Pipe Sizing Table

The pipe sizing table shown below is an aid to sizing more complicated circuits. A description is given in the Table below.

EXAMPLE 5
Size the pipework for section (B) of a heating system shown below. Section B is in red. Also determine the pressure drop in section (B) The total length of the section is 8 metres (includes flow and return) Section B supplies hot water to Radiator No. 2 and No. 3. The amount of heat to be transferred to radiators No. 2 & 3 is: 1.5 + 1.0 = 2.5 kW. The downstream tees will be included in this section. Use Copper pipework Table X at 75oC, CIBSE Guide C (2001) Table 4.13.

Notes: The Total Equivalent Length of Fittings has been determined in Column 7. It can be seen from the above diagram that the two fittings in the section are tees. Information from page 4 gives the z zeta factor for a straight thro tee to be 0.2 + (factor for enlargement or reduction where bores differ). Assume the downstream pipe size is also 15mm diameter and no differing bore, therefore the z zeta factor is 0.2 for each tee. Information for a straight thro tee is used since we assume the index circuit includes the next section to radiator No.3 and not the branch to radiator No.2. From the above table it can be seen that the Total Pressure Drop in the section (Column 10) is 1886 Pa.