Fluid Mechanics

Nomenclature
atm atmospheric pressure
A area
BHP brake horsepower; hp
c speed of sound
CC capital charge constant, 1/yr
D diameter
D0 diameter of the pipe wall
f
friction factor
F
friction heating per unit mass
g
gravity constant
h
head
h fs suction friction head
hgs
gauge reading at the suction flange of a pump
hss static suction head
hvs velocity head at point of gauge attachment
H total dynamic head
K bulk modulus
m mass flowrate
M Mach number
(NPSH)a available net positive suction head
NPSH)r required net positive suction head
N impeller rotational speed, rpm
p vapor pressure
P pressure
PC pumping cost constant, $/(hp-yr)
PP purchasing price constant, $/in., (dia.) x feet (of length)
Q volumetric flowrate
Re Reynolds number
s specific gravity
V velocity
z position in the direction opposite that of gravity
pipe length
pipe roughness
fluid viscosity
density

Energy Relationships (incompressible flow)

Bernoullis Equation:

V12 A12
P2 P1 = 1 F
2 A22
Diffuser and sudden expansions:

V12
P2 P1 = F
2

Friction Heating in a Pipe:

128
F = Q
D04

Torricellis Equation:
(For flow from the bottom of a vessel)

V2 = 2 g h

Pressure-Depth Relationship:
(Constant density)

P2 P1 = g ( z2 z1 )

Reynolds Number:

D V
Re =

Friction Factor (f):

1 0.27 0.9
= 4 log = + ( 7 / Re )
f D
Re 4000
Mach number:

M =V /c

Speed of Sound:

K
c=

A) Pump, Compressor, and Pipe Equations

Economic Pipe Diameter:

 1/ 6
10 PC m3 f (4 / ) 2 (1/ p 2 )
Decon =
CC PP

Pump Power Output:

kW = H Q / 3.670 105
(H in N m / kg ; Q in m3 / h ; in kg / m3 )

kW = H Q / 3.599 106
(H in Pa; Q in m3 / h )

hp = H Q s / 3.960 103
(H in lb f ft / lbm ; Q in gal/min)

hp = H Q /1.714 103
(H in lb f / in 2 ; Q in gal/min)

Net Positive Suction Head*:

(Be sure to convert pressure units to head)

( NPSH )a = hss h fs p

For an existing installation:

( NPSH )a = atm + hgs p + hvs

* To avoid cavitiation, (NPSH)a (NPSH)r

Head-Flow Relationship:
(pumps)

(Q2 ) 2 h2
=
(Q1 ) 2 h1

Specific Speed ( N s )**:

N Q 0.5
Ns =
H 0.75
(Q in gal/min; H in ft lb f / lbm )

** For compressors, H is adiabatic head

Suction Specific Speed (S):

 N Q1/ 2
S=
( NPSH )3/ 4

Specific Diameter ( Ds ):
(Compressors)

D H 0.25 D H 0.25
Ds = Ds =
Q 0.5 Q 0.5

Flow Coefficient ( ):
(Compressors)

Q
=
N D3

Pressure Coefficient ( ):

H
=
N D2
2

The Affinity Laws (pumps)

Capacity: Constant Impeller Dia. Constant Impeller Speed

(D = impeller dia.)

Q1 N1 Q1 D1
= =
Q2 N 2 Q2 D2

Head: Constant Impeller Dia. Constant Impeller Speed

(D = impeller dia.)

H1 ( N1 ) 2 h1 ( D1 ) 2
= =
H 2 ( N 2 )2 h2 ( D2 ) 2

Break Horsepower: Constant Impeller Dia. Constant Impeller Speed

(D = impeller dia.)

BHP1 ( N1 )3 BHP1 ( D1 )3
= =
BHP2 ( N 2 )3 BHP2 ( D2 )3

LaBour Pump Company 901 Ravenwood Drive, Selma, Alabama 36701

Ph: (317) 924-7384 - Fax: (317) 920-6605 - www.labourtaber.com
A Product of Peerless Pump Company Copyright 2005 Peerless Pump Company