10/1/2016

Water Flow Rates for Pipe Sizes with Excel Formulas, Using the Hazen Williams Formula

Bright Hub Engineering

Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering
Building Construction & Design
Concrete Technology
Geotechnical Engineering
Hydraulics
Structural Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Appliances & Electronics
Commercial Applications
DIY Digital/Analog
Power Distribution/Generation
Marine Engineering
Marine Engineering
Machinery & Ship Systems
Marine History
Naval Architecture
Seafaring
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
CAD Reviews & Tips
Energy / Power Plants
Fluid Mechanics / Hydraulics
HVAC / HVACR
Machine Design
Manufacturing Technology
Robotics
Thermodynamics

ExcelFormulastoCalculateWaterFlowRatesfor

Leaveacomment

DifferentPipeSizes
writtenby:HarlanBengtsoneditedby:LamarStonecypherupdated:5/26/2011
Excelformulastocalculatewaterflowratesforpipesizes(diametersandlengths)canbedownloadedasExcel
templatesinthisarticle.TheHazenWilliamsformulaisusedforwaterflowratecalculations.EitherS.I.unitsor
U.S.unitscanbeusedintheExcelspreadsheettemplates.

LimitationsontheHazenWilliamsFormulaforWaterFlowRateCalculations
TheHazenWilliamsformulaisanempiricalequationthatcanbeusedforturbulentflowofwaterattypicalambient
temperatures.Theturbulentflowrequirementisnotverylimiting.Mostpracticalapplicationsofwatertransportin
pipesareintheturbulentflowregime.Forareviewofthistopicseethearticle,'ReynoldsNumberandLaminar&
TurbulentFlow.'Strictlyspeaking,theHazenWilliamsformulaappliestowaterat60oF,butitworksquitewellfora
reasonablerangeofwatertemperaturesaboveorbelow60oF.Forfluidswithviscositydifferentfromwater,orfor
watertemperaturesfaraboveorbelow60oF,theDarcyWeisbachEquationworksbetterthantheHazenWilliams
Formula.ClickonthefollowinglinkformoredetailsabouttheDarcyWeisbachEquation.
FollowingpresentationanddiscussionofseveralformsoftheHazenWilliamsequationinthenextcoupleof
sections,adownloadableExcelspreadsheettemplatewillbepresentedanddiscussedformakingHazenWilliams
waterflowratecalculations,usingExcelformulas.

FormsoftheHazenWilliamsFormula
ThereareseveraldifferentformsoftheHazenWilliamsFormulainuseforwaterflowratecalculations.Itcanbe
writtenintermsofwatervelocityorwaterflowrate,intermsofpressuredroporheadloss,andforseveraldifferent
setsofunits.ThetraditionalformoftheHazenWilliamsformulais:
U.S.units:V=1.318CR0.633S0.54,where:
V=waterflowvelocityinft/sec
C=HazenWilliamscoefficient,dependentonthepipematerialandpipeage
R=Hydraulicradius,ft(R=crosssectionalarea/wettedperimeter)
S=slopeofenergygradeline=headloss/pipelength=hL/L,whichisdimensionless
S.I.units:V=0.85CR0.633S0.54,where:
Visinm/sandRisinmeters
TheHazenWilliamsFormulaisusedprimarilyforpressureflowinpipes,forwhichthehydraulicradiusisone
fourthofthepipediameter(R=D/4).UsingthisrelationshipandQ=V(D2/4),forflowinacircularpipe,the
HazenWilliamsformulacanberewrittenasshowninthenextsection.

WaterFlowRatesforPipeSizesoveraRangeofDiameterswiththeHazenWilliams
Formula
Forflowofwaterunderpressureinacircularpipe,theHazenWilliamsformulashownabovecanberewritteninto
thefollowingconvenientform:
inU.S.units:Q=193.7CD2.63S0.54,where:
Q=waterflowrateingal/min(gpm)
D=pipediameterinft

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/73748-excel-formulas-to-calculate-water-ow-rates-for-different-pipe-sizes/

1/5

10/1/2016

Water Flow Rates for Pipe Sizes with Excel Formulas, Using the Hazen Williams Formula

CandSarethesameasabove
inS.I.units:Q=0.278CD2.63S0.54,where
Qisinm3/sandDisinmeters
TheHazenWilliamsformulacanalsobeexpressedintermsofthepressuredifference(P)insteadofheadloss
(hL)acrossthepipelength,L,usingP=ghL:
InS.I.units,aconvenientformoftheequationis:Q=(3.763x106)CD2.63(P/L)0.54,where
Qiswaterflowrateinm3/hr,
Dispipediameterinmm
Lispipelengthinm,
Pisthepressuredifferenceacrosspipelength,L,inkN/m2
InU.S.units:Q=0.442CD2.63(P/L)0.54,where
Qiswaterflowrateingpm,
Dispipediameterininches
Lispipelengthinft,
Pisthepressuredifferenceacrosspipelength,L,inpsi
ThisisaformoftheHazenWilliamsformulathatisconvenienttouseforestimatingwaterflowratesforpipesizes
andlengthsinU.S.units,asillustratedinthesectionafternextonthesecondpage.
ThesecondpageofthisarticlehasatablewithvaluesfortheHazenWilliamscoefficient,atablewithexample
waterflowratecalculationsforseveralPVCpipelengthsanddiameters,andalinktodownloadaspreadsheet
templatewithExcelformulastomakethewaterflowratecalculations.

ValuesfortheHazenWilliamsCoefficient
InordertousetheHazenWilliamsformulaforwaterflowratecalculations,valuesoftheHazenWilliams
coefficient,C,areneededforthepipematerialbeingused.ValuesofCareavailableinmanyhandbooks,
textbooks,andoninternetsites.Cvaluestypicallyusedforsomecommonpipematerialsareshowninthetableat
theleft.
Source:ToroAgIrrigation(PDF)

ExampleCalculationofWaterFlowRatesforPipeSizesandLengths
Thetablebelowwaspreparedusingtheequation:Q=0.442CD2.63(P/L)0.54,withunitsasgivenabove,to
calculatethewaterflowratesforPVCpipewithdiametersfrom1/2inchto6inchesandlengthfrom5ftto100ft,
allforapressuredifferenceof20psiacrosstheparticularlengthofpipe.TheHazenWilliamscoefficientwastaken
tobe150perthetableintheprevioussection.
...............................................WATERFLOWRATEINGPM.............................................
........................................................PipeDiameterinInches.............................................
length,ft........0.5.......0.75........1.........1.5.........2.........2.5.........3..........4..........5............6
....5................23........66........140.......407.......868.....1560......2520....5371.....9659......15,601
...10...............16........45.........96........280.......597.....1073......1733....3694.....6643......10,730
...15...............13........36.........77........225.......479......862.......1393....2968.....5337........8620
...20...............11........31.........66........193.......410......738.......1192....2541.....4569........7380
...40................7.........21.........46........132.......282......508........820.....1747.....3142........5076
..100...............4.........13.........28.........81........172......309........500.....1065.....1916........3096
Thetableshowsapatternthatyoushouldintuitivelyexpect.Foragivenpressuredifferencedrivingtheflow,the
waterflowrateincreasesasdiameterincreasesforagivenpipelengthandthewaterflowratedecreasesaspipe
lengthincreasesforagivenpipediameter.Theequationabovecanbeusedtocalculatewaterflowratesforpipe
sizesandlengthswithdifferentpipematerialsandpressuredrivingforces,usingtheHazenWilliamsequationas
demonstratedinthetableabove.

AnExcelTemplatetoCalculateWaterFlowRatesforPipeSizesandlengths.
ThespreadsheettemplateatthelefthastheExcelformulasbuiltintocalculatewater
flowratesfordifferentpipesizesasillustratedintheprevioussection.ThisExcel
spreadsheettemplatethatcanbedownloadedbelow,allowsforinputoftheHazen
Williamscoefficientvalueandthepressuredropacrossthelengthofpipebeing
considered.Also,thepipediametersandlengthscanbechangedfromthosecurrently
inthespreadsheet,sotheflowratecanbecalculatedforanycombinationofpipe
diameterandlengthiftheHazenWilliamscoefficientisknownandthepressuredrop
acrossthepipeisknown.
TheexamplespreadsheethasU.S.units,butanS.I.versionandaU.S.versionareavailablefordownload.
ClickheretodownloadthisspreadsheettemplateinU.S.units.
ClickheretodownloadthisspreadsheettemplateinS.I.units.

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/73748-excel-formulas-to-calculate-water-ow-rates-for-different-pipe-sizes/

2/5

10/1/2016

Water Flow Rates for Pipe Sizes with Excel Formulas, Using the Hazen Williams Formula

References
ReferencesforFurtherInformation:
1.Bengtson,H.,FundamentalsofFluidFlow,AnonlinecontinuingeducationcourseforPDHcredit.
2.Munson,B.R.,Young,D.F.,&Okiishi,T.H.,FundamentalsofFluidMechanics,4thEd.,NewYork:JohnWiley
andSons,Inc,2002.
3.Liou,C.P.,"LimitationsandProperUseoftheHazenWilliamsEquation,"JournalofHydraulicEngineering,Vol.
124,No.9,Sept.1998,pp.951954.

PIPEFLOWCALCULATIONS
PipeflowcalculationsincludeusingReynoldsnumbertofindiftheflowislaminarfloworturbulentflow.Frictional
headlosscanbefoundusingtheDarcyWeisbachequationandthefrictionfactor.Theentrancelengthforfully
developedflowcanbefoundforturbulentflowandforlaminarflow.

PipeFlowCalculations1:theEntranceLengthforFullyDevelopedFlow
PipeFlowCalculations2:ReynoldsNumberandLaminar&TurbulentFlow
PipeFlowCalculations3:TheFrictionFactor&FrictionalHeadLoss
ExcelFormulastoCalculateWaterFlowRatesforDifferentPipeSizes
PipeFlow/HeadLoss/FrictionFactorCalculationswithExcelSpreadsheetTemplates

Recommended For You

The Use of Excel

Spreadsheet

Mechanical
Engineering

Fluid Mechanics &

Hydraulic

Articles Heating,
Ventilation & Air

Structural &
Transportation

www.brighthubengineering.com

www.brighthubengineering.com

www.brighthubengineering.com

www.brighthubengineering.com

www.brighthubengineering.com

AboutBHEngineering

TermsofUse

ContactUs

PrivacyPolicy

AdvertiseWithUs

CopyrightPolicy

RSS

2012BrightHubInc.AllRightsReserved

ScienceArticles

SeeAlso

ScienceTechnology

ScienceCareers

adsbymedia.net
Advertisement

adsbymedia.net
Advertisement

ScienceArticles
ScienceTechnology
ScienceCareers
Popular Pages
The Use of Excel Spreadsheet
Templates for Pipe Flow Calculations
Such as Head Loss, Pressure Drop, or
Pipe Diameter
Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic
Machines: What are They & How do
They Work?
Civil Engineering: Informational
Articles, Guides & How-To's from

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/73748-excel-formulas-to-calculate-water-ow-rates-for-different-pipe-sizes/

3/5

10/1/2016

Water Flow Rates for Pipe Sizes with Excel Formulas, Using the Hazen Williams Formula

Engineers Around the World

Mechanical Engineering Technology:
AutoCad Design, HVAC Design,
CAM CAD Software Reviews &
More at BrightHub.com
Structural & Transportation
Engineering & Design: Specialty
Within Civil Engineering

More Info

SUBSCRIBE&FOLLOW:

RELATEDTOPICS:
BuildingConstruction&Design
ConcreteTechnology
GeotechnicalEngineering
Hydraulics
StructuralEngineering

Tweets by
@BH_Engineering
BH_Engineering
@BH_Engineering
The Future of America's
Infrastructure
ow.ly/4IdW303xDc2
#infographic
24 Aug
BH_Engineering
@BH_Engineering
History of HVAC
jccomfort.com/history-of-hva
via @jccomforthvac
History of
In classical
jccomfort.com

06 Jul
BH_Engineering
@BH_Engineering
Passwords May Become
Obsolete Thanks to Google's
Embed

View on Twitter

SIGNUPFOREMAILS
Clickheretosignupforour
newsletter

Stay In Touch

Navigation
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Marine Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Search
http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/73748-excel-formulas-to-calculate-water-ow-rates-for-different-pipe-sizes/

4/5

10/1/2016

Water Flow Rates for Pipe Sizes with Excel Formulas, Using the Hazen Williams Formula

brighthubengineering.com. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy

http://www.brighthubengineering.com/hydraulics-civil-engineering/73748-excel-formulas-to-calculate-water-ow-rates-for-different-pipe-sizes/

5/5