DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS

Contents | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 |

This Courseware is a combination of all information gathered from share ware resources which is referred from internet and books.
Content of this Chapter :

7. FLUID FLOW

7.1 Understand the energy losses in pipe networks

7.1.1 Describe major losses and minor losses in a pipe system
7.1.2 Discuss minor losses due to:
a. sudden enlargement
b. sudden contraction
c. exit loss
d. entrance loss
e. pipe bends

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 2

 The energy losses in pipe networks
Introduction
 When a liquid flows through a
pipeline, shear stresses develop
between the liquid and the pipe
wall.
 This shear stress is a result of
friction, and its magnitude is
dependent upon the properties of
the fluid, the speed at which it is
moving, the internal roughness of
the pipe, the length and diameter
of pipe.
 Friction loss ( hf) , also known
as major loss, is a primary cause
of energy loss in a pipeline
system.
DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS
Types of energy losses
• Major loss ( hf) :
is a primary cause of
energy loss due to
friction in pipeline
system.
• Minor loss( hL) :
is a secondary cause by
pipe expansions
(enlargement) and
contractions, bends,
valves, pipe fitting and
others.
Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 3
 Minor Losses
• Apart from major loss due to friction, there are also other forms of
losses which are caused by changes in internal pipe geometries and
by fitted components. These types of losses are referred to as minor
losses. There are four types of minor losses:

1. Sudden or gradual flow expansion and flow contraction,

2. Entrance and exit flows to and from reservoirs or tanks,
3. Bends, elbows, junctions and other fittings,
4. Valves, including those completely opened or partially closed.

• Minor loss is denoted by hm and is expressed as proportional to the

velocity head, i.e.
V2
hm  K
2g
• where K is the loss coefficient for each case. This coefficient K can
either be derived analytically or taken from experimental or
commercial data.

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 6

 Sudden Enlargement
 As fluid flows from a smaller pipe into a larger pipe through sudden
enlargement, its velocity abruptly decreases; causing turbulence that
generates an energy loss.
 The amount of turbulence, and therefore the amount of energy, is
dependent on the ratio of the sizes of the two pipes.
 The minor loss (hLm)is calculated from;

Va 2
h Lm  K E
2g

where is KE is the coefficient of expansion, and the values depends on

the ratio of the pipe diameters (Da/Db) as shown below.

Da/Db 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

K 1.00 0.87 0.70 0.41 0.15

Values of KE vs. Da/Db

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 7

 Sudden Contraction
The energy loss due to a sudden contraction can be calculated using
the following;
Vb 2
h Lm  K C
2g
The KC is the coefficient of contraction and the values depends on
the ratio of the pipe diameter (Db/Da) as shown below.

Db/Da 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

K 0.5 0.49 0.42 0.27 0.20 0.0

Values of KC vs. Db/Da

Flow at sudden contraction

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 9

Losses due to pipe fittings
2
V
hLm K
2g

Type K

Exit (pipe to tank) 1.0

Entrance (tank to pipe) 0.5
90 elbow 0.9
45 elbow 0.4
T-junction 1.8
Gate valve 0.25 - 25

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 11

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 12
DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 13
 Head Loss Due to Bends in Pipes

V2
hb  kb
2g

R/D 1 2 4 6 10 16 20
Kb 0.35 0.19 0.17 0.22 0.32 0.38 0.42

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 14

The loss coefficient for elbows, bends, and tees

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 16

 Head Loss Due to Pipe Fittings
(valves, elbows, bends, and tees) V2
hv  K v
2g

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 17

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 18
 Minor loss
coefficients
(Table)

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 19

Example 1
 Determine the energy loss that will occur as 0.06 m3/s water flows
from a 40-mm pipe diameter into a 100-mm pipe diameter through
a sudden expansion.
Solution:
 The head loss through a sudden enlargement is given by;
2
V
hm  K a
2g

Q 0.0045
Va    3.58 m / s
A a (0.04 / 2) 2
Da/Db 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Da/Db = 40/100 = 0.4
K 1.00 0.87 0.70 0.41 0.15
From Table : K = 0.70
3.58 2
Thus, the head loss is h Lm  0.70 x  0.47m
2 x 9.81

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 20

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 24
How to find f for rough pipes? Moody diagram:
use this parameter and the
corresponding black lines if velocity
is not known.

Get value for ks from table; each value of ks/D

f; the value we’re looking for

corresponds to one of the blue curves

Reynolds number (if velocity is known)

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 25

Example 3 : Find head loss per kilometer of pipe.

Pipe is a 20-cm asphalted cast-iron pipe.

Fluid is water.
Flow rate is Q = 0.05 m3/s.

Solution: First compute Reynolds number

From Table, ks = 0.12 mm for asphalted cast-iron pipe.

So, ks/D = 0.0006

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 26

With f = 0.019, we get the head loss hf from the Darcy-Weisbach equation:

DCC 5143 : FLUID MECHANICS Chapter 7 : Fluid Flow 27