GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.

ENERGY LOSS IN PIPELINES

OBJECTIVES

General Objective : To know, understand and apply Bernoulli’s equation to pipeline

systems

Specific Objectives : At the end of the unit, you should be able to :

 sketch the velocity profile in circular pipe system

 explain and calculate energy loss in pipeline system

 calculate and apply energy loss equation from reservoir

 solve problem related to the pipeline system

INPUT
 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

6.0 INTRODUCTION

A pipe is defined as a closed conduit of circular section through which the

fluid flows, filling the complete cross-section. The fluid in the pipe has no free
surface. It will be at a pressure which may vary along the pipe. Losses of energy in a
pipeline cannot be ignored. When the shock losses and friction loss have been
determined, they are inserted in Bernoulli’s equation in the usual way.

2 2
p1 v1 p v
  z1  2  2 z 2  h
 g 2g  g 2g

Velocity profile in circular pipe system (refer Figure 6.1)

rough pipe wall

smooth pipe wall

Figure 6.1

Losses of energy in pipe line are due to :

a) shock loss at sudden enlargement
b) shock loss at sudden contraction
c) frictional resistance to flow
d) loss at entry
e) loss at rounded exit

6.1 SHOCK LOSS AT SUDDEN ENLARGEMENT

 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

Figure 6.2

Figure 6.2 shows the loss of head when a pipe undergoes a sudden increase in
diameter. To calculate the loss the following equation is given.

v1  v2 2
Loss of head at enlargement, hL 
2g

When,
v1 = velocity in the smaller pipe upstream of the enlargement
v2 = velocity in the larger pipe

If hL = head lost at the enlargement, then by Bernoulli’s theorem,

2 2
p1v p v
 1  2  2  hL
 2g  2g

Special case: When a pipe discharges into a large reservoir through a sharp
exit, conditions are equivalent to a sudden enlargement (refer Figure 6.2).
v1 = pipe velocity = v
v2 = reservoir velocity = 0
 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

Figure 6.3

v2
Loss of head at sharp exit into reservoir, hL 
2g

If the exit is rounded, this loss is greatly reduced and is usually negligible

Example 6.1
A pipe carrying 1800 l/min of water increases suddenly from 10 cm to 15 cm diameter.
Find
a) the head loss due to the sudden enlargement
b) the difference in pressure in kN/m2 in the two pipes

Solution to Example 6.1

a) 1 liter = 0.001 m3
1800 l = 1.8 m3

Q  1.8 m3 / min  0.03 m3 / s

QA = AA vA = AB vB

So that
vA =Q/AA
0.03
  3.8917 m / s

0.12
4
 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

vB =Q/AB
0.03


0.15
2

4
 1.697 m / s

Head loss of enlargement, hL =

v A  v B 2
2g


3.8197  1.697 2
29.81
 0.2294 m of water

b) Difference in pressure;
2 2
pA vA p v
  z A  B  B  z B  hL
g 2 g g 2 g

zA=zB

 p A  pB  v  vA
2 2

 B  hL
g 2g

p A  pB 
1.697 2
 3.8197 2 
 0.5969810
19.62
 3602.56 N / m 2
 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

6.2 SHOCK LOSS AT SUDDEN CONTRACTION

Figure 6.4

In a sudden contraction, the flow converges to form a vena contracta at section

(3) in the smaller pipe. The loss of energy in the convergence from sections (1)
to (3) is small and the main loss occurs in the enlargement from sections (3) to
(2). It is usual to ignore the loss from sections (1) to (3) and treat the loss from
(3) to (2) as if it was due to a sudden enlargement from the area of the vena
contracta ac to the area a2 of the smaller pipe.( Figure 6.4 )

vC  v2 2
Loss of head =
2g

For continuity of flow

a 2 v 2  a C vC
aC
If the coefficient of contraction = CC 
vC

a2 v2
vC 
aC
1
 v2
CC

2
 1  v2 2
Loss of head at sudden contraction, hC    1

 Cc  2g
 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

Special case: if the entrance of a pipe line from a reservoir is sharp (no
rounded or bell-mouthed) it is equivalent to a sudden contraction from a pipe
of infinite size to that of the pipe line. The loss of head at sharp entrance is

1  v2 
Loss of head at sharp entrance, hC   
2  2g 

v = velocity in the pipe

Example 6.2

A pipe carrying 0.06 m3/s suddenly contracts from 200 mm to 150 mm diameter.
Assuming that the vena contracta is formed in the smaller pipe, calculate the
coefficient of contraction if the pressure head at a point upstream of the contraction is
0.655 m greater than at a point just downstream of the vena contracta.

Solution to Example 6.2

Inserting this expression for the loss of head in Bernoulli’s equation,

2
v  1 
2 2 2
p1 v1 p v
  2  2  2   1
g 2 g g 2 g 2 g  CC 
2 
  v1 2
2
p1  p 2 v2  1
 1    1  
g 2 g   CC   2 g

p1  p 2
Given,  0.655
g

Using the continuity of flow Q = Av for velocity v1 and v2.

Q
v1 
A1
0.06  4

 0.22
 1.91 m / s

Q
v2 
A2
0.06  4

 0.152
 3.4 m / s
 GP505 FLUID MECHANICS/UNIT 5.0

Thus,

  1
3.42   1.912
2

0.655  1   
 1  
2  9.81   CC   2  9.81


  1  
2

12.86  11.61    1   3.65

  CC  

  1   16.51
2

1    1    1.39
  CC   11.6

2
 1 
  1  0.39
 CC 

 1 
   1  0.625
 CC 

1
 1.625
CC

coefficient of contraction, CC  0.615