CHAPTER 6: STEADY FLOW IN PIPES

Example 6.1

Refer to Figure 1, determine the required air pressure in the tank to deliver water with Q = 0.013 m3/s to
elevation 30 m. The length and pipe diameter are 152 m and 150 mm respectively. Consider all losses.
Assume f = 0.0588. 

      • B Elev. 30 m
 
Open end
                             
Air
                            

                       
Elev. 24 m PA A
 
Water
 

Figure 1

Solution:

Bernoulli’s Equation:

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Example 6.2

a) Determine the discharges, Q through the pipe as shown in Figure 2. Consider all losses.
b) If pump is installed at Point C (Elev. 47 m) and 150 m from Point B:
i) Compute Hpump
ii) Pressure at pump exit, PC

1 Elev. 50 m
  v1
 
A
 
C
 
L = 400 m
 
d = 300 mm LBC = 150 m 2 Elev. 46 m
v2
f = 0.0052

B
Figure 2

Solution:

a) Bernoulli’s Equation:

v = 1.64 m/s

Q = Av = m3/s

b) Flow direction from Point 2 to Point 1 if pump is installed at Point C

i) Bernoulli’s Equation:

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 8m

ii) Use Bernoulli’s Equation between Point C and Point 1:

PC = 52.74 kN/m2

Example 6.3

The system as describe in Figure 3 was built from galvanized iron pipe with their diameter and length of
5 cm and 1200 m respectively. The system contains 2 45o elbows, 4 90o elbows, globe valve-opened full
and an exit to a storage reservoir. If the water level at point 1 is 400 m, what is the pressure required at
point 1 to deliver 0.005 m3/s water to the storage reservoir. (υ = 1.02 x 10-6 m2/s)

Point 2
Elev. 500 m
G H

C Sharp
B
45o edged
F Globe valve

Point 1 D E
Elev. 400 m A 45o

Figure 3

Solution:

Bernoulli’s Equation:

v1 = Q/A = = 2.546 m/s

Laminar or turbulence?

Re = vd/υ = = 124804 > 4000 (Turbulence)

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Use: hf =

e/d = 0.00015/0.05 = 3 x 10-3 (Find e value from the name of material, galvanized iron)

f = 0.0068 (From Moody chart)

hf = = 215.67 m

For hm (minor losses):

Minor losses, hm Total loss coefficient, Σk

4 elbow 90o 4(0.9) = 3.6
2 elbow 45o 2(0.42) = 0.84
Globe valve 10
Pipe exit 1
= 15.44

hm = k v2/2g = 15.44 x 2.5462/2(9.81) = 5.10 m

P1 = 3.14 MN/m2

Pipelines connected in series

Example 6.4

Referring to Figure 4, determine the total discharges, Q for the pipe systems connecting two tanks.
Draw the Total Energy Line (TEL) and the Hydraulics Grade Line (HGL). Consider all losses. Assume f
= 0.01.

A
 

  L = 15 m
10 m
  d = 200 mm

 
L = 45 m B

d = 250 mm

Figure 4
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Solution

Flow from A to B, establish Bernoulli’s Equation

From Continuity Equation:

Pipelines connected in series : Q1 = Q2

A1v1 = A2v2

v1 =

Consider all the losses:

i) Pipe inlet, hm1 =

ii) Pipe friction, hf1 =

iii) Sudden expansion, hm2 =

iv) Pipe friction, hf2 =

v) Pipe exit, hm3 =

Total head loss, ΣhL = (1.22 + 7.32 + 0.316 + 7.2 + 1.0) = 17.056

v2 = 3.39 m/s

Q = A2v2 = = 0.166 m3/s

Draw the TEL and the HGL using all the head loss below:

i) Pipe inlet, hm1 =

ii) Pipe friction, hf1 =

iii) Sudden expansion, hm2 =

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 iv) Pipe friction, hf2 =

v) Pipe exit, hm3 =

 

  A
10
9.29
TEL

5.0
HGL 4.82

 
v12/2g = 1.43
 

 
v22/2g = 0.6 0.6 B
  0

Example 6.5

Referring to Figure 5, water flows from a reservoir A to reservoir B through a series of pipes of
diameter 300 mm and 450 mm respectively. The length of each pipe is 1500 m and the reservoir water
level difference is 55 m. By considering all losses and with friction factor of 0.05:

i) Calculate the discharge in the pipes.

ii) Determine the head of the pump, placed at C required to reverse the flow. Sketch the Total
Energy Line and Hydraulic Grade Line.

A
 

 
C 55 m
 

 
B

Figure 5

Solution

i) d1 = 300 mm d2 = 450 mm
L1 = L2 = 1500 m f = 0.05

Flow from A to B, establish Bernoulli’s Equation

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From Continuity Equation:

Pipelines connected in series: Q1 = Q2

A1v1 = A2v2

v2 = 0.444 v1

Consider all the losses:

i) Pipe inlet, hm1 =

ii) Pipe friction, hfAC =

iii) Sudden expansion, hm2 =

iv) Pipe friction, hfCB =

v) Pipe exit, hm3 =

Total head loss = (0.5 + 1000 + 0.3086 + 131.687 + 0.1975) = 1132.693

v1 = 0.98 m/s

v2 = 0.444 v1 = 0.43 m/s

Q = A1v1 = = 0.069 m3/s

ii) If flow is reversed from B to A

Hpump= 110 m

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Sketch the TEL and the HGL:

 
TEL

A HGL
 

  C
55 m
  Pump

 
B

Pipelines connected in parallel

Example 6.6

Two reservoirs as shown in Figure 6 were connected with two equal lengths of parallel pipes. Determine
the discharges through pipe 1 and pipe 2 using data below:

Consider all losses. Assume friction factor, f = 0.008.

Pipe Diameter (mm) Length (m)

1 50 100
2 100 100

A
 

 
Pipe 1
 
H = 10 m
  v1
Pipe 2
  v2
B

Figure 6
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Solution:

i) Determine Q1:

v1 = 1.731 m/s

Q1 = A1v1 = = 0.0034 m3/s

ii) Determine Q1:

v2 = 2.42 m/s

Q2 = A2v2 = = 0.019 m3/s

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Example 6.7

Two reservoirs as shown in Figure 7 were connected with two equal lengths of parallel pipes. The pipe
diameters are 10 cm and 30 cm respectively. If Q1 = 0.01 m3/s, determine the discharges through the 30
cm pipe. Assume friction factor, f to be equal for the two pipes and neglect minor head loss.

A
 

 
Pipe 1
 
d1 = 10 cm
 
Pipe 2
  d2 = 30 cm
B

Figure 7

Solution:

hf1= hf2

v1 = Q1/A1 = = 1.273 m/s

v2 = 2.2045 m/s

Q2 = A2v2 = = 0.156 m3/s

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Example 6.8

Determine the total discharges for the pipe systems connecting two reservoirs as shown in Figure 8.
Take into consideration all the head losses. Assume no head loss at Tee connection. (f = 0.005).

Data:

Pipe Length (m) Diameter (cm)

1 1100 30
2 1100 30
3 1100 30

A
 

  Pipe 1
v1 H = 75 m
  Pipe 2
v2
 
Pipe 3 B

v3

Figure 8

Solution:

Bernoulli’s Equation:

Parallel pipe:

hf2 = hf3

v2 = v3
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Continuity Equation:

Q1 = Q2 + Q3

A1v1 = A2v2 + A3v3

When d1 = d2= d3

A1 = A2 = A3

v1 = v2 = v3

v1 = v2 + v3 = 2v2

So,

v2 = 1.63 m/s

v1 = 2(1.63) = 3.26 m/s

Q1 = A1v1 = = 0.23 m3/s

Example 6.9

Two reservoirs as shown in Figure 9 were connected by the piping systems. Neglect minor head loss. If
Q at pipe BC = 35 L/s, determine:

i) the discharges through pipe EC.

ii) Hpump

Data:

Pipe Diameter (cm) Length (m)

AC 15 60
BC 15 120
CD 15 100
DE 15 20

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Take 4f = 0.024

A
Elev. 15 m
 

 
B Elev. 12 m
v2 v3
C

v1
D

Pump

E Elev. 0

Figure 9

Solution:

Continuity Equation:

Q1 = Q2 + Q3

A1v1 = A2v2 + A3v3

When d1 = d2= d3

A1 = A2 = A3

v1 = v2 + v3

v3 = m/s

v1 = v2 + 1.98

Use Bernoulli’s Equation between point E and point A:

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 …………….…..(Eqn. 1)

Use Bernoulli’s Equation between point E and point B:

……………..(Eqn. 2)

Eqn. 1 = Eqn. 2

v2 = 1.13 m/s

v1 = v2 + 1.98 = 1.13 + 1.98 = 3.11 m/s

Q1 = A1v1 = = 0.0581 m3/s = 58.1 L/s

So,

Hpump = 26.44 m

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