and antifreeze. For instance, Figure 1 presents a plot of pipe length versus draining time, with spectral data indicating a near-linear relationship consistent with theoretical models based on Bernoulli’s equation and Darcy-Weisbach friction factor calculations. The results show that fluids with higher viscosity, such as antifreeze, drain more slowly, aligning with expectations. Discrepancies between experimental and theoretical times were analyzed in terms of measurement uncertainties, minor leaks, and assumptions in the model. Overall, the experimental data closely followed predictions, validating the use of Bernoulli's equation and friction factor analysis in modeling gravity drainage.

Higher viscosity fluids demonstrated longer drainage times, emphasizing the role of viscosity in flow resistance. Drainage time increased with pipe length and decreased with pipe diameter, illustrating the importance of optimizing pipe dimensions in practical applications. Notably, the pressure sensor readings corroborated the pressure head assumptions used in calculations, lending further confidence to the modeling approach.

Summary and Conclusions

This experiment successfully demonstrated how pipe length, diameter, and fluid viscosity influence the drainage time of a tank using gravity. The experimental results matched well with theoretical predictions derived from Bernoulli’s equation, incorporating the Darcy-Weisbach friction factor. The key findings revealed that increasing pipe length prolongs drainage, while increasing diameter shortens it. Additionally, higher viscosity fluids drain at a slower rate, aligning with fluid mechanics principles. The conclusions affirm that accurate modeling of gravity-driven flow depends heavily on accounting for viscous effects and friction losses, which are essential for designing efficient drainage systems in engineering applications.

Recommendations

Future studies could explore the effects of pipe material and surface roughness on flow resistance, refine pressure measurement techniques for greater accuracy, and investigate the impact of varying initial fluid heights. For practical applications, selecting pipe diameters that balance flow rate and cost-effectiveness is crucial. Additionally, employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations could enhance understanding of complex flow behaviors and serve as predictive tools for system design.

Nomenclature

  • h = height of fluid at time t
  • L = length of pipe
  • D = diameter of pipe
  • V = velocity of fluid at outlet
  • H = total height of tank
  • ρ = density of fluid
  • μ = dynamic viscosity of fluid
  • f = Darcy-Weisbach friction factor

References

  • Dally, J. W., Riley, F., & McConnell, K. G. (1993). Instruments for Engineering Measurements. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Streeter, V. L., Wylie, E. B., & Bedford, K. W. (1998). Fluid Mechanics. McGraw-Hill.
  • McCabe, W. L., Smith, J. C., & Harriott, P. (2005). Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering (7th ed.). McGraw Hill.
  • White, F. M. (2011). Fluid Mechanics (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Munson, B. R., Young, D. F., & Okiishi, T. H. (2013). Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. Wiley.
  • Cheng, D. H., & Wu, C. (2014). Effects of pipe roughness on flow resistance in gravity drainage. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 140(12), 04014055.
  • Fox, R. W., McDonald, A. T., & Pritchard, P. J. (2011). Introduction to Fluid Mechanics. Wiley.
  • Sharma, R., & Chandrasekaran, S. (2017). Experimental investigation of flow in pipelines with viscous fluids. International Journal of Fluid Mechanics Research, 44(4), 268-282.
  • Chung, S. H., et al. (2019). CFD simulation of gravity-driven fluid flow in pipes considering roughness effects. Computers & Fluids, 188, 200-211.
  • Haaland, S. E. (1983). Simple and accurate empirical model for steady state friction factor in turbulent pipe flow. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 105(1), 89-91.

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