Calculate the head loss in a pipe with fittings

Calculation will allow you to estimate the head loss (pressure drop) in a pipe with a nice clean internal surface. In general
head loss is higher in small diameter pipes and long lengths of pipe. Diameter is the greater of the 2 impacts.

Type in your variables and look for the answer below. There are two sections. In this first section you can easily convince
your self of importance of pipe diameter. Just type in diffferent sizes for same flow rate and same pipe length

No Fittings section VARIABLES - TYPE IN YOURSELF. You must measure this

flow using a bucket and watch or base your system upon a chosen volume flow
rate. The add the pipe properties (diameter and length) required

Decide which units you want to work in

US galls per Imperial gallons Litres per
minute per minute minute
volume of water flowing through the pipe 75 10 8
Inches Inches mm
internal diameter of pipe in millimetres 3 6 25
Feet Feet Metres
length of the pipe in 125 10 3

Part 1 Answer below here

Feet Feet Metres
head loss - no fittings in pipe system 32.7 0.3 0.6

This answer needs to be modified if there are valves, bends and other restrictions in the pipework.

This is done by adding the relevant number of pipe diameters to the above answer using the table below
However this top section is the most important in most cases

Do NOT change any Pipe

diameters/single
information in this table restriction
Open gate valve 9
90 degree elbow 30
45 degree elbow 20
swept 90 degree bend 8

For example if there are the following restrictions in the pipe system then you do following
Fittings section VARIABLES - TYPE IN YOURSELF
In this table ONLY
No. Of Total diameters
enter date in Equivalent
Restrictions due to restriction
YELLOW column diameters/restriction
Open gate valve 1 9 9
90 degree elbow 3 30 90
45 degree elbow 2 20 40
swept 90 degree bend 0 8 0

Part 2 Answer below here

Feet Feet Metres

Extra equivalent pipe length due to fittings 34.8 69.5 3.5

Having done this you would then go back to part 1 and change the length from 5 metres to (5 + 1.7) = 6.7 metres
Total head loss for this system as defined here would then be

Final Answer below here

Feet Feet Metres
Total system head loss 41.8 2.6 1.2

Your choice of pump would then be based upon this number