PROBLEM SOLVING: Complex Piping

1. For the branch pipe shown, water enters the pipe at a rate of 15 L/s.
Assuming that the velocity in both branches is the same. (D 1 = 50
mm, D2 = 20 mm, D3 = 30 mm)
Required:
a. Velocity in the pipe
b. Velocity in each branch
c. Volumetric flow rate in each branch

L 1000 cm3 1
U1 = 15
s
x )x
3.1416 ¿¿
= 764 cm/s
L

Q1 = Q2 + Q3

U1A1 = U2A2 + U3A3

U2 = U 3

U1A1 = U2(A2 +A3)

52 1
764()( 4 ¿= U2()( 4 ¿(22 + 32)

U2 = 1469 cm/s

cm 22 cm2 L
Q2 = 1469 s ()( 4
¿(
1000 cm3
) = 4.61 L/s
 cm 32 cm2 L
Q3 = 1469 s ()( 4
¿(
1000 cm3
) = 10.38 L/s

2. Water flows through a horizontal 400 ft steel pipe at a rate of 500

gal/min. The first and the last 100 ft of the line are 6-in diameter
pipe, while the middle section consists of 4.24-in diameter pipe.
Neglecting losses due to enlargement and contraction, find the
Pressure drop.

Find the velocity in each section.

100 ft 100 ft

D = 6 in D = 6 in
D = 4.24 in
500 gal /min Total length = 400 ft

Section 1 section 2 section 3

Required : -P

Q = Q1 = Q2 = Q3

u1A1 = u 2A 2 = u 3A 3
gal 1 ft 3 1
u1 = 500 min x 7.48 gal
x 3.1416 ¿¿ = 340.4 ft/min
62
u2 = 340.4 ft/min ( ¿
4.24 2 = 681.7 ft/min
U3 = U1 = 340.4 ft/min

−ΔP
ρ
= F = Fs1 + Fs2 +Fs3
 4fLu 2
Fs 
2g c D

Du 
Re 

Assume 25 oC

 = 62.217 lbm/ft3

 = 0.91 cP

6 ft 1 min lbm
ft (340.4 )( )(62.217 3 )
12 min 60 s ft
Re1 = Re3 = lb = 288,600
0.67197 m
ft−s
0.91 cP( )
1000 cP

4.24 ft 1 min lbm

ft (681.7 )( )(62.217 3 )
12 min 60 s ft
Re2 = lb = 408,400
0.67197 m
ft−s
0.91 cP( )
1000 cP
For steel pipe
 = 0.0018 in

¿ = ¿ = 0.0003

0.0018
¿= = 0.00042
4.24

1    7  
0.9
 4 log 0.27    
f  D  Re  
f1 = f3 = 0.0043

f2 = 0.0044

−ΔP
ρ
= F = Fs1 + Fs2 +Fs3

4fLu 2
Fs 
2g c D
lbm
P = ¿[2 x 0.0043 ¿ ¿ + 0.0044 ¿ ¿ ](62.217
ft 3

= 500.3 lbf/ft2 23.47 psi