Hydromechanics

Ch.5 PPT3 Complex pipe networks

Basudev Biswal,
Civil Engineering Department, IIT Bombay 1
 Pipes in series

(Figure from Streeter and Waylie)

For pipes in series the head loss from the beginning to the end defined
considering friction loss along with other loses as:
𝑉12 𝐿1 𝑉12 𝑉1 − 𝑉2 2 𝐿2 𝑉22 𝑉22
𝐻 + 0 + 0 = 0 + 0 + 0 + 𝐾𝑒 + 𝑓1 + + 𝑓2 +
2𝑔 𝐷1 2𝑔 2𝑔 𝐷2 2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑉22
Note that the last term in the equation is actually loos due to sudden
2𝑔
expansion into a large tank. According to the continuity equation, the
same discharge is there in each pipe. The above two conditions are
sufficient to solve any typical problem related to pipes in series. i) Q
given: both velocities can be calculated, Reynolds number can be
calculated, friction factors can be looked up and total head loss can be
found H given: ii) Q unknown, assume friction factors and proceed to find
Q and velocity, re-estimate friction factors, repeat until convergence.
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 Pipes in parallel

(Figure from Streeter and Waylie)

When flow is divided among pipes and then joined again, it constitutes a
parallel-pipe system. In this case: Q = Q1 + Q2 + Q3
hl = hf1 = hf2. Type of problems: Discharge (Q) needs to be calculated for
given head loss between A and B For given discharge (Q), distribution of
flow across the parallel pipes needs to be estimated and head loss needs
to be calculated.

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 Solution for pipes in parallel
• When head loss is given: each pipe can be solved separately for
discharge, these are added together to get total discharge.
• When total discharge is given:
1. Assume a discharge, 𝑄1′ , for pipe 1.
′
2. Solve for head loss, ℎ𝑓1 , through pipe 1 using the assumed
discharge.
′
3. Using this head loss ℎ𝑓1 , estimate discharge through other
pipes, 𝑄2′ and 𝑄3′ .
4. Now, assume that the total discharge is split among the
parallel pipes in the same ratio as the discharge estimated in
2 and 3 above:
𝑄1′ 𝑄2′ 𝑄3′
𝑄1 = 𝑄, 𝑄2 = 𝑄, 𝑄3 = 𝑄
σ 𝑄′ σ 𝑄′ σ 𝑄′
Re-calculate the head loss through each parallel pipe, and adjust
as required.
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 Branching pipes
Problem: to determine the flow through each pipe if the reservoir
elevations are given.
Given: size of pipe, pipe material, fluid properties
Governing equations: Darcy-Weishbach and Continuity

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 Solution for branching pipes
Key step: compare elevation at junction with that of intermediate
reservoir

For the Junction ‘J’, continuity should be satisfied:

𝑄1 = 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 , or 𝑄1 + 𝑄2 = 𝑄3
Which of the two is to be used depends upon the elevation of the
H.G.L at J in comparison to the intermediate reservoir (reservoir
whose elevation is between the highest and lowest elevation
reservoir).

Steps:
1. Start by assuming the elevation at J
2. Compute the three discharges and check the continuity
equation at J
3. If flow into the junction is too large, increase the H.G.L at J
4. Adjust till continuity is satisfied at the junction, ‘J’
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 Branching pipe system with pumps
1. Assume a discharge through the pump
2. Compute H.G.L at the suction side of the pump and then on the
other side (using the pump characteristic curve)
3. Compute H.G.L at junction ‘J’ by accounting for losses
4. Using the H.G.L elevation at ‘J’, compute flow in reservoirs 2 and 3
5. Compare the flow into the junction with flow out of junction –
adjust pump discharge till continuity is satisfied at junction

𝒛𝟐
𝒛𝟑

𝒛𝒋
𝒛𝟏
𝑃 = γ𝑄𝐻
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Pumping from one reservoir into two other reservoirs.
 Complex pipe network problems
1. Algebraic sum of pressure drops around each circuit must be 0.
2. Flow into a junction = flow out of a junction.
3. Darcy-Weishbach equation must be satisfied for each pipe.

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 The Hardy-Cross method
• Assume flow through each pipe (𝑄0 , 𝑄1 , . . .) satisfying the continuity equation
• Since this is a first guess, total head loss around a circuit will not necessarily
add to zero. We make small adjustments to the flow in each pipe (∆𝑄) within a
circuit so that the total head loss around the circuit is 0. If ℎ𝑓 is the head loss
through a pipe, it will be related to discharge by a generalized equation of the
form:
ℎ𝑓 = 𝑟𝑄 𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑄0 + ∆𝑄 𝑛 = 𝑟 𝑄𝑜𝑛 + 𝑛𝑄𝑜𝑛−1 ∆𝑄 + ⋯
• Higher order terms are neglected as the adjustment term is considered to be
much smaller than the assumed flow through a pipe. For a circuit, total head
loss:
෍ ℎ𝑓 = ෍ 𝑟 𝑄 𝑛−1 = ෍ 𝑟𝑄0 𝑄0 𝑛−1 + ∆𝑄 ෍ 𝑟𝑛 𝑄0 𝑛−1 =0

σ 𝑟𝑄0 𝑄0 𝑛−1
∆𝑄 = −
σ 𝑟𝑛 𝑄0 𝑛−1
Apply this correction to each pipe in a circuit, carefully accounting for the sign of
Q.Rule of thumb: add to flows in clockwise direction and subtract from flows in
the counter clockwise direction.
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The Hardy-Cross method: application
1. Assume (best) distribution of flows that satisfied continuity by
careful consideration of the network
2. For each pipe in a circuit: calculate the adjustment in flow using
equations from last slide
– For this, first calculate head loss (ℎ𝑓 = 𝑟𝑄 𝑛 ) for each pipe
– Then for each circuit, compute σ 𝑟𝑛 𝑄0 𝑛−1
3. Correct the flows according to step 2. Move on to another circuit
in a similar manner.
4. Repeat until corrections for each circuit become quite small.

Note: generally n = 2.
This approach is called ‘loop-balancing’ approach. Alternatives such
as ‘node-balancing’ schemes, or more general methods that solve a
set of simultaneous equations using Newton-Raphson method are also
available and can be explored as project topics.

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