Liquid methyl ethyl ketone (mek) flows through a pipe with an inner diameter of 2.067 inches at an average velocity of 0.48 ft/s. at the fluid temperature of 20°c the density of liquid mek is 0.805 g/cm3 and the viscosity is 0.43 centipoise [1 cp 1:00 103 kg / m s]. without using a calculator, determine whether the flow is laminar or turbulent. show your calculations.

Turbulent

Explanation:

The Reynolds number is:

Re = ρvL/μ

where ρ is the fluid density,

v is the velocity,

L is the characteristic length (for pipe, it's the diameter),

and μ is the dynamic viscosity.

Given:

ρ = 0.805 g/cm³

v = 0.48 ft/s = 14.63 cm/s

L = 2.067 in = 5.250 cm

μ = 0.43 cp = 0.0043 g/cm/s

Re = (0.805 g/cm³) (14.63 cm/s) (5.250 cm) / (0.0043 g/cm/s)

Re ≈ 14400

Flow is considered turbulent if the Reynolds number is greater than 4000. So this is turbulent.