A.

6 Friction Loss in Pipes

B. G. LIPTÁK

Friction loss moduli for laminar flow are shown by the 45° where
lines in the upper left-hand portion of each chart. Moduli
M = friction loss modulus for 100 feet (30 m) of pipe
for turbulent flow are shown by the steeper curves in the
∆p = pressure loss in pounds per square inch per
lower right-hand portion. Both of these regions represent
100 feet of pipe
stable states of flow. A diagonal line separates the regions
SG = specific gravity of fluid at 60°F (15.6°C)
of laminar and turbulent flow and represents the critical zone,
a region in which it is difficult to predict the state of flow The loss due to pipe friction may be obtained as follows:
and, hence, the friction loss. The critical zone usually rep-
∆p = M × SG
resents a region of unstable flow. The critical zone line gives
approximate moduli on the high side for this region of unsta- To use the charts, proceed as follows:
ble flow.
1. Select the chart for the size of pipe in question.
The bottom scale of each chart represents flow in gallons
2. Follow the vertical line representing the flow in GPM
per minute, GPM. An auxiliary top scale shows the average
to its intersection with the desired viscosity curve, and
velocity in the pipe in feet per second. Read vertically from
read the modulus at the left.
the GPM scale to find the corresponding velocity in feet per
3. If the vertical line representing the flow in GPM does
second. The vertical scales, labeled “Friction Loss Modulus
not intersect the viscosity line in either turbulent or
for 100 Feet of Pipe,” represent values of the ratio:
laminar flow, use the intersection with the critical zone
line.
∆p 4. Compute the friction loss in pressure drop from the
M = ------- equation above.
SG

2262

© 2006 by Béla Lipták

 Friction loss modulus for 100 feet of pipe
Loss – PSI = Modulus × specific gravity Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

FIG. A.6a
.1
.2
.3
.4
.5
.6
.8
1.0
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
20
30
40
50
60
80
100
.3

© 2006 by Béla Lipták

Vi
1 S S s co

.7 .8 .9 1.0
1 0 U s
50 60 80 100 125 150 200 250 300 40 500 600 80 00 125 150 200 250 30 400 50 60 80 00 (C ity
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 00 00 00 0 ( P
2 S
(1 (1 ( ( 16 )
(7 0
.4 .3 5 (2 (26 (32 43. (54 (6 (87 (10 (13 (17 (21 (27 (32 (43 (54 (64 (86 (10 (12 173 5)

2
) ) .7 0.6 .4) .1) 2) ) 5)
) )
) 8) 0) 3) 7) 1) 5) 3) 1) 9) 6) 82 98 2)
) )

*For SI units see Section A.1.

.4 .5 .6 .7 .8 1.0

3
4
2
3

Friction loss modulus for 100 ft of 1″ steel pipe.

∗
5 6 7 8 910
4

Gallons per minute

Wa
ter
Pipe velocity ft. per sec.
1" Steel pipe (1.049" I.D.)

Lo (1
w .13

Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

lim er )
it
(.4

20
6)
50(
7.4
)
5 6 7 8 10

Loss – lbs. per sq. in. = modulus × specific gravity

30
10
0(
20
20

.6)

40 50 60 70
Friction loss modulus for 100 feet of pipe

Loss – PSI = Modulus × specific gravity Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

FIG. A.6b
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
20
30
40
50
60
80

.1
.2
.3
.4
.5
.6
.8
1.0
100

2
Vi

3
sc
60 80 10 12 150 20 25 3 4
0 5 4 5 6 8 1 12 1 SS o si
50
80

20 25 3
10

U ty
0
.4 .5 .6

4
0 0 00 00 00 00 00 000 50 500 00 00 000 000
60 0
00
0
00
0

(1 (
(1 (C
(

0. 5. (20 26.4 (32 (4 (5 (6 (8 (1 (13 (1 (21 (2 (3 (4 (5 (6 (8 (1 (1

3 4 4 6 0
12

7) .6 ) .1 3. 4 5 7) 08 0 7 7) 71 2
3) ) ) 2) ) ) ) ) 3) ) 5) 3) 1) 9) 5) 82 73 (21 P S
98

5 6
)

) 2) 65 )
)
.8 1.0

*For SI units see Section A.1.

8 10
2

Wa
ter
3

(1.
20

13)
Gallons per minute
4

Friction loss modulus for 100 ft of 11/2″ steel pipe.

Lo
Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

w
∗

lim er
30

it 50
5 6
Pipe velocity ft. per sec.

(7.
4)
1½" Steel pipe (1.610" I.D.)

(.4
6)
Loss – lbs. per sq. in. = modulus × specific gravity
40 50 60
8 10

100
(20
.6)
80 100
20

200
(43
.2)
30

200

2263 A.6 Friction Loss in Pipes

 2264
2" Steel pipe (2.067" I.D.) 3" Steel pipe (3.068" I.D.)
Pipe velocity ft. per sec. Pipe velocity ft. per sec.

.3 .4 .5 .6 .8 1.0 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 .3 .4 .5 .6 .8 1.0 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20

A.6 Friction Loss in Pipes

100 100
S) )
80 CP 0 80
is ty ( (649 0)
o 1
60 sc U 54 0) 60
Vi SS 000 ( 433
( 0)
50 30 00 50

.2)

Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

25
Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

43
0 0 (3 )

)
5

(87
40 2 00 40

0 (
10
20 0 (27 )

400
20
30 0 0 65 30
15 00 (21 )
5 32

.6)
12 0 (17 8) 400

.2)
20 20

20
0
0 29 (87)

(43
10 0

0(
(1 )
0 )

10
2

200
80 08 PS )
0 (1 65) (C 165
0 (8 ) ity (2 2)
60 0 os 73
10 49
Friction loss modulus for 100 feet of pipe

0 10 (1
0 (6 si c SU 0

Friction loss modulus for 100 feet of pipe

5 0 ) V S 0 )
0 8 0 98
8 40 41 10

4)
12 )

.6)
(5 33) (

(7.
0 00

(20
0 2
6 30 (4 6 80 08

50
) (1 5)

100
5 00 25 5 0 0 6
2 5 (3 1) 60 (8
)
00 7 49
4
20 (2 ) 4
0 0 6
( )
0 1 7 50 0 4 1
3 0 (2 3) 3 0 (5 )
15 0 7 40
33
Loss – PSI = Modulus × specific gravity

(1

)
5

(7.4
12 0 ( 4

Loss – PSI = Modulus × specific gravity

.46

) 0
0 0 30 30 )

50
2
10 (1
2
00 25
) 25 (3 )
0 1
80 08 00 (2 )
7
(1 ) 20 17

) 6
7 2

(.4
0 (8 (
60 00
lim er

5) 15 0 3)
w

17
it

1.0 0 1.0
50 (6
Lo

5 (
0 4) 12 0 )

)
.8 40 (5 ) .8 0 30

.13
10 (1 )

lim er
2
3.

(1
)

0 8

w
it
.13

0 (4 ) .6 80 0

Lo
(1

ter
.6 30 1
(1

2.

Wa
.5 0 .5 7 )
(3 ) 0
ter

25 60 (8
4
Wa

.4 0 6. .4 5)
20 (2 ) 50
0
(6
0 0.
6
.3 0 0 4)
.3 15 (2 ) 4 (5

(2 (26. .1) )
5

2
7
2 5.

(3 (43.
1 0
0 0 (1 .2 30
.2

2
1

0.6 4)
50
2

)
80 20
0
0 5
1 12 100
5
.1 .1
3 4 5 6 20 30 40 50 60 80 100
8 10 200 300 6 7 8 10 20 40 50 60 80 100
30 200 300 400 500 600
Gallons per minute Gallons per minute
Loss – lbs. per sq. in. = modulus × specific gravity Loss – lbs. per sq. in. = modulus × specific gravity
Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31 Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

*For SI units see Section A.1. *For SI units see Section A.1.

FIG. A.6c FIG. A.6d

∗ ∗
Friction loss modulus for 100 ft of 2″ steel pipe. Friction loss modulus for 100 ft of 3″ steel pipe.

© 2006 by Béla Lipták

 4" Steel pipe (4.026" I.D.) 6" Steel pipe (6.065" I.D.)
Pipe velocity ft. per sec. Pipe velocity ft. per sec.
.3 .4 .5 .6 .8 1.0 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 .3 .4 .5 .6 .8 1.0 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20

100 10

80 8
)
PS )

)
(C 410

(87
60 6
ity

Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

(5 )

400
50 5 os 0
i sc SU 0 33
40 4 V S 00 (4 )
Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31

5 0
) 25 2
(3 )

.2)
PS ) 0
(C 660 3 00 0

43
30
20 71

0(
(8 ) (2 )
ity 0 5

20
)
0 00 16

87
c os 49 15 00 (2 32)

0(
20 s U (6 ) 2
Vi SS 00 5
17 )

40
0 12 0
40
0 41
(5 30) 00 8

.6)
0 3 1 0 29
(1 )

20
0

.2)
0 (4 ) 00 2

0(
30 0 08

43
50 80

10
0 2 (1 )

0(
10 0 (3 ) 1.0
25 0 00 65

20
0 (8
60

Friction loss modulus for 100 feet of pipe

00 71 )
Friction loss modulus for 100 feet of pipe

.8
8 20 (2 165 49
)
(2 00
0 50 (6 )
00 )

)
32 .6
15 0 41

(7.4
6
17 00 (5 )
0 ( 40

.6)
5 5 .5
8) 33

50
12 0 00

(20
00 29 30 (4
4 0 (1 2) .4 )

100
1 00
08 00 25
80 (1 ) .3 25 (3
3 65 00 71
)
00 (8 20

Loss – PSI = Modulus × specific gravity

(2 )
60 ) 17
00
Loss – PSI = Modulus × specific gravity

00 49 (2 )
)

15

.46
(6 .2
(7.4

2 50 ) 73
50

)
00 41 (1

.13
12 0
50

40 (5 3) 0 )

(1
3 1 0 30
00 4 (1

ter
( )
30 0
03

lim er
Wa
) 0
25 8
)

(1 )
.46

w
.13

0.1

it
1.0 00 (3

Lo
5 ) 7
(1

2 0 (8
00 71 .08 60
ter

.8 20 (2 ) 0 5)
Wa

1 7 5 0 (6
00 (2 3)
lim er

.6 15
.06 0 4)
w

17 40
it

(5 )
Lo

5 0 ( .05 .2
.5 12 00 ) 0 3
30 30 (4 )
10 (1 .04 1
.4 ) 5 0 2.
0 08 2 (3
80 (1 .03 4 )

A.6 Friction Loss in Pipes

.3 ) 0 6.
0 (8
7 20 (2
60 0 )
5) ) .02 15 0.
6
.2 0 (6 (54 .2) (2
5 0 3 5
0 (4 .1) 12
2
40 (3 ) 0
0 5 0 0 6 .4 10
30 2 20 150 5 (2
.1 12 .01
10 20 30
40 50 60 80 100 200 300 400 500 600 800 1000 20 30 40 50 60 80 100 200 300 400 500 600 800 1000 2000
Gallons per minute Gallons per minute
Loss – lbs. per sq. in. = modulus × specific gravity Loss – lbs. per sq. in. = modulus × specific gravity
Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31 Loss – feet of liquid = modulus × 2.31
*For SI units see Section A.1. *For SI units see Section A.1.

FIG. A.6e FIG. A.6f

2265
∗ ∗
Friction loss modulus for 100 ft of 4″ steel pipe. Friction loss modulus for 100 ft of 6″ steel pipe.

© 2006 by Béla Lipták