Pipes in Series
Example
Reservoir A delivers to reservoir B through two (2) uniform pipelines AJ and JB, of diameters 300
mm and 200 mm, respectively. Just upstream of the change in diameter/section, which is
assumed gradual, a controlled discharge of 30 l/s is taken off. Length of AJ= 3000 m, Length of
JB= 4000 m; effective roughness size of both pipes = 0.015 mm; gross head = 25.0 m. Determine
the discharge to B, neglecting the loss at J.
Consider the following loss
Entry loss= 0.50 V12/2g.
Fiction head loss in both pipes
Q1
Q2
Solution
Apply the energy equation between A and B
H = 0.5 V12 + λ1L1V12 + λ2L2V22 + V22 ................. eqt 1
2g 2gD1 2gD2 2g
H = Entry Loss + friction head loss AJ + friction head loss JB + Velocity head
Since λ1 and λ2 are initially unknown the simplest method of solution is to input a series of trial
values of Q1
Since Q2 = Q1 – 30 l/s. Estimating Q1 = 50 l/s which is more than 30 l/s. therefore:
Q2 = 20 l/s.
Solution
Since we have estimated Q1 we found Q2, the corresponding values of V1, V2 , λ1 and λ2 can be
obtained. The total head H corresponding with trial value of Q1is then evaluated from equation 1 .
Series of trail of Q1 will be evaluated to plot a graph of Q1 vs H, the value of Q1 corresponding
with H = 25 m can be read off.
D1 = 0.3 m, L1 = 3000 m, k1 = 0.015 mm (0.015 x 10-3 m)
D2 = 0.2 m, L2 = 4000 m, k2 = 0.015 mm (0.015 x 10-3 m)
v = 1.13 x 10-6 m2/s
Trial 1
Q1 = 50 l/s = 0.05 m3/s, V1 = 0.05/ 0.0707 = 0.707 m/s, Re1 = (0.707)(0.3) = 187793.443
1.13 x 10-6
1/√λ = -2log [ k + 5.1286]
3.7D Re 0.89
1/√λ = -2log [ 0.015 x 10-3 + 5.1286 ] λ1 = 0.0158, hf1 = (0.0158) (3000)(0.707)2
3.7(0.3) (187793.443) 0.89 19.62 * 0.3
= 4.029 m
Trial 1
Q2 = 20 l/s = 0.02 m3/s, V2 = 0.02/ 0.0314 = 0.637 m/s, Re2 = (0.637)(0.2) = 112676.066
1.13 x 10-6
1/√λ = -2log [ k + 5.1286]
3.7D Re 0.89
1/√λ = -2log [ 0.015 x 10-3 + 5.1286 ] λ2 = 0.0175, hf2 = (0.0175) (4000)(0.637)2
3.7(0.2) (112676.066) 0.89 19.62 * 0.2
= 7.226 m
H = 0.5 V12 + λ1L1V12 + λ2L2V22 + V22
2g 2gD1 2gD2 2g
H = 0.5 (0.707)2 + 4.029 + 7.226 + (0.637)2
19.62 19.62
= 11.288 m
Repeat for trail 2 increasing Q1 to (60, 70 and 80) a use of software is recommended (Excel)
Pipes in Series Example 4.3.xlsx
From the graph for H = 25 m corresponding value fir Q1 = 0.064 m3/s (64 l/s)
Q1 = 64 l/s
Q2 = 64 – 30 = 34 l/s
