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foo9008
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Homework Statement
i was told that the losses during expansion are usually much higher than losses during contraction in pipe . is it true?why?
Friction of what on what?foo9008 said:Homework Statement
i was told that the losses during expansion are usually much higher than losses during contraction in pipe . is it true?why?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
friction loss in pipe due to sudden expansion and contractionharuspex said:Friction of what on what?
Edit: having seen your next thread, I realize the pipe is not expanding or contracting. It only seems that way to a flow passing along it. (I thought this was about thermal expansion, or expansion under stress.)
And by friction, do you mean viscosity? Turbulence?
Friction losses due to expansion occur when a fluid flows through a pipe or channel that increases in size, resulting in a decrease in fluid velocity and an increase in friction. On the other hand, losses due to contraction occur when a fluid flows through a pipe or channel that decreases in size, resulting in an increase in fluid velocity and a decrease in friction.
This depends on the specific system and conditions, but in general, friction losses due to expansion tend to be more significant than losses due to contraction. This is because the decrease in fluid velocity in expansion leads to a larger decrease in pressure, resulting in more energy loss.
To minimize friction losses due to expansion, it is important to design the system with smooth and gradually increasing pipe or channel sizes. This will reduce the sudden changes in fluid velocity and decrease friction. For losses due to contraction, gradually decreasing pipe or channel sizes can also help reduce the impact of sudden changes in velocity.
The magnitude of friction losses due to expansion and contraction depends on the fluid properties (such as viscosity and density), the size and shape of the pipe or channel, and the flow rate. The Reynolds number, which is a dimensionless number representing the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, is also a key factor in determining the magnitude of friction losses.
No, friction losses cannot be completely eliminated in fluid flow. However, they can be minimized by optimizing the design and conditions of the system. Additionally, using smoother materials and regular maintenance can also help reduce friction losses.