C1MKIII Compressible Flow Unit Teaching Equipment Fluid Mechanics Experiment Equipment

Description

C1MKIII Compressible Flow Unit Teaching Equipment Fluid Mechanics Experiment Equipment

DESCRIPTION

The C1-MkIII equipment comprises a single-stage air compressor, complete with a test section and a throttling valve, plus an electronics console containing the necessary controls and instrumentation.

The single-stage compressor is driven by an integral three-phase AC motor. The compressor speed can be varied using an advanced torquevector frequency inverter, which gives stable and accurate speed control plus direct electronic read-out of the torque produced by the motor.

The compressor is fitted with an outlet duct incorporating a throttling valve, which allows the flow to be varied independent from compressor speed.

The equipment is supplied with a convergent-divergent test section, fitted at the compressor inlet, designed to produce Mach-1 velocity at the throat. The duct is fabricated from clear acrylic, enabling the student to see the construction and the proffles. A pressure-sensing ring tapping is provided at the inlet, at the throat and at the discharge end of the diffuser. This duct allows all the major concepts of compressible flow to be demonstrated.

The electronics console includes two high-range and two low-range differential pressure sensors plus a control for motor speed and displays for the compressor speed, the pressures and the motor torque.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Compressor speed: 3,300rpm (max)

No. stages: 1

Motor Power: 0.55kW

Sensors:

+/- 103.4 kPa x1

+/- 34 kPa x1

+/- 1744 Pa x2

EXPERIMENTAL CONTENT

Demonstrate the phenomenon of ‘choking’ in a convergent/divergent duct

Investigate the validity of the isentropic flow equations for compressible flow in a convergent duct

Demonstrate the effect of compressibility on flow equations for a convergent duct

To deduce a value of Specific Heat Ratio (γ) for air using the equation for isentropic flow in a convergent duct

Investigate pressure recovery along a divergent duct by measuring duct efficiency

Investigate the relation between friction loss & velocity for incompressible flow and to find an approximate value for the friction coefficient

To investigate the relation between the friction coefficient and the Reynolds number for a given pipe

Determine the friction coefficient for a case of compressible flow

Investigate the relation between the pressure recovery across a sudden enlargement and upstream flow velocity, assuming incompressible flow

To determine the coefficient of discharge

Investigate the validity of the formula for the pressure rise across a sudden enlargement for compressible flow

To investigate, for incompressible flow, the relation between the flow rate through and the pressure drop across, a pipeline orifice.

To determine the relationship between the coefficient of discharge and the ratio (n) for the pipeline orifice

Investigate the effects of compressibility on discharge coefficients

To investigate the variation of pressure rise, power input and isothermal efficiencies of a centrifugal compressor with mass flow rate at constant speed

Produce a performance characteristic using mass flow rate and pressure rise as parameters, with contours of constant speed and constant efficiency

Account for the energy provided by the compressor driving motor

To investigate the relationship between fluid velocity and pressure drop (head loss) along a 90° smooth bend

Investigate whether the pressure varies radially across a bend