Semi Local Friction Factor of Gas Flow Through a Micro-Tube
Flow characteristics of laminar gas flow through a micro-tube were experimentally studied on friction factors in this paper. The experiments were performed for nitrogen flow through a stainless steel micro-tube with 123.87 μm in diameter and 50mm in length. Two static pressure tap holes were fabricated on the micro-tube wall at intervals of 5mm with electrical discharge machining. The local pressure was measured to determine the local values of Mach number, temperature and friction factor. Both the Fanning and the Darcy friction factors were obtained under the assumption of a Fanno flow (adiabatic wall) since the external micro-tube wall was covered with the foamed polystyrene. The effects of temperature decrease on friction factors were investigated because the gas temperature steeply decreases near the outlet due to energy conversion from thermal energy into kinetic energy in a high speed gas flow. The obtained friction factors were compared with those in the available literature and also with numerical results.