Fluid Pressure Loss Calculations

Midway Industrial Systems

4759 Old Hwy 8, Mounds View, MN 55112
Phone: 763-780-3000 Toll Free: 1-800-279-1401
www.midwayis.com

*calculate pressure drop in pipe or tube length by use of the following formula

0.0273 * Q * V * L
P=
D4
Where:
P= Pressure drop in pounds per square inch(PSI) over the length of
the tube/pipe
Q= Flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
L= Length of pipe in feet
V= Viscosity of fluid in poise (100 centipoise = 1 poise)
D4= Tube factor (4th power of diameter in inches)

Input (insert values in the green boxes and the tubing

characteristics will be calculated below)

Value Name Unit

Input= Total Spray Rate Gallons/Min
Input= Viscosity Poise
Input= Tube Run Feet
Input= Tube Size Inches
Input= Wall Thickness Inches
Input= 60 Circulation Rate Feet/Min 60 = Standard

Output

Value Name Unit

Output= 0 Inside Diameter Inches
Output= 0.00 Circulation Flow Rate Gallons/Min
Output= 0.00 Q = Total Flow Rate Gallons/Min
Output= 0 L = Tube Run Distance Feet
Output= 0 V = Viscosity Poise
Output= 0 D = Inside Tube Diameter

Pressure Loss = PSI

calculatin
g to take
into
account
all
pressure
loss as
seen by
the
system.
This Standard Tube and Pipe Factors
table is
broken Tube or Pipe Size (inches) Factor D Factor D4
down 1/4 I.D. Nylon Tube 0.25 0.0039
first by 1/4 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.65 0.18
Nominal 3/8 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.493 0.059
tubing 1/2 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.622 0.15
size, and
3/4 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.824 0.46
then
gives the 1 Schedule 40 Pipe 1.049 1.21
equivale 1 1/4 Schedule 40 Pipe 1.38 3.6
nt length 1 1/2 Schedule 40 Pipe 1.61 6.65
in feet. 2 Schedule 40 Pipe 2.07 18.3

Equivalent Length of standard pipe in feet

Pipe 180 Tee Tee

Size Gate Globe 45 90 Close Thru Thru
Inches Valve Valve Elbow Elbow Ret. Run Branch
1/2" 0.41 18.5 0.78 1.67 3.71 0.93 3.33
3/4" 0.54 24.5 1.03 2.21 4.9 1.23 4.41
1" 0.69 31.2 1.31 2.81 6.25 1.56 5.62
1 1/4 0.9 41 1.73 3.7 8.22 2.06 7.4
1 1/2 1.05 48 2.15 4.31 9.59 2.4 8.63
2 1.35 61.5 2.59 5.55 12.3 3.08 11.6
 Fluid Pressure Loss Calculations

Phone: 763-780-3000 Toll Free: 1-800-279-1401

Web: www.midwayis.com

*calculate pressure drop in pipe or tube length by use of the following formula

0.0273 * Q * V * L
P=
D4
Where:
P= Pressure drop in pounds per square inch(PSI) over the length
of the tube/pipe
Q= Flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM)
L= Length of pipe in feet
V= Viscosity of fluid in poise (100 centipoise = 1 poise)
D4= Tube factor (4th power of diameter in inches)

*Auto Calculator (insert valvues for Q,L,V, and D and the pressure drop will be
calculated in the red box labeled P below)

Value Name Unit

Input= 0.375 Total Spray Rate Gallons/Min
Input= 1.9 Viscosity Poise
Input= 276 Tube Run Feet
Input= 0.75 Tube Size Inches
Input= 0.035 Wall Thickness Inches
Input= 0 Circulation Rate Feet/Min
0.68 Inside Thicknes Inches
0 Circulation Flow Rate Gallons

Q= 0.375 GPM
L= 276 feet
V= 1.9 poise
D= 0.68 inches * note D not D4

Pressure Loss = 25.11 PSI

Standard Tube and Pipe Factors

Tube or Pipe Size (inches) Factor D Factor D4

1/4 I.D. Nylon Tube 0.25 0.0039
1/4 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.65 0.18
3/8 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.493 0.059
1/2 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.622 0.15
3/4 Schedule 40 Pipe 0.824 0.46
1 Schedule 40 Pipe 1.049 1.21
1 1/4 Schedule 40 Pipe 1.38 3.6
1 1/2 Schedule 40 Pipe 1.61 6.65
2 Schedule 40 Pipe 2.07 18.3
*Below is a list of equivilent lengths (a length in feet of tubing that is equivilent to the pressure loss
caused by a fitting, valve or elbow.) These lengths can be added to the length of the circulating
system you are calculating to take into account all pressure loss as seen by the system. This table
is broken down first by Nominal tubing size, and then gives the equivilent length in feet.

Equivalent Length of standard pipe in feet

Pipe 180 Tee Tee

Size Gate Globe 45 90 Close Thru Thru
Inches Valve Valve Elbow Elbow Ret. Run Branch
1/2" 0.41 18.5 0.78 1.67 3.71 0.93 3.33
3/4" 0.54 24.5 1.03 2.21 4.9 1.23 4.41
1" 0.69 31.2 1.31 2.81 6.25 1.56 5.62
1 1/4 0.9 41 1.73 3.7 8.22 2.06 7.4
1 1/2 1.05 48 2.15 4.31 9.59 2.4 8.63
2 1.35 61.5 2.59 5.55 12.3 3.08 11.6
Absolute and kinematic viscosity of air at temperatures ranging -40 - 1000 oC (-40 - 1500 oF) at standard
atmospheric pressure - Imperial and SI Units
Imperial (BG) Units: SI Units:

Temperature Dynamic Viscosity Kinematic Viscosity Temperature Dynamic Viscosity

-t- -μ- -ν- -t- -μ-
(oF) (lbf s/ft2) x 10-7 (ft2/s) x 10-4
 
(K) (kg/m s) x 10-5
-40 3.29 1.12 100 0.6924
-20 3.34 1.19 150 1.0283
0 3.38 1.26 200 1.3289
10 3.44 1.31 250 1.488
20 3.5 1.36 300 1.983
30 3.58 1.42 350 2.075
40 3.6 1.46 400 2.286
50 3.68 1.52 450 2.484
60 3.75 1.58 500 2.671
70 3.82 1.64 550 2.848
80 3.86 1.69 600 3.018
90 3.9 1.74 650 3.177
100 3.94 1.79 700 3.332
120 4.02 1.89 752 3.481
140 4.13 2.01 800 3.625
160 4.22 2.12 850 3.765
180 4.34 2.25 900 3.899
200 4.49 2.4 950 4.023
300 4.97 3.06 1000 4.152
400 5.24 3.65 1100 4.44
500 5.8 4.51 1200 4.69
750 6.81 6.68 1300 4.93
1000 7.85 9.3 1400 5.17
1500 9.5 15.1 1500 5.4
1600 5.63
1 N s/m2 = 1 Pa s = 10 poise = 1,000 milliPa s
1 m2/s = 1 x 104 cm2/s =1 x 104 stokes = 1 x 106 centistokes
- 1500 oF) at standard

SI Units:

Kinematic Viscosity
-ν-
 
(m2/s) x 10-6
1.923
4.343
7.49
9.49
15.68
20.76
25.9
28.86
37.9
44.34
51.34
58.51
66.25
73.91
82.29
90.75
99.3
108.2
117.8
138.6
159.1
182.1
205.5
229.1
254.5