Experiment: Flow through a Convergent-DivergeDuct

Objective :
To demonstrate the application of the Bernoulli equation as applied to the flow in a
convergent-divergent duct.

Introduction:
This experiment is mainly to investigate the application of the Bernoulli equation applied
to the flow in a convergent-divergent duct. Convergent-divergent duct has been widely
used in many fields, they are designed to accelerate fluids to a very high speed at the
nozzle exit.
A duct that has a decreasing cross section in the direction of fluid flow is convergent,
until a minimum area is reached. Thereafter, the cross section increases, or becomes
divergent.

he first part of the duct is acting as a nozzle, whereas the second part is acting as a
diffuser. Alternatively, we may have a convergent divergent duct in which the flow is
supersonic everywhere with Ma decreasing in the convergent part and increasing in the
divergent part and again Ma 1 at the throat

Suppose a nozzle is used to obtain a supersonic stream starting from low speeds at the
inlet. Then the Mach number should increase from Ma=0 near the inlet to Ma>1 at the
exit. It is clear that the nozzle must converge in the subsonic portion and diverge in the
supersonic portion. Such a nozzle is called a convergent-divergent nozzle. A convergentdivergent nozzle is also called a de laval nozzle, after Carl G.P. de Laval who first used
such a configuration in his steam turbines in late nineteenth century.

From the below picture, it is clear that the Mach number must be unity at the throat,
where the area is neither increasing nor decreasing. It also follows that the sonic velocity

can be achieved only at the throat of a nozzle or a diffuser.

The definition of Bernoulli's principle is the concept that an increase in a liquid's speed
creates a pressure decrease and a decrease in a liquid's speed creates a pressure increase.
With the simple word is the statement that an increase in the speed of a fluid produces a
decrease in pressure and a decrease in the speed produces an increase in pressure.
An example of Bernoulli's principle is the wing of an airplane; the shape of the wing
causes air to travel for a longer period on top of the wing, causing air to travel faster,
reducing the air pressure and creating lift, as compared to the distance traveled, the air
speed and the air pressure experienced beneath the wing.

Theory:
The Bernoulli equation is given by the following relationship.
P1 V 1
P
V
+ + Z 1= 2 + 2 + Z 2=H
1 g 2 g
2 g 2 g

Where

P1

&

P2

are density of water.

g is the gravitational acceleration

V 1 is the velocity at cross section 1

V 2 is the velocity at cross section 2
Z 1Z 2 are the elevation
H is the total pressure head
Water may b consider to be incompressible,

P2=P2=P

For a horizontal convergent-divergent duct,

Z 1=Z 2=Z

The velocity of the flow

V1

and

V2

can be calculated from the cross sectional area

and the volume of the flow rate Q

The volume flow rate

Q=V 1 A 1=V 2 A 2

A 1 = d 1 2 A 2= d22
4
4
Assuming no frictional losses in the ideal case, H remains constant.
P1 V 1
P
V
+ +Z 1= 2 + 2 +Z 2=H o
1 g 2 g
2 g 2 g
The ideal pressure head is obtained from
P1
V 22
+ Z =H o +
P2 g 2
2g

(Ideal height of manometer column)

However because of frictional losses, the actual H drops along the venture duct.
Therefore the actual pressure head is less than the Ideal pressure head.

Procedure :
1. The water outlet tube was directed to the sump of the apparatus
2. The water pump was switched on.
3. The main input water flow valve was fully opened, the bypass water valve was
adjusted to control the volume flow rate.
4. R flow rate was adjusted to the maximum possible flow rate by closing the bypass
valve. The flow was allowed to stabilize and the air bubbles in the system are
removed.
5. The air pump provided was fitted to the right end of the manifold on top of the
manometers.
6. The base line was not fall exactly at the zero line.
7. The pressure in the manifold was increased by pumping action of the air pump.
8. The pressure in the manifold was decreased by pressing on to the needle valve on
the right hand side of the manifold to release the air inside it.
9. The volume flow rate reading and all the manometer readings were taken. The
readings were entered into the spreadsheet in the computer.
10. The bypass valve adjusted to decrease the flow rate. Different sets of manometer
readings for flow rates at 6.5, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0 and 3.0 gallons/min were obtained.

Calculation
Flow Rate = 6.5
Q=AV
6
=201.1 10

m2 2.04m/s

3 1

=0.00041 m s

3 1

1gal/min = 0.00006308 m s
0.00041m3 s1
0.00006308m 3 s1

= 6.5gal/min

V=Q/A
3 1

0.00041 m s
= 201.1 106 m2

= 2.04m/s

Actual head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

92.0+212.0+30.0 = 334.0 mm
Ideal head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

57.4+212.0+30.0 = 299.4 mm
Head loss = Ideal head - Actual head
= 299.4-334.0
= -34.6mm

Percentage error =

|Ideal head Actual head|

Ideal head

|299.4 334.0|
299.4

x 100% = 11.6%

Flow Rate = 6.0

Q=AV
6

=201.1 10

1.88m/s

3 1

=0.0003785 m s

3 1
1gal/min = 0.00006308 m s

0.0003785m 3 s1
3 1
0.00006308m s

= 6.0gal/min

V=Q/A
0.0003785m 3 s1
= 201.1 106 m2

= 1.88m/s

Actual head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

95.0+180.6+30.0 = 305.6mm
Ideal head:
P
g

v
2g

+Z=H

77.3+180.6+30.0 = 287.9mm
Head loss = Ideal head - Actual head

= 287.9-305.6
= -17.7mm

Percentage error =

|Ideal head Actual head|

Ideal head

Flow Rate = 5.0

Q=AV
6
=201.1 10

m2 1.57m/s

3 1
=0.0003154 m s

3 1
1gal/min = 0.00006308 m s

0.0003154 m3 s1
0.00006308m 3 s1

= 5.0gal/min

V=Q/A
0.0003154 m3 s1
= 201.1 106 m2

= 1.57m/s

Actual head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

109.0+125.4+30.0 = 264.4mm
Ideal head:

|287.9305.6|
287.9

x 100% = 6.15%

P
g

v
2g

+Z=H

92.6+125.4+30.0 = 248.0mm
Head loss = Ideal head - Actual head
= 248.0-164.4
= -16.4mm

Percentage error =

|Ideal head Actual head|

Ideal head

Flow Rate = 4.0

Q=AV
6

=201.1 10

1.26m/s

3 1
=0.0002523 m s

3 1
1gal/min = 0.00006308 m s

0.0002523m 3 s1
3 1
0.00006308m s

= 4.0gal/min

V=Q/A
0.0002523m 3 s1
= 201.1 106 m2

Actual head:

= 1.26m/s

|248.0164.4|
248.0

x 100% = 6.61%

P
g

v
2g

+Z=H

114.0+80.3+30.0 = 224.3mm
Ideal head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

113.2+80.3+30.0 = 223.5mm
Head loss = Ideal head - Actual head
= 223.5-224.3
= -0.8mm

Percentage error =

|Ideal head Actual head|

Ideal head

Flow Rate = 3.0

Q=AV
6
=201.1 10

m2 0.94m/s

3 1
=0.0001893 m s

3 1
1gal/min = 0.00006308 m s

0.0001893m 3 s1
0.00006308m 3 s1

V=Q/A

= 3.0gal/min

|223.5224.3|
223.5

x 100% = 0.36%

0.0001893m 3 s1
= 201.1 106 m2

= 0.94m/s

Actual head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

117.0+45.2+30.0 = 192.2mm
Ideal head:
P
g

v2
2g

+Z=H

121.3+45.2+30.0 = 196.5mm
Head loss = Ideal head - Actual head
= 196.5-192.2
= 4.3mm

Percentage error =

|Ideal head Actual head|

Ideal head

|196.5192.2|
196.5

x 100% = 2.19%

Discussion:
The experiment is focus on the Bernoulli principle, by using the following equation to
calculate the value of velocity and pressure.

P1 V 1
P
V
+ +Z 1= 2 + 2 +Z 2=H o
1 g 2 g
2 g 2 g
The apparatus that we had used in the experiment which is convergent-divergent duct that
combined with the venture meter and eight manometer tubers. It has divided in two part,
Divergent part and convergent part. The convergent part having the smallest diameter and area.
Therefore they having the highest velocity ,

http://www.answers.com/topic/convergent-divergent-duct
http://www.yourdictionary.com/bernoulli-s-principle
http://www.nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-KANPUR/FLUIDMECHANICS/lecture-40/40_4_nozzle.htm