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Hydraulic calculations of pipelines.

Calculation of pipeline
diameter. Selection of pipelines
Swiss production-engineering company ENCE GmbH was founded in 1999. It has 16 representation offices in CIS
countries, and offers equipment and components from production sites in Turkey and Republic of Korea. It is ready to
develop and deliver different pumping equipment and pipeline fittings according to your individual performance
specifications.

General description of pipelines


o

Nominal inside diameter DN (nominal diameter) of pipeline

Nominal pressure PN

Permissible operating overpressure

Piping materials

Pipe fittings (shaped elements)

Pipe connections

Linear expansion of pipes and its compensation

Thermal linear expansion

Elements of pipe expansion compensation

Pipe insulation
Pressure drop and calculation of hydraulic resistance of pipelines. Formulae and calculations

Equivalent diameter in calculations of pipelines

Calculation of optimal diameter of pipelines. Design formula

Examples of problems and solutions for calculation and selection of pipelines:


o

calculation of head losses due to local resistances in horizontal pipeline

calculation of pipeline maximal length

calculation of head loss and its ability to pump water under pipeline set-up parameters

calculation of hydraulic resistance variation on pipeline section under repair

General description of pipelines


Pipes interconnect various apparatuses of chemical plants. They are used for transfer of substances between separate
apparatuses. As a rule, several separate pipes with the help of connections make up single pipeline system.
Pipeline is a system of pipes connected by connecting elements and used for transport of chemical substances and other
materials. As a rule, buried pipelines are used at chemical plants for transport of substances. In respect to self-contained
and isolated parts of a plant, they also pertain to pipeline system or network.
Configuration of self-contained pipeline system may include:
1.

Pipes.

2.

Connecting elements of pipes.

3.

Seal packing connecting two detachable sections of pipeline.

All abovementioned elements are manufactured individually, after which they are connected as a single pipeline system.
Moreover pipelines can be equipped with heating and necessary insulation made of different materials.

Size of pipes and materials for their manufacture is selected on the basis of process and resign requirements set in each
individual case. But for standartization of pipelines sizes their classification and unification were performed. The key
criterion was permissible pressure under which pipe operation is possible.

Nominal inside diameter DN


Nominal inside diameter DN (nominal diameter) is a parameter used in pipeline systems as characterization factor with
the help of which alignment of pipeline parts, such as pipes, valves, fittings, etc, is performed.
Nominal diameter is a nondimensional quantity, but numerically it approximately equals to pipe inside diameter. Example
of nominal inside diameter designation: DN 125.

Figure 1.1 Nominal inside diameter


Also nominal inside diameter is not denoted in drawings and does not substitute real diameters of pipes. It approximately
corresponds to the clear diameter for certain pipeline sections (Figure 1.1.). If numerical values of nominal inside
diameters are implied, they are selected so as to increase pipeline transmission capacity in the range from 60 to 100%
when passing from one nominal inside diameter to the next one.

Generally accepted nominal diameters:


3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 65, 80,
100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1,000,
1,200, 1,400, 1,600, 1,800, 2,000, 2,200, 2,600, 2,800, 3,000, 3,200, 3,400, 3,600, 3,800, 4,000.
Sizes of these nominal inside diameters are set with a view to avoid any problems with mutual alignment of parts. When
determining nominal diameter on the basis of pipeline inside diameter value, the value of nominal inside diameter, which
is the nearest to the pipe clear diameter, is selected.

Nominal pressure PN
Nominal pressure PN is a quantity corresponding to maximal pressure of pumped medium at 20 C, making possible longterm operation of pipeline having specified dimensions.
Nominal pressure is a nondimensional quantity.
Like a nominal diameter, a nominal pressure was calibrated on the basis of accumulated operation experience (Table 1.1).
Table 1.1. Standard nominal pressures (DIN 2401)
1

10

100

1,000

1.6

16

160

16,000

2.5

25

250

2,500

40

400

4,000

63

630

6300

Nominal pressure for a particular pipeline is selected on the basis of pressure practically created in it, by selecting nearest
larger value. Moreover, fittings and valves in this pipeline should also correspond to the same level of pressure. Thickness

of pipe walls is calculated on the basis of nominal pressure, and provide pipe operation ability with pressure value equal
to nominal (Table 1.1).

Permissible operating overpressure pe,zul


Nominal pressure is used only for operation temperature 20C. With rise of temperature pipe load capability drops. At the
same time permissible overpressure reduces correspondingly. Value p e,zul shows maximal overpressure that can be in the
pipeline system upon rise of operation temperature value (Figure 1.2).

Figure 1.2 Plot of permissible overpressures

Piping materials
During selection of materials to be used for pipelines manufacture characteristics, such as parameters of medium to be
transported through the pipeline, and tentative operation pressure in this system are taken into account. Possibility of
corrosive action of the pumped medium on material of pipe walls should also be taken into account.
Practically all pipeline systems and chemical plants are made of steel. Gray cast iron or unalloyed constructional steels are
used to manufacture pipelines in case of absence of high mechanical loads and corrosive action.

In the case of higher operation pressure and absence of loads with corrosion active action, a pipeline made of improved
steel or steel castings is used.
If medium corrosion action is great or strict requirements are set for product pureness, the pipeline is made of stainless
steel.
If pipeline should resist sea water influence, copper-nickel alloys are used for its manufacture. Also aluminum alloys and
metals, such as tantalum or zirconium, can be used.
Different types of plastic are often used as piping materials, which is stipulated by its high resistance to corrosion, light
weight and easiness of processing. Such material is suitable for sewage water pipelines.

Pipeline shaped elements


Pipelines made of plastic are suitable for welding and are assembled at the erection site. Such materials include steel,
aluminum, thermoplastic, copper, etc. For connection of straight sections of pipes specially manufactured shaped
elements, for example, elbows, branches, gates and diameter reducers (Figure 1.3) are used. Such fittings can be part of
any pipeline.

Figure 1.3 Pipeline shaped elements

Pipe connections
Special connections are used to mount individual parts and fittings. They are also used for connection of necessary valves
and apparatuses to the pipeline.
Connections are selected (Figure 1.4) depending on:
1.

materials used for manufacture of pipes and fittings. The main selection criterion is welding ability.

2.

operation conditions: low or high pressure and low or high temperature.

3.

production requirements set for the pipeline system.

4.

availability of fixed or detachable connections in the pipeline system.

Figure 1.4 Types of pipe connections

Linear expansion of pipes and its compensation


Geometrical shape of objects can be changed both by force action and with variation of their temperature. These physical
phenomena result in pipeline, which is mounted in the unstressed conditions and free of temperature action, is subjected
to some linear expansion or contraction negatively affecting its functional performance, while in service due to pressure
and temperature exposure.
In case when expansion is not necessary to compensate, pipeline system deformation takes place. In this case flanged
packing and pipes interconnections can be damaged.

Thermal linear expansion

During pipelines mounting potential change of length due to temperature rise or the so called thermal linear expansion,
denoted as L, should be taken into account. This quantity depends on the pipe length denoted as L o and temperature
differential =2-1 (figure 1.5).

Figure 1.5 Linear thermal expansion of pipe


In the abovementioned formula a is a coefficient of the thermal linear expansion of this material. This quantity equals to
the value of linear expansion of 1 m long pipe upon temperature rise by 1C.

Elements of pipes expansion compensation


Pipe branches
Thanks to special branches, which are welded in the pipeline, it is possible to compensate natural linear expansion of
pipes. For this compensating U-shaped, Z-shaped, and angular branches, as well as harp compensators are used (figure
1.6).

Figure 1.6 Compensating pipe branches


They take up pipes linear expansion by means of their own deformation. But such method is possible only with some
limitations. Expansion is compensated by different angled elbows in high-pressure pipelines. Due to pressure in such
branches corrosion can be enhanced.

Wavy pipe compensators


This device consists of thin-walled metal corrugated pipe which is called bellows and stretches towards pipeline (Figure
1.7).
Such devices are built in the pipeline. Preload is used as a special expansion compensator.

Figure 1.7. Wavy pipe compensator


What concerns axial compensators, they only can compensate the linear expansions that occur along pipe axis. In order
to avoid lateral displacement and internal staining the inside guide ring is used. In order to protect pipeline against
external damage, as a rule, special lining is used. Compensators, which are not equipped with inside guide ring, absorb
lateral shifts and vibration which can be originated from the pumps.

Pipe insulation
In case when high-temperature medium is transported through the pipeline, it should be insulated in order to avoid losses
of heat. If low-temperature medium is transported through the pipeline, the insulation is used to prevent its heating by
outside environment. In such cases insulation is arranged using special insulation materials wrapped around pipes.
As a rule, the following materials are used:
1.

Under low temperatures up to 100C rigid foam plastic, like polystyrene or polyurethane.

2.

Under medium temperatures around 600C shaped shells or mineral fiber, like rock wool or glass felt.

3.

Under high temperatures approx 1200C ceramic fiber, for example, aluminum silicate.

Pipes with nominal inside diameter below DN 80, and thickness of insulation layer less than 50 mm are insulated, as a
rule, by means of insulating shaped elements. To this end two shells are wrapped around the pipe and fastened with
metal band, and then are closed with tin-plate housing (figure 1.8).

Figure 1.8 Thermal insulation by means of shaped elements


Pipelines with nominal inside diameter over DN 80 should be fitted with thermal insulation having bottom shell (Figure
1.9). Such shell comprises clamp rings, braces and metal lining made of galvanized soft steel or stainless sheet steel.
Space between pipeline and metal housing is filled with insulation material.

Figure 1.9 Thermal insulation with bottom shell


Thickness of insulation is calculated be determination of production costs and losses, which are incurred due to waste of
heat, and is from 50 to 250 mm.
Thermal insulation should be applied throughout the length of pipeline system, including zones of branches and elbows. It
is very important to control so as unprotected parts, which can cause heat losses, do not appear. Flange connections and
valves should be provided with shaped insulation elements (Figure 1.10). It provides unobstructed access to the
connections points without the need to remove insulation material from the whole pipeline system in case if break of airtightness is occurred.

Figure 1.10 Thermal insulation of flange connection


Correct selection of pipeline system insulation solves numerous problems, such as:
1.

Avoidance of dramatic drop of leaking medium temperature and, as a consequence, energy saving.

2.
Prevention of temperature drop in gas transmission systems below dew point, thus excluding condensate formation
which may result in major corrosion destructions.
3.

Avoidance of condensate emission in steam pipelines.

Pressure drop in pipeline systems and calculations of pipeline hydraulic


resistance
Calculations of pipeline are carried out in order to determine the head necessary for overcoming hydraulic resistance
which, in its turn, is necessary for correct selection of machines for liquid or gaseous media pumping.

Figure 1.11 Factors determining pipeline pressure drop


In the general case drop of pipe pressure can be calculated by the following formula:

p=(l/d1)(/2)v
p pressure drop on a pipe section, Pa
l length of pipe section, m
- friction coefficient
d1 pipe diameter, m
density of pumped medium, kg/m3
v flow rate, m/s
Hydraulic resistance may occur due to different factors, and two major groups are distinguished: friction resistances and
local resistances.
Friction resistance is caused by all sorts of unevenness and roughness on pipeline surface being in contact with the
pumped medium. Friction, having braking effect and requiring additional energy consumption for its overcoming, occurs
during fluid flow between it and pipeline walls. Created resistance to a great extent depends on the mode of pumped
medium flow.

With laminar flow and small values of Reynolds number (Re) corresponding to it, characterized by uniformity and absence
of mixing between fluid or gas adjacent layers, influence of roughness is minor. It is explained by the fact that extreme
viscous underlayer is often thicker than the layer formed by unevenness and bulges on the pipeline surface. Under such
conditions the pipeline is regarded as hydraulically smooth.
With the increase of Reynolds number thickness of viscous underlayer reduces, and interrupts overlap of irregularities by
underlayer, and influence of roughness on hydraulic resistance increases and becomes dependent on both Reynolds
number and average height of bulges on the pipeline surface.
Further increase of Reynolds number converts the pumped medium into turbulent flow mode, in which viscous underlayer
is completely destroyed and created friction depends only on the degree of roughness.
Calculation of friction loss is made by formula:

H=[(l)/d][w2/(2g)]
H head losses due to friction resistance, m
[w2/(2g)] velocity head, m
friction coefficient
l pipeline length, m
d pipeline equivalent diameter, m
w flow rate, m/s
g gravity acceleration, m/s2

In table:

Flow range

Range of Reynolds number

Formula of friction coefficient

Smooth flow

2,320<Re<10/e

=(0,316/Re0,25)

Mixed flow

10/e<Re<560/e

=0,11[e+(68/Re)]0,25

Turbulent flow

Re>560/e

=0,11e0,25

e pipe relative roughness


pipe absolute roughness (mm)
d pipe equivalent diameter (mm)
Re Reynolds number
w flow rate (m/s)
d pipe equivalent diameter (mm)
medium density (kg/m3)
dynamic viscosity (Pas)

Equivalent diameter in calculations of pipelines


Equivalent diameter is used in calculations of non-cylindrically shaped pipelines (oval, rectangular), and corresponds to
the diameter of the round pipeline which creates friction losses similar to that of non-cylindrically shaped pipeline with the
similar length. There are various formulae for calculation of pipelines having different geometrical shapes, but in the
general case the following formula is used:

d = 4F/P
d pipeline equivalent diameter, m
F pipeline cross-sectional area, m2
inside perimeter of pipeline cross-sectional area, m
For cylindrically shaped pipelines equivalent and inside diameters will evidently coincide. In the case of open conduits the
formula for equivalent diameter calculation is another:

d = 4F/P
d conduit equivalent diameter, m
F cross-sectional area of fluid flow, m
c wetted perimeter, m

Wetted perimeter is a length of line of flow contact with conduit or pipe walls that restrain this flow.

Figure 1.12 Shape of wetted perimeter for different types of conduits


Local resistances are created by different pipeline elements in which flow of the pumped medium is subjected to sudden
deformations with change of direction, velocity or vortex effects. These can be gates, valves, pipeline turns, junctions,
etc.
Head losses in local resistance are calculated in the following way:

H=[w2/(2g)]
H losses of head in local resistance, m
w2/(2g) velocity head, m
local resistance coefficient
w flow rate, m/s
g gravity acceleration, m/s2

As can be seen from the formula, head losses in local resistance depend not only on the rate and local resistance
coefficient, values of which are summarized in the table for different types of local resistances to simplify calculations.
In the majority of cases local resistance coefficients do not depend on the flow rate of the pumped fluid and are
determined depending on characteristics of the local resistance. Values of resistance coefficients for most wide-spread
cases are given below:
Initial and end pipe sections
Pipe inlet
Sharp edges

Rounded edges

0.5

0.2

Pipe outlet
1

Pipe gradual branch


Resistance coefficient is obtained by multiplying two quantities K1 and 2
1 depends on the angle of flow change
Angle
1

20

30

0.31 0.45

45

60

90

110

130

150

180

0.60

0.78

1.00

1.13

1.20

1.28

1.40

2 depends on turn radius R and pipe inside diameter d


R/d

15

30

50

K2

0.21

0.15

0.11

0.09

0.06

0.04

0.03

Elbow (angle 90)


Pipe diameter, mm

12,5

25

37

50

Over 50

Local resist.
coefficient

2.2

1.6

1.1

1.1

Normal valve (full opening)


Pipe diameter, mm

13

20

40

80

100

150

200

250

350

Local resist.
coefficient

10.8

8.0

4.9

4.0

4.1

4.4

4.7

5.1

5.5

Straight-through valve (full opening)


At Re > 3105

Pipe diameter, mm

25

38

50

65

76

100

150

200

250

Local resist.
coefficient

1.04

0.85

0.79

0.65

0.6

0.5

0.42

0.36

0.3

At Re < 3105
(relevant local resistance coefficient is multiplied by coefficient k the value of which depends on
the Reynolds number)
Re

5,000

10,000

20,000

50,000

100,000

200,000

1.4

1.07

0.94

0.88

0.91

0.93

Pipeline sudden expansion


Re

F 1/F2
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

10

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

3.1

100

1.7

1.4

1.2

1.1

0.9

0.8

1,000

2.0

1.6

1.3

1.05

0.9

0.6

3,000

1.0

0.7

0.6

0.4

0.3

0.2

3,500 and over

0.81

0.64

0.5

0.36

0.25

0.16

In the table:
F1 the smallest of pipeline cross-sections
F2 the largest of pipeline cross-sections
Re Reynolds number
Pipeline abrupt contraction
Re

F1/F2
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

10

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

100

1.3

1.2

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8

1,000

0.64

0.5

0.44

0.35

0.3

0.24

10,000

0.5

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

100,000 and over

0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

In the table:
F1 the smallest of pipeline cross-sections
F2 the largest of pipeline cross-sections
Re Reynolds number
By summing up all the above given equations we obtain general equation for calculation of the pump head:

H = H+H = (l)/d[w2/(2g)]+[w2/(2g)] = ((l)/d+)[w2/(2g)]


sum of all coefficients of local resistances

Calculation of pipeline optimal diameter


Calculation of pipeline optimal diameter is a complicated problem, which requires technical and economic assessments
and consideration of numerous particular factors. This is attributed to close interrelation between parameters of pipeline
under design and characteristics of flow of medium pumped through it. Increase of the pumped medium velocity makes it
possible to reduce pipeline diameter required to maintain set flow rate, thus reducing consumption of materials and
making system erection cheaper and easier. At the same time, velocity increase inevitably involves losses of head, which
requires additional energy consumption for medium pumping. Excessive reduction of velocity also can result in unwanted
aftermath.
Formula for calculation of the pipeline optimal diameter is based on the flow rate formula (for circular pipe):

Q = (d/4)w
Q flow rate of pumped fluid, m3/s
d pipeline diameter, m
w flow velocity, m/s

The flow rate is most often a set quantity in problems on pipeline design. In such case the unknown quantities are only a
pipeline diameter and flow velocity. Comprehensive technical and economic calculation may be very labor-intensive and
complicated, so optimal values of pumped medium velocity, taken from reference materials, drawn up on the basis of
experimental findings, are used in practice:
Pumped medium

Pipeline optimal velocity, m/s

Gravity flow:

FLUIDS

GASES

Viscous fluids

0.1 0.5

Low-viscosity fluids

0.5 1

Pumping:
Suction pipeline

0.8 2

Delivery pipeline

1.5 3

Natural draught

24

Low pressure (fans)

4 15

High pressure (compressor)

15 25

Overheated

30 50

Saturated vapors under pressure of:


VAPORS

Over 105 Pa

15 25

(1-0.5)105 Pa

20 40

(0.5-0.2)105 Pa

40 60

(0.2-0.05)105 Pa

60 75

Final calculation formula for pipeline optimal diameter is the following:

d = (4Q/w)

Q flow rate of pumped fluid, m3/s


d pipeline diameter, m
w flow velocity, m/s

Examples of problems and solutions for calculation and selection of


pipelines:
Example No. 1
What are the head losses for local resistances in horizontal pipeline having diameter of 20 x 4 mm, through which water
is pumped from open reservoir to reactor with pressure of 1.8 bar? Distance between reservoir and reactor is 30 m.
Water flow rate is 90 m3/h. Total head equals to 25 m. Friction coefficient is taken equal to 0.028.

Solution:
Water flow velocity in pipeline equals to:

w=(4Q) / (d2) = ((490) / (3,14[0,012]2))(1/3600) = 1,6 m/s


We find head friction losses in the pipeline:

H = (l) / (d[w2/(2g)]) = (0,02830) / (0,012[1,6]2) / ((29,81)) = 9,13 m

Total losses are:

h = H - [(p2-p1)/(g)] - H = 25 - [(1,8-1)105)/(10009,81)] - 0 = 16,85 m


Losses on local resistance fall within:

16,85-9,13=7,72 m

Example No. 2
Water is pumped by centrifugal pump across horizontal pipeline at velocity of 1.5 m/s. Total created head equals to 7 m.
What is the pipeline maximal length, if water is taken from open reservoir, pumped across horizontal pipeline with one
gate valve and two 90 elbows and flows out from pipe to another reservoir? Pipeline diameter equals to 100 mm.
Relative roughness is taken equal to 410-5.

Solution:
For pipe with diameter of 100 mm coefficients of local resistances will equal to:

For 90 elbow 1.1; gate valve 4.1; pipe outlet 1.


Then we determine value of velocity head:

w2 / (2g) = 1,52 / (29,81) = 0,125 m


Head losses for local resistances will equal to:

[w2/(2g)] = (21,1+4,1+1) 0,125 = 0,9125 m


We find total head losses for friction resistance and local resistances from the formula of the pump total head
(geometrical lift head under these conditions equals to 0):

h = H - (p2-p1)/(g) - H = 7 - ((1-1)105)/(10009,81) - 0 = 7 m
Then friction head losses will amount to:

7-0,9125 = 6,0875 m
We calculate value of the Reynolds number for the flow in the pipeline (water dynamic viscosity is taken as 110 -3 Pas,
and density 1,000 kg/m3):

Re = (wd)/ = (1,50,11000)/(110-3) = 150000


In accordance with this number using the table we calculate a friction coefficient (the arithmetic formula is selected on
the principle that value Re falls within the range of 2,320<Re<10/e, corresponding to laminar flow):

= 0,316/Re0,25 = 0,316/1500000,25 = 0,016


We express and find a maximal pipeline length from the formula of head friction losses:

l = (Hd) / ([w2/(2g)]) = (6,08750,1) / (0,0160,125) = 304,375 m

Example No. 3
The pipeline with the inside diameter of 42 mm is given. It is connected to the water pump with flow rate of 10 m 3/h and
creating head of 12 m. Temperature of the pumped medium is 20 C. Pipeline configuration is given in the figure below. It
is necessary to calculate the head losses and check whether this pump is capable of pumping water at pipeline set
parameters. Absolute roughness of pipes is taken as equal to 0.15 mm.

Solution:
We calculate the velocity of the fluid flow in the pipeline:

w = (4Q) / (d2) = (410) / (3,140,0422)1/3600 = 2 m/s


Velocity head corresponding to the found velocity will equal to:

w2/(2g) = 22/(29,81) = 0,204 m


Friction coefficient should be found before the calculation of friction losses in pipes. In the first place we determine pipe
relative roughness:

e = /d = 0,15/42 = 3,5710-3 mm
Reynolds criterion for water flow in the pipeline (water dynamic viscosity at 20 C is 110 -3 Pas, and density is 998
kg/m3):

Re = (wd) / = (20,042998) / (110-3) = 83832


We find out the water flow mode:

10/e = 10/0,00357 = 2667


560/e = 560/0,00357 = 156863
The found value of Reynolds criterion falls within the range of 2667<83,832<156,863 (10/e < Re < 560/e), hence,
friction coefficient should be calculated by the following formula:

=0,11(e+68/Re)0,25 = 0,11(0,00375+68/83832)0,25 = 0,0283


Head friction losses in the pipeline will equal to:

H = (l)/d [w2/(2g)] = (0,0283(15+6+2+1+6+5))/0,042 0,204 = 4,8 m


Then it is necessary to calculate head losses for local resistances. It is followed from the pipeline diagram that local
resistances are represented by two gate valves, four rectangular elbows and one pipe outlet.
Tables do not contain values of coefficient of local resistances for normal gate valves and rectangular elbows with pipe
diameter of 42 mm, so we will use one of the methods of approximate calculation of values we are interested in.
We take table values of coefficients of local resistances of normal gate valve for diameters of 40 and 80 mm. We assume
that plot of values of coefficients represents straight line in this range. We set up and solve system of equations in order
to find a plot of dependence of the local resistance coefficient on the pipe diameter:

4,9 = a40+b
4 = a80+b

a = -0,0225
b = 5,8

Sought equation has the view:

= -0,0225d+5,8
With diameter of 42 mm local resistance coefficient will equal to:

= -0,022542+5,8 = 4,855
Similarly we find the value of local resistance coefficient for rectangular elbow. We take table values for diameters of 37
and 50 mm and solve system of equations, making similar assumption on the nature of plot at this section:

1,6=a37+b
1,1=a50+b

a = -0,039
b = 3,03

Sought equation has the view:

= -0,039d+3,03
With diameter of 42 mm local resistance coefficient will equal to:

= -0,03942+3,03 = 1,392
For pipe outlet local resistance coefficient is taken as equal to one.
Head losses for local resistances will equal to:

[w2/(2g)] = (24,855+41,394+1) 0,204 = 3,3 m


Total head losses in the system will equal to:

4,8+3,3 = 8,1 m
According to the data obtained we conclude that this pump is suitable for water pumping through this pipeline, as the
head, it creates, is larger than total head losses in the system, and fluid flow velocity stay within the optimum margin.

Example No. 4
Section of straight horizontal pipeline with inside diameter of 300 mm was subjected to repair by way of replacing 10 m
long pipe section with the inside diameter of 215 mm. The total length of pipeline section under repair is 50 m. Section to
be replaced is 18 m away from the beginning. Water flows at 20C at velocity 1.5 m/s though the pipeline. I is necessary
to find out how hydraulic resistance of the pipeline section under repair will change. Friction coefficients for pipes with
diameter of 300 and 215 mm are taken equal to 0.01 and 0.012 correspondingly.

Solution:
Initial pipeline created head loss only for fluid friction with walls during pumping. Replacement of the pipe section resulted
in occurrence of two local resistances (abrupt contraction and abrupt expansion of passage conduit), and section with

changed pipe diameter, where friction losses will be different. The remaining pipeline section was not changed and,
consequently, can not be considered as part of this problem.
We calculate the pipeline water flow rate:

Q = (d) / 4w = (3,140,3) / 41,5 = 0,106 m/s


As the flow rate does not change throughout pipeline length, we can determine the flow velocity on the pipe section
subjected to repair:

w = (4Q) / (d) = (40,106) / (3,140,215) = 2,92 m/s


The obtained value of the flow velocity in the pipe replaced section stay within the optimal range.
In order to determine the local resistance coefficient firstly we calculate Reynolds criterion for different diameters of pipes
and ratio of cross-sectional areas of these pipes. Reynolds criterion for pipe with diameter of 300 mm (water dynamic
viscosity at 20 C is 110-3 Pas, and density 998 kg/m3):

e = (wd) / = (1,50,31000) / (110-3) = 450000


Reynolds criterion for pipe with diameter of 215 mm (water dynamic viscosity at 20 C is 110 -3 Pas, and density 998
kg/m3):

Re = (wd) / = (1,50,2151000) / (110-3) = 322500


Ratio of pipe cross-sectional areas equals to:

((d1)/4) / ((d2)/4) = 0,215 / 0,3 =5,1


Using the tables we will find values of coefficients of local resistances, rounded the ratio of areas to 5. For sudden
expansion it will equal to 0.25, and for sudden contraction will also equal to 0.25.

Head losses for local resistances will equal to:

[w/(2g)] = 0,25[1,5/(29,81)] + 0,25[2,92/(29,81)] = 0,137 m


Now we calculate friction losses in replaced pipeline section for initial and new pipe sections. For pipe with diameter of
300 mm they will equal to:

H = (l)/d [w/(2g)] = (0,0110)/0,3 [1,5/(29,81)] = 0,038 m


For pipe with diameter of 215 mm:

H = (l)/d [w/(2g)] = (0,01210)/0,215 2,92/(29,81) = 0,243 m


Therefrom we conclude that friction losses in the pipeline will increase by:

0,243-0,038 = 0,205 m
Total increase of friction losses in the pipeline will equal to:

0,205+0,137 = 0,342 m

Engineers are always ready to render consulting services or furnish additional technical information on the pumping
equipment and pipeline fittings we offer.

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