We designed and constructed a working compressible gas flow laboratory experiment to measure pressure drops and friction factors for air flow in pipes, based on an article in Chemical Engineering Education by two Lehigh University professors. Through experimentation it was found that increasing pressure in the pipe increased the density and, therefore, decreased the velocity of the fluid and the pressure drop along the pipe. We also developed a computer simulation that showed the same trends as the experiment.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Brown, Jared Thomas
• Yaylaian, Ross Vahan
• Lynch, Michael Peter
• Vautrin, Ryan Thomas
• Mazzali, Taylor J

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042811-130214

Advisor

• Clark, William M.

Year

• 2011

Date created

• 2011-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright