24/10/2021 The Engineering Handbook - Pressure Loss Calculation

The Engineering Handbook

Pressure Loss Calculation

Calculating the pressure loss in a given system includes two things. Calculation of
pressure loss in straight pipes and calculating the pressure loss in pipe fittings e.g.
bends, fittings, valves etc. and equipment. The article will describe how to
calculate pressure loss in straight pipes and fittings including examples at the end.

Flow regime - Reynolds number

The flow regime in the pipe shall be known in order to calculate the pressure loss.
This is done by calculating the Reynolds number. The dimensionless Reynolds
number is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces see more on Wikipedia.

Reynolds number is for flow in pipes defined as:

wD H
Re =
ν

where

D h = Hydraulic diameter in m

w = Mean velocity in m/s

2
ν = Kinematic viscosity in m /s

The flow in pipes is normally considered laminar when the Reynolds Number (Re) is
below 2300 and turbulent above 2900.

Hydraulic diameter
The purpose of the hydraulic diameter is to make it possible to use the same
equations regardless of pipe shape. It is defined as the 4 times the cross sectional
area A divided by the perimeter P.

4A
Dh =
P

For a circular pipe the hydraulic diameter will equal the inner diameter of the pipe

π 2
4 D
4 i
Dh = = Di
πD i

Cross section shape Hydraulic Note

diameter

Circular Dh=Di The inner diameter

Square Dh=a a is the length of a side

Rectangular duct Dh=2ab/(a+b) with a being the height and b the

(Completely filled) width

Annulus Dh=Dout-Din Dout = outer diameter and

Din=Inner diameter

Table 1 - Hydraulic diameter for different pipe shapes

Pressure loss in straight pipes

Friction Coefficient - Moody Diagram
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The friction coefficient shall be determined in order to calculate the pressure loss in
the straight pipes. It is a function of surface roughness and flow type. One way to

determine it is by using The Moody Diagram. It show the Darcy-Weisbach friction

factor as function of roughness and Reynolds number and is a quick way to quickly
determine the friction factor.

Another possibility is to calculate the friction coefficient using Blasiis equation for
laminar flow or Colebrooks equation for turbulent flow. See next section.

Moody diagram

Laminar Flow Re<2300

The friction coefficient is for laminar flow i.e. Reynolds number Re<2300 defined
as:

64
fD =
Re

Smooth Pipes - Blasius Equation

Blasius equation for smooth pipes with no roughness and turbulent flow i.e. ks=0

−0.25
f D = 0.316Re

Rough Pipes - Colebrook Equation

Colebrooks equation for rough straight pipes and turbulent flow i.e. ks>0

1 2k s 18.7
= 1.74 − 0.87 ln ( + )
√f D Di Re√ f D

This equation has the disadvantage that it shall be solved numerically. See this
page on how to solve it including examples.

Typical roughness for pipes

Material Roughness ks mm

Welded steel pipe, new 0.03-0.15

Welded steel pipe, with fouling 0.15-3.0

Galvanized steel pipe, new 0.1-0.2

Galvanized steel pipe, with fouling 0.5-1.0

Concrete, coarse 0.25

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Concrete, new smooth 0.025

Drawn tubing 0.0025

Glass, Plastic Perspex 0.0025

Iron Cast 0.15

Sewers, old 3

Steel, mortar lined 0.1

Steel, rusted 0.5

Steel, structural or forged 0.025

Water mains, old 1.0

Table 2 - Pipe roughness

Pressure Loss - Darcy-Weisbach Equation

The pressure loss is with the friction coefficient determined calculated using the
Darcy-Weisbach equation:

1 L 2
Δp f p = f D ρw
2 Di

Alternative procedure for Water only - Hazen-

Williams Equation
An alternative way to determine pressure loss in straight pipes is to use the Hazen-
Williams equation. It has the advantage that the factor C is independent of the
Reynolds Number and consequently the cumbersome procedure of determining the
friction coefficient is avoided. The disadvantage is that the procedure is only valid
for water, at room temperature and at conventional flow velocities.

1.852
hf 10.67Q
S = =
1.852 4.8704
L C D
i

Where:

S = Hydraulic slope

h f = Head loss mWc

L = Pipe length
3
Q = Volumetric f low rate m /s

C = Pipe roughness coef f icient

D i = Pipe inside diameter

Pipe roughness coefficient

Material C Factor low C Factor high

Cast iron new 130 130

Cast iron 10 years 107 113

Cast iron 20 years 89 100

Cast iron 30 years 75 90

Cast iron 40 years 64 83

Cement-Mortar Lined Ductile Iron Pipe 140 140

Concrete 100 140

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Copper 130 140

Steel 90 110

Galvanized iron 120 120

Polyethylene 140 140

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 150 150

Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) 150 150

Table 3 - Pipe roughness coefficient to be used together with Hazen-Williams

Equation

Pressure loss in fittings, valves, equipment

etc.
There are several ways to calculate the pressure loss in fittings i.e. bends, valves,
size changes, etc. One way is to treat it as added equivalent length to the straight
pipe pressure loss calculation and another to calculate the pressure loss for each
fitting. The first approach will be described here.

1 2
Δp f f = ζ x ρw x
2

Where: The x denotes up- or downstream with 1 being upstream and 2

downstream of the fitting.

ζ = Resistance Coef f icient

3
ρ = Density kg/m

w x = Average velocity m/s

Fitting Parameter Resistance Note

Coefficient ζ

Bend 90° R/D=1 0.40 ζβ = ζ90°β/90°

R/D=2 0.30

R/D=4 0.28

R/D=6 0.33

Reducer gradual D1/D2=1.2 0.02 ζ refer to w2

D1=inlet diameter
D1/D2=1.4 0.04 D2=outlet
diameter
D1/D2=1.6 0.04

D1/D2=1.8 0.05

D1/D2=2.0 0.06

Reducer gradual D2/D1=1.2 0.1 ζ refer to w1

D1=inlet diameter
D2/D1=1.4 0.2 D2=outlet
diameter
D2/D1=1.6 0.5

D2/D1=1.8 1.5

D2/D1=2.0 2.5

Ball valve 0.1-0.2 Full bore

Butterfly valve 0.2 Completely open

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Gate valve 0.1-0.3 Without flow

restrictions

Gate valve 0.3-1.2 With flow

restrictions

Gate valve 0.2-2.5 High pressure

Globe valve 2-10 Straight

Globe valve 1-2 Wye type

Globe valve 3-12 Angled

Check valve (swing 0.4-1.0

type)

Screw down non-return 1-8

valve

Check valve (ball type) 0.5-2

Table 4 - Resistance coefficient for various fittings

Flow Factor kv and Flow Coefficient Cv

The Flow Factor kv and Flow Coefficient Cv are very similar. The only difference
being the units used. The flow factor uses SI-units and is used throughout the
world whereas the Flow Coefficient uses imperial units and is mainly used in the
United States.

The Flow Factor kv defines the pressure loss for water at a density of
ρ=1000kg/m3.

qv
kv =
√ Δp

2
qv
Δp = ( )
kv

q v = k v √ Δp

Where (The units are very important in this!!)

3
k v = The k v  value with the unit m /h
3
q v = The volumetric f low rate m /h

Δp = Pressure loss in bar

For liquids other than water or for water at a different temperature and
consequently different density the equation is changed to:


Δp
qv = kv
ρ
⎷ ( )
ρ water

The use of the Flow Coefficient CV (or flow-capacity rating of valve) is identical to
the procedure for the Flow Factor only the units are different.


Δp
qv = Cv
ρ
⎷ ( )
ρ water

Where (The units are very important in this!!)

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C v = The Flow Coef f icient 

q v = The volumetric f low rate in US gallons per minute

Δp = Pressure loss in psi

Conversion is possible between the Form Factor and the Flow Coefficient
and vice versa

k v = 0.865C v

kv
Cv =
0.865

Example
The pipe in this example has an inner diameter of 50mm, is 10m long, it has 10
90° bends with R/D=2 the flow rate is 15m3/h and the water in the pipe has a
temperature of 30°C.

Step 1 Determine thermodynamic properties for the fluid in the pipe. In this
example the calculator for water is used.

Symbol Property Value

ρ Density 996.7kg/m3

ν Kinematic viscosity 0.8 mm2/s=0.8×10-6m2/s

Table 5 - Thermodynamic properties used in the example

Step 2 is to calculate the Reynolds Number.

The average velocity:

q
w = = 2.1m/s
π 2
D
4 i

and the Reynolds number:

wD H 2.1m/s ⋅ 0.05m
Re = = = 132629
−6 2
ν 0.8 ⋅ 10 m /s

Step 3 is to determine the friction coefficient by either using the Moody Diagram
or by calculating it using the Colebrook equation. Steel pipe with some fouling is
used in the example and the roughness is estimated to ks=0.5mm based on table
2.

1 2k s 18.7
= 1.74 − 0.87 ln ( + )
√f D Di Re√ f D

The friction coefficient is determined to fD=0.0383 by solving the Colebrook

equation using one of the methods described here

Step 4 Calculate the pressure loss using Darcy-Weisbach Equation in the straight
pipe.

1 L 2
Δp f p = f D ρw = 17171P a = 0.172Bar
2 Di

Step 5 The next thing after having determined the pressure loss of the straight
pipe is to determine the pressure loss in fittings. The 90° bends has a radius of
100mm hence R/D=2 giving a resistance coefficient of λ=0.30 (see table 4). The
pressure loss for each bend is:
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pressure loss for each bend is:

1 2
Δp f f = ζ x ρw x = 673.2P a
2

The total pressure loss for the 10 bends is

Δp f f = 10 ⋅ 673.2P a = 6732P a = 0.067Bar

Step 6 Calculate the entire pressure loss for the pipe including the fittings in this
case only 90° bends but normally it also includes valves, reducers, equipment etc.

p loss = 0.172bar + 0.067bar = 0.239bar

© 2021 The Engineering

Handbook
Disclaimer
The contents of this website are only for general information and use hence it shall
not be relied upon when making any decisions without double checking the
information with other sources.

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