Hazen-Williams Equation

Module 3c: Flow in Pipes • Based on experimental work

Hazen-Williams Equation • Used to calculated velocity in a pipe based on the relative
roughness and slope of the energy line

V = kCR 0.63 S 0.54

Robert Pitt Where V = velocity
University of Alabama C = factor for relative roughness
And R = hydraulic radius
Shirley Clark S = slope of the energy line (head loss divided by pipe length)
Penn State - Harrisburg k = “conversion” factor for unit system
k = 0.849 for units of m/sec
k = 1.318 for units of ft/sec

Hazen-Williams Equation Hazen-Williams Equation

Type of Pipe C Pipe Material C

Pipes extremely straight and smooth 140 New cast iron 130
Pipes very smooth 130 5-year old cast iron 120
Smooth wood, smooth masonry 120 20-year old cast iron 100
New riveted steel, vitrified clay 110 Average concrete 130
Old cast iron, ordinary brick 100 New welded steel 120
Old riveted steel 95 Asbestos cement 140
Old iron in bad condition 60 – 80 Plastic 150

In: Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. and George Tchobanoglous. Wastewater In: Warren Viessman, Jr. and Mark Hammer. Water Supply and Pollution
Engineering: Collection and Pumping of Wastewater. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1981. Control, Sixth Edition. Addison-Wesley. 1998. Table 6-1.
Table 2-2.

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 Hazen-Williams Equation Channel Characteristics: Hydraulic Radius and
Description of Pipe Value of C Wetted Perimeter
Cast iron 130
New 130 • Wetted Perimeter – surface of pipe or channel where
5 years old 120 fluid is touching (accounts for areas where friction
10 years old 110
effects are occurring).
20 years old 90 – 100
– Not used to describe any area that is open to the atmosphere
since friction contact with the atmosphere is negligible.
30 years old 75 – 90
Concrete 120
Cement lined 140
Welded steel As for cast iron 5 years older
Riveted steel As for cast iron 10 years older
Plastic 150
Asbestos Cement 140
In: Terence McGhee. Water Supply and Sewerage, Sixth Edition. McGraw-Hill. 1991.

Channel Characteristics: Hydraulic Radius and

Wetted Perimeter
Hazen-Williams Equation
• Hydraulic Radius, R: • For circular pipes flowing full, the Hazen-Williams
A
R= formula can be restated:
P For a circular pipe flowing full:

Where A = cross-sectional area of flow D

P = wetted perimeter R=
• Hydraulic radius will have units of length. 4
ÆFor circular pipes flowing full, the hydraulic radius is: By Continuity:

Q = VA
A = area = πD2/4
P = circumference = πD
R = A/P = (πD2/4)/(πD) = D/4

2
 Hazen-Williams Equation Hazen-Williams Equation

• For circular pipes flowing full, the Hazen-Williams • Substituting into Hazen-Williams:
formula can be restated: V [ ft / sec] = 1.318CR 0.63S 0.54
Conversion Factor: V [ ft / sec] A[ ft 2 ] = 1.318 ACR 0.63S 0.54
1 ft 3 / sec(7.48 gal / ft 3) = 7.48 gal / sec π
0.63
⎛D⎞
Q[ ft 3 / sec] = 1.318 D 2C ⎜ ⎟ S 0.54
7.48 gal / sec(60 sec/ min ) = 448 gal / min 4 ⎝4⎠
0.63
448 gal / min(60 min/ hr )(24hr / day ) = 646,272 gal / day ⎛D⎞
Q = 1.035 D 2 ⎜ ⎟ CS 0.54
646,272 gal / day ≅ 0.646 million gal/day ⎝4⎠
Conversion Factor = 0.646 MGD / cfs ⎛ 1.035 ⎞
Q = ⎜ 0.63 ⎟CD 2.63 S 0.54
⎝ 4 ⎠
Q = 0.432CD 2.63 S 0.54 [units of ft 3 /sec and ft]

Hazen-Williams Equation Hazen-Williams Equation

• Substituting into Hazen-Williams:

• For SI units, the Hazen-Williams equation for pipes
Q = 0.432CD 2.63
S 0.54 3
[units of ft /sec] flowing full:

Q = 0.432CD 2.63 S 0.54 (0.646 MGD / cfs) Q = 0.278CD 2.63 S 0.54

Q = 0.279CD 2.63 S 0.54
Where Q = flow (m3/sec)
Where Q = flow (MGD)
D = pipe diameter (m)
D = diameter (ft)

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 Hazen-Williams Equation
From: Water Supply and
Pollution Control, Sixth
Edition. Warren Viessman, Example:
Jr., and Mark J. Hammer.
Addison Wesley, 1998. • Determine the head loss in a 1000-m pipeline with a
diameter of 500 mm that is discharging 0.25 m3/sec.
Assume that the Hazen-Williams coefficient for the
pipe equals 130.
Given: L = 1000 m
D = 0.5 m
Q = 0.25 m3/sec
C = 130

Hazen-Williams Equation Hazen-Williams Equation

• Using the Hazen-Williams equation for flow: • Solving for hf:

0.54
Q ⎛h ⎞
Q = 0.278CD 2.63 S 0.54 =⎜ f
0.278CD 2.63 ⎜⎝ L
⎟⎟
⎠
1 / 0.54
hf⎛ Q ⎞
• By definition: =⎜ ⎟
hf L ⎝ 0.278CD 2.63 ⎠
S= 1 / 0.54
L ⎛ Q ⎞
h f = L⎜ 2.63 ⎟
⎝ 0.278CD ⎠
• Substituting: Substituting :
1.85
0.54 ⎛ (0.25m3 / sec) ⎞
⎛h ⎞ h f = (1000m)⎜⎜ ⎟
2.63 ⎟
Q = 0.278CD 2.63 ⎜⎜ f ⎟⎟ ⎝ 0.278(130)(0.5m) ⎠
⎝ L ⎠ h f = 2.94m