CE331-13.

1
530-331, 582-331 HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
Lecture 13: Pressure conduits (IV)
13.1 Networks of pipes
Pipe connection for water supply to different demand sites create pipe circuit
called Network of pipes.

Flow analysis in network of pipe, considered condition in network of pipes are:

1. Summation of head losses (pressure drop) in each circuit must be zero
2. Summation of inflow equal to summation of outflow at a Junction,
3. Flow in each pipe follows Darcy-Weisbach equation: the relationship between
head loss and discharge ,

For the first condition, head loss between 2 points is constant, not depending on
direction of calculation such as A-G equal to A-F-E-D-G.

For the second condition, continuity equation

To solve pipe network problem in practices, successive approximations are used
called “Hardy Cross Method”. Assuming flow rate in each pipe according to Darcy-
Weisbach equation, and continuity equation at each junction. Correction of flow rate is
calculated to adjust flow in each loop is closer balance.
Minor loss is included in equivalent lengths of each pipe.
Using Exponential equation in form of;
2
 
L V 2 L f  Q   2
  L f 162  Q 4 
hf  f 
D 2g D 2g   2  D 2g   D 
 D 
4 
 f 16  Q 2
 L  5
2 
 2g   D
 CE331-13.2
h f RQ n
Industrial pipe-friction formulae  m
L D
h f  rQ n , r  RL m
D
The value of r is constant for each pipe, and is defined prior the step of loop-
balancing.

For a pipe, Q is initial assumed flow rate,

0

Q  Q 0  Q
Q is correct flow rate and Q is adjustment flow rate.
h f  rQ n  r Q 0  Q n  r Q 0n  nQ0n1Q  ...
n 1 n 1
 h f   rQ Q n1   rQ 0 Q 0  Q  rn Q 0  0
Q is the same for all pipes in the loop
n 1
 rQ 0 Q 0
Q   n 1
 rn Q 0
Q is adjustment flow rate, add to assumed flow rate in clock-wise direction, and
subtract to assumed flow rate in anti-clock-wise direction.

Calculation steps
1. Assume initial flow rate for each pipes, follow continuity equation at the
junction.
2. Calculated net head loss for a loop,  h f   rQ n and  rn Q , define Q addn 1

to assumed flow rate based on the direction of flow.

3. Repeat step 1, 2 for the other loops
4. Repeat step 2, 3 in many cycles to satisfy minimum  Q' s  .
 CE331-13.3
Example 13-1 Calculate the flow through each of the pipes of the network, n = 2

(1) First Iteration

21 21
 rQ 0 Q 0  rn Q 0
6  702  29400 6  2  70  840
Loop 1 2
3  35  3675 3  2  35  210
 4500 300
 5  30 2  5  2  30 
28575 1350
28575
Q1    21.17
1350

1  15 2  225 1  2  15  30
Loop 2  2  35 2  2450 2  2  35  140
83
 3  13.83 2  574 3  2 13.83 
253
 2799
Q 2    11.06
253

(2) Second Iteration

6  48.83 2  14308 6  2  48.83  586
3  2.77 2  23 3  2  2.77  17
13090 511
5  51.172  5  2  51.17 
1241 1114
1241
Q1    1.114
1114

1  26.06 2  679 1  2  26.06  51

 2  23.92 2  1146 2  2  23.94  9
8 10
 3 1.6562  3  2 1.656 
 475 158
 CE331-13.4
475
Q 2   3.006
158

Classwork # 13
1. Estimate flow rate in 5 pipes within 2 loops, Problem 4 Homework # 2
 CE331-13.5
Homework #

5. Which choice is not the principle for loop analysis of pipe network.
fL V 2
(a)  h f 0 (b)  Qin   Qout (c)  P  0 (d) hf 
D 2g