The Islamic University of Gaza- Civil Engineering Department

Sanitary Engineering- ECIV 4325

L2. Sewer Hydraulics

Based on Dr. Fahid Rabah lecture notes

 Sewer Hydraulics

Gravity flow: full flow Gravity flow: Partial flow Pressure flow: full flow

L
HGL h
H GL

HGL

S= HGL = slope of the S= HGL = slope of the S= h/L = slope of the HGL
sewer sewer
R=D/4
R = Af/Pf = D/4 R =Ap/Pp
 Manning equation
Many formulas are used to solve the flow parameters in sewers were discussed in the
hydraulic course. The most used formula for sanitary sewers is Manning equation:

2 1
1
V = R 3 S 2 …………………………………………………. …...(1)
n
8 1
0 . 312
Q = D 3 S 2 ………………………………………………...(2)
n
R = Hydraulic radius (Area/ wetted parameter) Note: Equation 1 is used for calculating
S = slope. the velocity in pipes either flowing full or
n = manning coefficient. partially full. Equation 2 same for flow
D = pipe diameter. rate.
Q = flow rate.
1
1 2
V = R 3 S2 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … ..… ..(3 )
f n f
velocity flowing full = ƒV
1 velocity flowing partially = PV
1 2
Vp = Rp 3 S 2 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … ..… … .(4 )
n
Note: Equations 3 and 4 are the same as Equation 1, but they are written using the
subscript (ƒ) and (P), to indicate flowing full and partially full, respectively:
In sanitary sewers the flow is not constant; consequently the depth of flow is varying
as mentioned above. In this case it is difficult to find the hydraulic radius to apply
Manning’s equation. For partially full pipe the following relations are applied:
d 1  θ 
=  1 − cos  ……………………… (5)
D 2  2 

Ap  θ Sin θ 
=  −  …………………… (6)
Af  360 2π  D
Ө
Rp  360 Sin θ 
= 1 −  ……………………..(7)
Rf  2 πθ  d
2
V  R  3
=  
p p

V  R  …………………………… (8)
f  f 
Q  A pV 
p
=  p
 ………………………….(9)
Q  A V 
f  f f 
D
d = partial flow depth. Ө
R = Hydraulic radius (P = partial, ƒ = full) d
Ө = flow angle in degrees.
Maximum capacity of the pipe when d/D = 0.95
A = Flow area.
Maximum velocity in the pipe occurs at d/D=0.81
 Example 1
Find the diameter of the pipe required to carry a design flow of 0.186 m3/s when
flowing partially, d/D = 0.67, slope = 0.4%, n = 0.013 use the relations of partial
flow. Solution
1. Find the flow angle : ?
d 1  θ 
=  1 − cos  = 0.67
D 2  2 

From this relation ? = 219.75o

2. Find Qp/Qƒ :
Rp  360 Sin θ   360 Sin 219 . 75 
= 1 −  =  1 −  = 1.167
Rf  2 πθ   2π (219 . 75 ) 

 θ Sin θ   219 .75 Sin 219 . 75  D

Ap
=  −  =  − = 0.712 Ө
Af  360 2π   360 2π  d
2
V  R  3
=  
p p

V  R  = (1.167)2/3 = 1.1088
f  f 
Q  A pV 
p
=  p
 = 0.712*1.1088 = 0.789
Q  A V 
f  f f 
3. Calculate Qƒ:
Q
Qƒ = P = 0 . 186 = 0.2355 m3/s
0 . 789 0 . 789
4. Find the diameter of the pipe (D):

8 1 8 1
0 . 312 0 . 312 2
Q
f
= D 3 S 2
= D 3 (0 . 004 ) = 0.2355
n 0 . 013
D = (0.15517)3/8 = 0.497 ? 0.50m ? 20" (design pipe diameter)

5. Find the partial flow velocity (VP ):

It is noticed that it is
2 1
1 2
1
1  0.497  3 quite long procedure to
(0.004)
2
V = R 3 S2 = V =   = 1.203 m/s
f n f f 0.013 4  go through the above
calculations for each
Q
f
0.2355 π D2 pipe in the system of
A = 2
A =
f V = 1.203 = 0.196 m (or f 4
) large numbers of pipes.
f The alternative
Ap = Aƒ *0.712 = 0.196* 0.712 = 0.139 m2 procedure is to use the
nomographs of
Mannings equation and
Vp = Vƒ *1.109 = 1.203*1.109= 1.33 m/s the partial flow curves.
 Example 2
Find the diameter of the pipe required to carry a design flow of 0.186 m3/s when
flowing partially, d/D = 0.67, slope = 0.4%, n = 0.013 using the nomographs
and partial flow curves .
Solution
From partial flow curves:
d
• Start from the Y-axis with ⇒ = 0 . 67 , and draw a
D
horizontal line until you intersect the Q curve (for n = constant,
the dashed line), then draw a vertical line to intersect the X-
Q
axis at ⇒ P = 0 . 78 .
Q
f
• Extend the horizontal line until it intersects the velocity curve,
then draw a vertical line to intersect the X-axis (for n =
V
constant, the dashed line) at ⇒ P = 1 . 12 .
V
f
Q
• Calculate Qƒ : ⇒ Q f = P = 0 . 186 = 0 . 238 m3/s
0 . 78 0 . 78
Use the nomographs for pipes flowing full to find D:
• Locate the slope ( 0.004) on the “S” axis.
• Locate the manning coefficient “n” ( 0.013) on the “n” axis.
• Draw a line connecting “S” and “n” and extended it until it intersects
the Turning Line.
• Locate the Qƒ ( 0.238 m3/s) on the “Q” axis.
• Draw a line connecting “Qƒ” and the point of intersection on the
Turning Line and find the diameter “D” by reading the value that this
line intersect the D axis at. D = 500 mm = 20”.
• find the Velocity “Vƒ” by reading the value that this line intersect the V
axis at. Vƒ = 1.2 m/s.
• Calculate Vp = Vƒ * 1.12 = 1.2*1.12= 1.34 m/s.
 Partial Flow Curves

d/D d/D

Qp/Qf Vp/Vf

d
 Partial Flow Curves Q &V

d/D

1.1 2