The Fluid Friction in Pipes Unit, with Hydraulics Bench (FME00), "AFT", is designed to determine the friction coefficient in pipes of several diameters and roughness, to study the pressure losses in different types of valves and different fittings and to compare different methods to measure the flow.
The unit contains five straight pipe sections made of different materials and with different diameters and roughness. Additionally, a wide range of accessories are included for the study of losses in straight pipes, several types of valves (gate, ball, angle seat, etc.), pipe fittings (in-line strainer, elbows, sudden widening, contraction, etc.).
The different pipe sections, valves and pipe fittings include several pressure measurement points with quick action connections to fit thetubing that is connected to the corresponding pressure measuring device.
With this unit friction pressure losses can be investigated over a wide range of Reynolds numbers, thereby covering the laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regimes. Two water manometric tubes allow to study the pressure losses in the laminar regimen. Two Bourdon manometers allow to obtain the pressure losses in the turbulent regimen. Additionally, it includes a flowmeter to measure and to compare measurements of flow with the Venturi tube and the Pitot tube.
The unit includes the Hydraulics Bench, "FME00", which incorporates a sump tank and a centrifugal pump to make water flow in a close circuit and to supply it to the AFT unit.