Session: IMECE Undergraduate Research and Design Exposition

Paper Number: 116538

116538 - Pipe Friction Demonstrator 

Northern Michigan University’s Mechanical Engineering Technologies (MET) Department needs a pipe friction demonstrator for its fluid mechanics course. The primary motivation for this project is to design and build a lab for fluid mechanics that will be used for many years to come. A pipe friction demonstrator was chosen as it provides a great opportunity to demonstrate, estimate, and measure pressure drop and major and minor losses in a system. These losses will be observable and measurable and will show the fluid mechanics course a real-world application of fluid mechanics designed and built by previous MET students. This senior design project contributes to the advancement of science and engineering by teaching the next generation of mechanical engineering technicians, providing them with valuable first-hand experience, and demonstrating to them how losses work in a system. The system features multiple digital pressure sensors that are used to display the pressure at various points throughout the system. A one-half horsepower pump will be used to distribute hydraulic fluid throughout the system. The first of the two lines demonstrates major losses and also shows laminar and turbulent flow. The major loss line will easily be able to be changed between black steel pipe and copper pipe. The difference in pipe material will demonstrate varying factors used to obtain laminar flow. Using a variable speed drive the flow rate of the system is increased or decreased to provide the visual demonstration of the system switching between laminar and turbulent flow. The outlet of the major loss line is open to the atmosphere so that there will be no pressure at the outlet. The second line demonstrates minor losses. This line will contain various valves, contractions, enlargements, and bends. This line will be constructed out of black steel pipe. Digital pressure sensors are at the start and end of the line to verify the student’s estimations of pressure drop and their calculations of losses that they would be learning in their fluid mechanics course. The students conducting the laboratory will use the mechanical energy equation and the Reynolds number; solve for major and minor losses; and compare their prediction to measured data. In addition to designing and building this project from the ground up, this team of students in their year-long undergraduate senior design project developed a user-manual for the instructor/operator and a laboratory procedure for the students.  This project will benefit the students, department, and the university for years to come.

Presenting Author: Elijah Muxlow Northern Michigan University

Presenting Author Biography: Elijah Muxlow is a senior at Northern Michigan University. He is graduating with a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree and is focusing in mechatronics. He likes fishing, hunting, hiking, and the outdoors in general.

Authors:

Elijah Muxlow Northern Michigan University
Benjamin Muxlow Northern Michigan University
Joseph O'dovero Northern Michigan University
Seth Norberg Northern Michigan University