Fluid Flow in Pipes

Prepared by: Engr. Mark

Definitions
Laminar Flow
Reynolds Number Less than
2,000

Turbulent Flow
Reynolds Number more than
2,000

Critical Velocity
Reynolds Number equal to 2,000
 Reynolds Number
The ratio of inertia force to viscous force. 64 For laminar
𝑓 =
𝑅𝑒 flow only
𝑣 𝐷ρ 𝑣𝐷
𝑅𝑒= =
μ ν

μ
Where
√𝑓
1
=−2 log
ϵ
+
(
3.7 𝐷 𝑁 𝑅 √ 𝑓 flow only )
2.51 For Turbulent

ν= (kinematic viscosity )
ρ
 HEAD LOSSES Hazen- Williams formula:
Major Loss (due to friction) 0.63 0. 54
𝑣 =0.849 𝐶 𝑅 𝑆 All sections
Darcy- Weisbach formula: 2.63 0.54
𝑄=0.2785 𝐶 𝐷 𝑆
2
𝑓𝐿 𝑣 All sections
𝑓 = 10. 64 𝐿 𝑄
1.85
Circular Pipes
𝐷 2𝑔 h𝑓= 1.85 4.87 Only
𝐶 𝐷
2
𝑄 𝐻𝐿
h 𝑓 =0.0826 𝑓𝐿 5
Circular Pipes
𝑆 = slope of the egl =
𝐷 Only 𝐿

Manning formula: For non-circular pipe:

2
𝑣 2
𝐴
h 𝑓 =6.35 𝑛 𝐿 All sections
𝐷
4/3
𝐷 = 4𝑅
𝑅= 𝑃

2 𝑃 = wetted perimeter
𝑄 Circular Pipes
2
h 𝑓 =10.29 𝑛 𝐿 16/ 3 Only
𝐷
HEAD LOSSES
Minor Loss

A) Sudden Enlargement D) Bends and Standard Fittings

2
( 𝑣 1 − 𝑣 2)
2
𝑣
h 𝐿= h 𝐿 =𝑘
2𝑔 2𝑔

B) Gradual Enlargement General Formula for Minor Loss

2
𝐾 (𝑣 1 − 𝑣 2) 𝑣
2
h 𝐿= h 𝑚=𝑘 𝑚
2𝑔 2𝑔
C) Sudden Contraction
2
𝑣
h 𝐿= 𝐾 𝑐
2𝑔
Problem no. 1
A 40 mm diameter pipe has a length of 120 m. oil flows at a velocity of 2 m/s. The kinematic viscosity of oil is 5.2
x 10-5 m2/s.

a) Compute the viscosity of oil in stokes.

b) Compute the Reynolds number.
c) Compute the head loss of the pipe in meters.

Ans:
a) 0.52 stokes
b) 1538.5
c) 25.44 m
Problem no. 2
Calculate the head loss in a 250 mm diameter pipe, 500 m long when water flows at 115 liters per second using:

a) Darcy-Weisbach formula, f = 0.02

b) Manning formula, n = 0.012
c) Hazen- William formula, C = 100
Problem no. 3
What commercial size of new cast iron pipe shall be used to carry 4,490 gpm with lost of head of 10.56 feet per
mile? Assume f = 0.019.

Ans:
D = 576 mm
Problem no. 4
Find the approximate flow rate at which water will flow in a conduit shaped in the form of an equilateral
triangle if the head lost is 5 m per kilometer length. The cross-sectional area of the duct is 0.075 m 2. Assume f =
0.0155.

Ans:
Q = 92.4 lit/sec
Problem no. 5
A pump draws 20 lit/sec of water from reservoir A to reservoir B as shown. Assume f = 0.02 for all pipes,
compute the horsepower delivered by the pump and the pressures at point 1 and 2.

Ans:
P = 16.17 Hp
Problem no. 6
From a reservoir whose surface is at elevation 225 m, water is pumped through 1200 m. of 300 mm pipe across a
valley to a second reservoir whose level is at elevation 240 m. if during pumping, the pressure is 550 kPa at a
point on the pipe, midway its length and at elevation 195 m. Use friction factor f = 0.02. Compute the following:
a) Rate of discharge in L/sec.
b) Head added by the pump
c) Input hp of the pump if it has an efficiency of 82%.

Ans:
a) Q = 166.8 L/s
b) HA = 37.71 m
c) HP = 100.93 hp
Pipe connected in series

𝑄1 =𝑄2 =𝑄3 =𝑄

𝐻𝐿=h 𝑓 1 + h𝑓 2 + h𝑓 3
Pipe connected in parallel

𝑄 𝐴 =𝑄 1 + 𝑄2 + 𝑄 3

𝐻𝐿=h 𝑓 1 =h 𝑓 2 =h𝑓 3
Problem no. 7
Three concrete pipes are connected in series as shown. If the flow in the pipe is 0.10 m 3/s.

a) Determine the total head loss of the pipe.

b) Determine the length of a 200 mm diameter equivalent pipe.
c) Determine the diameter of a 1260 m. long equivalent pipe with f = 0.0255.

Ans:
a) HL = 114.96 m
b) L = 1795.77 m
c) D = 187 mm
Problem no. 8
The total head loss from A to D in the looping pipe system below is 9 m. Assuming C = 120 in all pipes,
determine the following if 50 Liters per second of water at A:

a) Head loss in pipe 2.

b) Amount of flow in pipe 2.
c) Diameter of pipe 3.

C
A B D

Ans:
a) HL2 = 1.9 m
b) Q = 0.018 m3/s
c) D3 = 0.181 m
Problem no. 9
Water is flowing at the rate of 300 L/s from A to E as shown in the figure. Compute the flow in each pipe in
lit/sec and the total head loss. Assume f = 0.025 for all pipes.

1 3 5 6

Ans:
Q1 = 0.3 m3/s Q4 = 0.0576 m3/s
Q2 = 0.1418 m3/s Q5 = 0.1582 m3/s
Q3 = 0.1006 m3/s Q6 = 0.3 m3/s
Problem no. 10
The total head lost from point A to E in the figure shown is 15 m. Find the discharge in each pipe. Assume f =
0.02 for all pipes.

Ans:
Q1 = 0.678 m3/s. Q2 = 0.411 m3/s. Q3 = 0.267 m3/s. Q4 = 0.267 m3/s. Q5 = 0.678 m3/s.
 Three-Reservoir
Type 1 Type 2
Discharge/flow rate is given in one of the pipe, and the All pipe specs/properties are given; and the
required/unknown are the pipe properties, and the required/unknown are all the flow rate/discharge on
elevation of the water surface @ the reservoir. each pipes.

Assume hf1 = Elev12, then calculate Q1 and Q3.

Determine the head loss hf of the reservoirs then
compare it to the elevation. Determine whether the case
is case 1 or case 2.
If Q1>Q3, use Case 1. Otherwise; if Q1<Q3 use case 2.
Three-Reservoir
Three-Reservoir Procedure
Does one of the discharge of the pipe given or does the
elevation of the junction given?

Yes No

Type 1 Assume hf2 = 0; hence, hf1

= Elev12 and hf3 = Elev23.

Determine the hf of the

pipe with the given Determine Q1 and Q3.
discharge.
Q1<Q3?
Q1>Q3?

Use Case 1. Use Case 2.

Determine whether to use case 1
or case 2.
Problem no. 11
From the Given figure, the rate of flow from reservoir A is 0.2 m 3/s.

a) Compute the head loss in pipe B.

b) Compute the discharge in pipe C.
c) Compute the diameter of pipe C.

Ans:
a) HLB = 42.739 m
b) QC = 0.093m3/s
c) DC = 0.183 m
Problem no. 12
The elevation of reservoirs 1,2, and 3 are 30 m, 18 m, and 0 respectively. Pipes 1, 2, and 3 are 900 m of 60 cm,
300 m of 45 cm, and 1,200 of 40 cm. f = 0.02.

a) Compute the flow rate in pipe 1.

b) Compute the flow rate in pipe 2.
c) Compute the flow rate in pipe 3.

Ans:
a) Q1 = 0.678 m3/s
b) Q2 = 0.346 m3/s
c) Q3 = 0.332 m3/s
Problem no. 13
Three reservoirs A, B, and C are connected respectively with pipes,1, 2, and 3 joining at a common junction P
whose elevation is 366 m. Reservoir A is at elevation 933 m and reservoir B is at elevation 844 m. The properties
of each pipe are as follows:
Pipe 1 Pipe 2 Pipe 3
L1 = 1500 m L2 = 1000 m L1 = 900 m
D1 = 600 mm D2 = 450 mm D1 = 500 mm
f1 = 0.02 f2 = 0.025 f1 = 0.018

A pressure gage at junction P reads 4950 kPa. What is the flow in pipe 3 in m 3/s and the elevation of reservoir C.

Ans:
Q3 = 0.911 m3/s
Elev C = 835.06 m