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
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.
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
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