Product Details

The ESOLS Pipe Friction Apparatus is designed to investigate pressure losses in pipe flow and enables students to study the transition from laminar to turbulent flow while determining the critical Reynolds number. During the flow of fluid through pipes, energy losses occur due to internal friction within the fluid and friction between the fluid and the pipe wall. These losses are characterized by the friction factor, a dimensionless number that depends on the Reynolds number, which expresses the ratio of inertial to frictional forces. This apparatus makes it possible to analyze the relationship between flow velocity, pressure loss, and friction factor in both laminar and turbulent flow conditions. A small diameter pipe section is provided where laminar and turbulent flows are generated and observed. For laminar flow, constant pressure is maintained using a standpipe with overflow, while turbulent flow is supplied directly from the water source. Flow rate can be adjusted through valves, and pressure differences in laminar flow are measured using twin tube manometers. With this unit, students can measure pressure loss due to fluid friction, determine the pipe friction factor, investigate the transition from laminar to turbulent flow, and establish the critical Reynolds number. The apparatus can operate with a standard laboratory water supply or in conjunction with the ESOLS Hydraulic Bench SMT-FM-100.