An Experimental Study of Drag Reduction of Polymer Solutions in Capillary Tubes.

Document Type : Research Studies

Authors

1 Industry Education., Department., El-Mansoura University., New Damiętta., Egypt

2 Mechanical Power Engineering Department.,El- Mansoura University Mansoura, Egypt

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of the modified drag reduction envelope for flow of polymer solutions in capillary tubes. An experimental work studied drag reduction of polymer solutions in capillary tubes with diameters of 0.45, 0.55 and 0.75 mm. The experimental study were carried out under constant head for Reynolds number range between 103 and 104. The polymer used in the test was polyacrylamide. Four concentrations, 10, 50, 100 and 250 ppm were investigated. 
The experimental results showed that the friction drag reduction differs significantly among different diameters of capillary tubes at various concentration of polymer solutions. The results of the present work showed also that, for pure water flow, the friction factor values are lower than the conventional tubes because the flow in capillary tubes exhibits the rarefied phenomena due to the extremely small dimension of flow passages. Friction factor of polymer solution decreases with the increase of Reynolds number, tube diameter and solution concentration. Drag reduction ratio increases with solution concentration and the decrease of tube diameter.

Keywords

Main Subjects