EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

Chapter 8: FLOW IN PIPES

Lesson 34 - Introduction to Pipe Flow
Flow through pipes or ducts is commonly used in heating/cooling applications and distribution networks
Fluid is usually forced to flow by a fan or pump.
Friction is important in internal flows and dictates p , hL , and W pump .

A typical piping system involves pipes of different diameters connected to each other by various fittings or
elbows to route the fluid, valves to control the flow rate, and pumps to pressurize the fluid.
Theoretical solutions to fluid flow through piping systems are only possible for a few simple cases, such as
fully-developed laminar flow in a pipe. we therefore rely heavily on experimental results
Notes on analysis of pipe flows:
1) Due to no-slip condition for flow in a stationary pipe, the fluid velocity
rises from 0 @ the wall to a maximum on the centerline. We use Vavg
R R
2
m = rVavg A = r u ( r ) dA = 2r u ( r )rdr Vavg = 2 u ( r )rdr
A 0
R 0

2) m =
= Vavg A const along a pipe. Friction causes a slight T rise, but this

is usually negligible at low velocities. Hence, if A is const, so is Vavg .

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

Laminar vs. turbulent flows

Laminar flow:
characterized by smooth streamlines
and highly ordered motion
transitions to
Turbulent flow:
characterized by velocity fluctuations
and highly disordered motion
Reynolds observed that a dye streak
forms a straight and smooth line
when the flow is laminar, has bursts
of fluctuations in the transitional
regime, and zigzags rapidly and
randomly when the flow becomes
fully turbulent.

Reynolds discovered via dimensional analysis and a series of experiments that transition to turbulence
inertia force rVavg D Vavg D
=
primarily depends on the ratio of inertial to viscous forces Re = =
viscous force n

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

At large Re , the inertial forces V 2 D 2 are large relative to the viscous forces VD
o viscous forces cannot prevent the random and rapid fluctuations of the fluid turbulent
At small or moderate Re , the viscous forces are large enough to suppress these fluctuations laminar
Recr is the critical Reynolds number at which the flow becomes turbulent.
o Recr is different for different geometries and flow conditions.
Recr 2200 for internal flow in a pipe (value varies due to surface roughness, vibration, flow
fluctuations, etc.)
4A
For flow through noncircular pipes, Re is based on the hydraulic diameter Dh = , where
p
A is the cross sectional area and p is the wetted perimeter seen by the flow

4 A 4p D 2 4
circular pipe Dh = = = D reduces to D !
p pD
4 A 4a 2
square duct w/ side a D
=h = =a
p 4a
4A 4ab 2ab
rectangular duct w/ width b and height a Dh = = =
p 2(a + b) a + b

if b a (2-D slot), then Dh 2a

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

Entrance Region

No-slip condition fluid particles in contact with the surface of the pipe come to a complete stop.
This viscous boundary layer (where u r is significant) causes fluid particles in adjacent layers to slow down.
Since m = const , to make up for this velocity reduction near the wall, the velocity of the inviscid fluid (where
u r is negligible) near the pipe center increases. As a result, an axial velocity gradient u x 0 develops
along the pipe in the entrance region.
At some point, the boundary layers cover the entire pipe radius. This is generally called the hydrodynamic
u
entrance length Lh . For x > Lh , then = 0 and the velocity profile is fully developed.
x

Since u r is greatest at the entrance to the pipe, w = ( u r ) r = R is largest there, and so is P .

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

The hydrodynamic entry length is usually taken to be the distance from the pipe entrance to where the wall
shear stress (and thus the friction factor) reaches within about 2 percent of the fully developed value.
o laminar flow Lh ,laminar 0.05 D Re (increases with Re and is largest, about 115 D, at Recr

o turbulent flow Lh ,turbulent 1.359 D Re0.25 (much shorter than laminar flow due to turbulent eddies)

common approximation is Lh ,turbulent 10 D

In many practical piping systems, we assume the total pipe length Lh and we assume the pipe is fully
developed for the entire length (ok for long pipes but not for short pipes!).

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

Energy Consideration
o Conservation of Energy was covered in Lesson 14 with the energy equation being written as

wshaft,net in Pin Vin2 Pout 2

Vout
+ + a in + zin= + a out + zout + hL
g rin g 2g rout g 2g
irreversible head loss
input mechanical head [ ]= m output mechanical head in piping

o Note that the head loss hL represents the frictional losses associated with piping and not pump or
turbine inefficiencies
d ( KE ) dt actual
o a= is a dimensionless correction factor (between 1.05 for turbulent flow and 2.0 for
d ( KE ) dt avg

laminar flow) that insures that the kinetic energy term is properly accounted for when the flow is not
truly 1-D.
o The head loss is may be broken into two basic categories, major and minor
hL = hL major + hL minor

Major Head Loss due to viscous effects in straight pipes

Minor Head Loss due to losses in various pipe components (fittings, tees, reducers, etc)

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

An expression for head loss may be derived in closed form for Laminar Flow in straight pipes
of constant diameter.
However, for complex geometries and turbulent flow a general solution for Head Loss does not
exist.

Dimensional Analysis of Major Losses

o Consider horizontal flow in a pipe as shown Dp =F (V , D, , , , )

Dp VD
o Dimensional Analysis yields = , ,
1
2 V 2
D D
p VD
o Where is a non-dimensional pressure drop that depends on Reynolds number, Re =
2 V
1 2


,the length to diameter ratio, and the relative surface roughness,
D D

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

p
o Experimentally we can show that depends linearly on . Thus
1
2 V 2
D

DD
p rVD pD rVD
= ff
, =or f 1 ,
2 rV D D 2 rV D
1 2 2

o f is called the Darcy Friction Factor (or just friction factor) which has been experimentally
determined and presented in the Moody Chart on the next page (in honor of L. F. Moody). The
roughness for various materials is presented in Table 8.1
Table 8.1 Equivalent Roughness for New Pipes [Adapted from Moody (Ref. 7) and Colebrook (Ref. 8)]

Equivalent Roughness,

Pipe Feet Millimeters

Riveted steel

Concrete

Wood stave

Cast iron 0.00085 0.26

Galvanized iron 0.0005 0.15

Commercial steel or wrought iron 0.00015 0.045

Drawn tubing 0.000005 0.0015

Plastic, glass 0.0 (smooth) 0.0 (smooth)

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida
 EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics

Determination of Major Losses

o The energy equation is repeated here for convenience
wshaft,net in Pin Vin2 Pout 2
Vout
+ + a in + zin= + a out + zout + hL
g rin g 2g rout g 2g
irreversible head loss
input mechanical head [ ]= m output mechanical head in piping

o Consider Fully Developed, Constant Diameter, Incompressible Flow in a Pipe without any pumps or
compressors
wshaft,net in =0 (no pumps or compressors, etc.),

Vin2 2
Vout
Fully developed, constant diameter so
in = out
2g 2g
= const and no minor head losses (no fitting, etc) hL minor = 0
o We obtain the following result p =r ghL major

DpD rV 2
o From the definition of the friction factor f 1 or Dp =f
2 rV
2
D 2

V2
o Comparing we arrive at a general form for the major head loss terms hL major = f where the
D 2g
friction factor, f , is obtained from the Moody chart given above.

Lou Cattafesta
MAE Dept.
University of Florida