Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
Chapter 7
FLOW THROUGH PIPES
7-1 Friction Losses of Head in Pipes 7-2 Secondary Losses of Head in Pipes
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7-3 Flow through Pipe Systems
7-1 Friction Losses of Head in Pipes:
There are many types of losses of head for flowing liquids such as friction,
inlet and outlet losses. The major loss is that due to frictional resistance of the
pipe, which depends on the inside roughness of the pipe. The common
formula for calculating the loss of head due to friction is Darcy’s one.
Darcy’s formula for friction loss of head:
For a flowing liquid, water in general, through a pipe, the horizontal forces on
water between two sections (1) and (2) are:
P1 A = P2 A + FR
P1= Pressure intensity at (1).
A = Cross sectional area of pipe.
P2= Pressure intensity at (2).
FR= Frictional Resistance at (2).
FR / A = (P1 / ) - (P2 / ) = hf
Where, hf = Loss of pressure head due to friction.
= Specific gravity of water.
It is found experimentally that:
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
2
FR = Factor x Wetted Area x Velocity
2
FR = ( f / 2g) x ( d L) x v
Where, f = Friction coefficient.
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d = Diameter of pipe.
L = Length of pipe.
hf = ( f / 2g) x ( d L) x v2 = 4 f * L * v2
( d2 /4) d*2g
hf = 4fLv2
2gd
It may be substituted for [v = Q / ( d2 /4)] in the last equation to get the head
loss for a known discharge. Thus,
hf = 32 f L Q 2
2 g d 5
Note: In American practice and references, λ = f American = 4 f
Example 1:
A pipe 1 m diameter and 15 km long transmits water of velocity of 1 m/sec.
The friction coefficient of pipe is 0.005.
Calculate the head loss due to friction?
Solution
hf = 4fLv2
2gd
hf = 4x0.005x15000x 12 = 15.29 m
2 x 9.81 x 1
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
7-3 Flow through Pipe Systems:
Pipes in Series:
Pipes in series are pipes with different diameters and lengths connected
together forming a pipe line. Consider pipes in series discharging water from 58
a tank with higher water level to another with lower water level, as shown in
the figure.
Neglecting secondary losses,
it is obvious that the total
head loss HL between the
two tanks is the sum of the
friction losses through the
pipe line.
Friction losses through the pipe line are the sum of friction loss of each pipe.
HL = hf 1 + hf 2 + hf 3 + .....
HL = 4f1L1v1 2 + 4f2L2v2 2 + 4f3L3v3 2 + .....
2gd1 2gd2 2gd3
OR:
HL = 32f1L1Q 2 + 32f2L2Q 2 + 32f3L3Q 2 + .....
2 g d1 5 2 g d2 5 2 g d3 5
Pipes in Parallel:
Pipes in parallel are pipes with different diameters and same lengths, where
each pipe is connected separately to increase the discharge. Consider pipes in
parallel discharging water from a tank with higher water level to another with
lower water level, as shown in the figure.
Neglecting minor losses, it is
obvious that the total head loss
HL between the two tanks is
the same as the friction losses
through each pipe.
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
The friction losses through all pipes are the same, and all pipes discharge
water independently.
HL = hf 1 = hf 2 = .....
59
L1 = L2 = L
HL = 4 f1 L v12 = 4 f2 L v22 = .....
2 g d1 2 g d2
HL = 32 f1 L Q1 2 = 32 f2 L Q2 2 = .....
2 g d1 5 2 g d2 5
Q = Q1 + Q 2
Example 5:
A pipe, 40 m long, is connected to a water tank at one end and flows freely in
atmosphere at the other end. The diameter of pipe is 15 cm for first 25 m from
the tank, and then the diameter is suddenly enlarged to 30 cm. Height of water
in the tank is 8 m above the centre of pipe. Darcy’s coefficient is 0.01.
Determine the discharge neglecting minor losses?
Solution
Loss due to friction, hLf = hf1 + hf2
hf = 32 f L Q 2 f = 0.01
2 g d 5
2
Total losses, hT = Q ( 32 f L1 + 32 f L2 )
2 5 2 5
gd1 gd2
2
8 = Q ( (32x0.01) x (25) + (32x0.01) (15) )
2 5 2 5
g (0.15) g (0.3)
Q = 0.087 m /sec
3
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
Example 6:
Two pipes are connected in parallel between two reservoirs that have
difference in levels of 3.5 m. The length, the diameter, and friction factor (4 f)
are 2400 m, 1.2 m, and 0.026 for the first pipe and 2400 m, 1 m, and 0.019 for
the second pipe. 60
Calculate the total discharge between the two reservoirs?
Solution
HL = 32 f1 L Q1 2 = 32 f2 L Q2 2
2 g d1 5 2 g d2 5
3.5 = 32 f1 L Q1 2 = 8x0.026x2400xQ1 2
2 g d1 5 2x9.81 x1.2 5
Q1 = 1.29 m3/sec
3.5 = 32 f2 L Q2 2 = 8x0.019x2400xQ2 2
2 g d2 5 2x9.81 x1 5
Q2 = 0.96 m3/sec
Q = Q1 + Q2 = 1.29 + 0.96 = 2.25 m3/sec
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
Example 7:
Two reservoirs have 6 m difference in water levels, and are connected by a
pipe 60 cm diameter and 3000 m long. Then, the pipe branches into two pipes
each 30 cm diameter and 1500 m long. The friction coefficient is 0.01. 61
Neglecting minor losses, determine the flow rates in the pipe system?
Solution
hf = hf1 + hf2
6 = hf1 + hf2
6 = k1 Q12 + k2 Q22
k1 = 32 f1 L1 = 32*0.01*3000 = 127.64
2 g d15 2*9.81*0.65
k2 = 32 f2 L2 = 32*0.01*1500 = 4084.48
2 g d2 5 2*9.81*0.35
k2 = 32 k1
6 = k1 Q12 + 32 k1 Q22
hf2 = hf3 & k2 = k3 Q2 = Q3
Q1 = Q2 + Q3 = 2 Q2
6 = k1 Q12 + 8 k1 Q12 = 9 k1 Q12 = (9 * 127.64) Q12 = 1148.76 Q12
Q1 = 0.072 m3/s
& Q2 = 0.036 m3/s
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
Example 8:
Two tanks A and B have 70 m difference in water levels, and are connected
by a pipe 0.25 m diameter and 6 km long with 0.002 friction coefficient. The
pipe is tapped at its mid point to leak out 0.04 m3/s flow rate. Minor losses are
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ignored.
Determine the discharge leaving tank A?
Find the discharge entering tank B?
Solution
hf = hf1 + hf2
70 = hf1 + hf2
70 = k1 Q12 + k2 Q22
k1 = k2 = 32 f L = 32*0.002*3000 = 2032.7
2 g d5 2*9.81*0.255
70 = k1 Q12 + k1 Q22
Q1 = Q2 + Q3 = Q2 + 0.04
70 = k1 (Q2 + 0.04)2 + k1 Q22
= k1 (Q22 + 0.08 Q2 + 0.0016) + k1 Q22
= k1 Q22 + 0.08 k1 Q2 + 0.0016 k1 + k1 Q22
= 2 k1 Q22 + 0.08 k1 Q2 + 0.0016 k1
= 4065.4 Q22 + 162.6 Q2 + 3.25
0.0172 = Q22 + 0.04 Q2 + 0.0008
Q22 + 0.04 Q2 – 0.0164 = 0
Q2 = 0.11 m3/s & Q1 = 0.15 m3/s
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
Example 9:
A tank transmits 100 L/s of water to the point C where the pressure is
maintained at 1.5 kg/cm2. The first part AB of the pipe line is 50 cm diameter
and 2.5 km long, and the second part BC is 25 cm diameter and 1.5 km long. 63
The friction coefficient is 0.005 and minor losses are ignored.
Assuming level at C is (0.0); find the water level (L) in the tank?
Solution
hC = PC / ᵧ = 1500 / 1 = 1500 cm = 15 m
hC = 15 = L – hfAB - hfBC
hfAB = 32 f1 L1 = 32*0.005*2500 = 1.32
2 g d15 2*9.81*0.55
hfBC = 32 f2 L2 = 32*0.005*1500 = 25.38
2 g d2 5 2*9.81*0.255
15 = L – 1.32 – 25.38
L = 41.7 m
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
Faculty Of Engineering at Shobra 2nd Year Civil - 2016
Example 10:
Three water tanks A, B and C with water surface levels (100.00), (50.00) and
(10.00) m are connected by pipes AJ, BJ and CJ to a common joint J of a
level (45.00) m. The three pipes have the same length, diameter and friction
coefficient. 64
a) Calculate the head at the joint J?
b) Determine the discharge in each pipe?
Solution
Assume, QAJ = QJB + QJC
Applying Bernoulli’s equation between A and J:
HA = HJ + hf AJ
100 + 0 + 0 = HJ + hf AJ
100 - HJ = hf AJ = K Q2AJ
where, K = 32 f l / 2 g d5
Q AJ = (100 - H J) 1/2 / (K) 1/2 .............. (1)
Similarly, applying Bernoulli’s equation between J and B:
HJ = HB + hf JB
HJ - 50 = hf JB = K Q2JB
Fluid Mechanics, CVE 214 Dr. Alaa El-Hazek
