Simulation of Flow in Unconventional Bends to Determine Minor Head Losses and Loss Coefficient using SolidWorks
Authors: Musa NA, Oriaifo MA, Isamotu OF
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to determine the losses that occur in unconventional bends, which find applications in pipeline networks. Bends of twenty, thirty and sixty degrees were designed in SolidWorks environment and boundary conditions were applied to obtain pressure drops or losses. The pressure drops obtained were used to calculate the minor head loss that occurs in the respective bends and their respective loss coefficient (K). The pipe used was poly vinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with internal diameter of 0.0127m and the working fluid was water. The boundary conditions taken for flow rate was 0.34litres per second (0.00034 m3/s), which gave a velocity of 2.688 m/s. From continuity equation and Reynolds number evaluation, it was observed that the flow regimes were turbulent. The minor head loss obtained for 20o, 30o and 60o bends were found to be 0.06440m, 0.06466m and 0.06746m respectively and the corresponding loss coefficient obtained were 0.175, 0.176 and 0.183.
Affiliations: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Bends, Flow, SolidWorks, Simulations, Pressure Loss, Minor Head Loss, Loss Coefficient
Published date: 2018/12/30
