Flow in Pipes

Pipes are closed conduit through which fluids or gases flows. Conduits may flow full or partially full.
Pipes are referred as conduits (usually circular) which flow full are called open channels.

Fluids flow in pipes may be steady or unsteady. In steady flow, there are two types of flow that exist;
they are called laminar and turbulent flow.

Head Loss in Pipe Flow

Head loss in pipes may be classified into two, the major head loss which cause by pipe friction along
straight sections of pipe of uniform diameter and uniform roughness, and Minor head loss which are
caused by changes in velocity or directions of flow and are commonly expressed in kinetic energy.

MAJOR HEAD LOSS

A. Darcy-Weisbach Formula (Pipe Friction Equation)

𝑓𝐿𝑣 2
ℎ𝑓 =
𝐷2𝑔
f – friction factor

L- length pipe in meters

D – Pipe diameter

v – mean or average velocity of flow

FOR CIRCULAR PIPES,

0.0826𝑓𝐿𝑄 2
ℎ𝑓 =
𝐷5
FOR NON-CIRCULAR PIPES,

𝐷 = 4𝑅
𝐴𝑆
𝑅=
𝑃𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

B. Manning’s Formula
- One of the best known open channel formula and is commonly used in pipes.
1 2 1
𝑉 = 𝑅3𝑆 2
𝑛
FOR CIRCULAR,
10.29𝑛2 𝐿𝑄 2
ℎ𝑓 = 16
𝐷3
 C. Hazen William’s Formula
- Widely used in waterworks industry. This formula is applicable only to the flow of water in
pipes larger than 50 mm diameter and velocity less than 3m/s. This formula design for both
open channels and pipe but it is most commonly used in pipes.
10.67𝐿𝑄1.85
ℎ𝑓 = 1.85 4.87
𝐶 𝐷

𝑉 = 0.8492𝐶𝑅 0.63 𝑆 0.54

L – length in meters

f – friction factor

C – Hazen Coefficient

R – Hydraulic Radius in meters

S – Slope of hydraulic gradient

MINOR HEAD LOSS

- Minor losses are caused by the changes in direction or velocity of flow. This changes may be
due to sudden contraction. These losses can usually neglected if the length of the pipeline is
greater than 1500 times the diameter. However in short pipelines, because this losses may
exceed the friction losses, minor losses must be considered.
𝐾𝑉 2
ℎ𝑚 =
2𝑔

Sample Problem:

1. A new cast iron pipe must carry 1.2 m3/s of a head loss od 5 m per km length of pipe. Compute
the diameter of the pipe using:
a. Hazen William’s Formula (C=120)
b. Manning’s Formula (n=0.012)
c. Darcy-Weisbach Formula (f=0.021)

2. A 300 mm diameter pipe with a friction factor of 0.02 conducts fluid between two tanks at 3.04
m/s. The ends of the pipe are flush with the tank walls. Find the ratio of the minor losses to the
pipe friction loss if the length of the pipe friction loss is:
a. 3 meters
b. 75 meters
c. 450 meters