Module 1: Ventilation and Mine Services

Pressure Losses
Guang Xu
Email: Guang.Xu@curtin.edu.au
Outline
Pressure losses
• Due to friction
• Due to discontinuity (shock losses)
• Due to obstruction
Bernoulli’s Equation

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Pressure losses due to friction
In fully turbulent flow, pressure Loss 𝑃 = 𝑅 ∙ 𝑄2
• P: static pressure loss, Pa
• Q: fluid flow quantity, m3/s
• R: resistance, Ns2/m8
• The equation is written in terms of quantity although
the effect is due to velocity

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Pressure losses due to friction
Laminar flow
• Fluid flows in parallel layers with no disruption
between the layers
Turbulent flow
• Fluid moves in a random fashion

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Pressure losses due to friction
Reynolds Number
𝜌∙𝐿∙𝑉
• 𝑅𝑅 =
𝜇
• ρ: fluid density, kg/m3
• L: hydraulic diameter, m
• V: fluid velocity, m/s
• μ: viscosity, kg/ms (1.8 ×10-5 for air)
• Upper limit of laminar flow starts between Re 2000 to
3000
• In laminar conditions, pressure loss is proportional to
velocity
• In turbulent conditions, pressure loss is proportional to
velocity squared

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Pressure losses due to friction
Hydraulic diameter
4∙𝐴
• 𝐷ℎ =
𝐶
• A: cross sectional area
• C: cross sectional circumference

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Pressure losses due to friction
Pressure Loss due to Friction
• 𝑃 = 𝑅 ∙ 𝑄2
• P: static pressure loss, Pa
• Q: fluid flow quantity, m3/s
• R: resistance, Ns2/m8
How to determine R?

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Pressure losses due to friction
How to determine R?
• Compute it from the pressure quantity survey
• This is the only accurate way
• Calculate using Atkinson’s Equation
• Estimation of R by graph

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Pressure losses due to friction
Compute it from the pressure quantity survey
• This is the only accurate way
• Trailing hose survey, also called gauge and tube
method

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Pressure losses due to friction
Calculate using Atkinson’s Equation
𝑘∙𝐶∙𝐿 𝜌
•𝑅= ∙ 𝑁𝑠 2 /𝑚8
𝐴3 1.2
• R: resistance, Ns2/m8
• k: friction factor, Ns2/m4
• Range 0.003 for smooth ducts to 0.015 for rough walls
• Can be obtained from reference books, but site direct measurement is prefered
• C: cross section circumference, m
• L: airway length, m
• A: cross sectional area, m2
𝑘∙𝐶∙𝐿 𝜌
•𝑃= ∙ ∙ 𝑄 2 𝑃𝑃
𝐴3 1.2

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Example (in note 1.1_p23)
The friction factor for a 3.0 by 5.0 m airway profile is 0.012
Ns2/m4. If the air density is 1.17 kg/m3, what is the
resistance R of a 100 m length of the airway?
• A = 3.0 × 5.0 = 15.0 m2 C = 2 × (3.0 + 5.0) = 16.0 m
𝑘∙𝐶∙𝐿 𝜌 0.012×16×100 1.17
• 𝑅100𝑚 = 𝐴3
∙ 1.2 = 15.03
× 1.2 = 0.005547 𝑁𝑠 2 /𝑚8

What is the frictional pressure loss when a ventilation rate

of 45 m3/s flows through 450 m of the airway?
𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 450
• 𝑅450𝑚 = 𝑅100𝑚 × 100
= 0.005547 × 100 = 0.025 𝑁𝑠 2 /𝑚8
• 𝑃 = 𝑅𝑄 2 = 0.025 × 45 = 51 𝑃𝑃2

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Pressure losses due to friction
Calculate using Atkinson’s Equation
𝑘∙𝐶∙𝐿 𝜌
•𝑅= ∙ 𝑁𝑠 2 /𝑚8
𝐴3 1.2
𝑘∙𝐶∙𝐿 𝜌
•𝑃= ∙ ∙ 𝑄 2 𝑃𝑃
𝐴3 1.2
• Where to get k friction factor?
• Can be calculated using surface roughness height

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Pressure losses due to friction
Friction Factor and Surface Roughness
1 2
2∙𝑒
1.74 −2𝑙𝑙𝑙10
1000∙𝐷ℎ
•𝑘= 𝑁𝑠 2 /𝑚4
6.67
• k: friction factor, Ns2/m4
• e: surface roughness, m
• Dh: hydraulic diameter, m

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Pressure losses due to friction
How to get surface roughness height?
• Measure
• Use empirical values

Some roughness heights

Fibreglass ducts 0.2 to 2 mm
Raisebore holes 10 to 25 mm
Coal mine development 50 to 150 mm
Blasted development 150 to 350 mm
Longwall face 500 to 1000 mm
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Pressure losses due to friction

• k factor is constant with e/D for mining applications

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Shock Losses
• Shock losses occur due to flow separation and
impact due to changes in direction of airflow
1
• 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑃𝑋 = 𝑋 ∙ ∙ 𝜌𝑉 2 𝑃𝑃
2
• X: shock loss factor
• Obtained from charts corresponding to the geometry of the component in question
•ρ: fluid density, kg/m3
• V: fluid velocity, m/s

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Shock Losses
Determine X factors (pg. 30, Notes 1.0)
• Select appropriate chart
• Obtain shock loss factor
• Note which velocity the factor applies to
• Calculate pressure loss from velocity pressure

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Shock Losses
• For example
• Determine the X factor for a 90 °C bend in a rectangular
duct

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 Pressure Losses due to Obstructions
Pressure loss due to obstruction: transverse
obstructions
1 𝜌
𝑝 = 𝐶𝑑 ∙ 𝐶𝑓 ∙ ∙ 2 ∙ 𝑄2 𝑃𝑃
2 𝐴
• Cd: drag coefficient
• ρ: air density
• Cf: coefficient of fill
• Cf = Ao/A
• A: airway cross sectional area
• Ao: frontal area • Q: air flow quantity
• A: airway cross sectional area

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Pressure Losses due to Obstruction
Drag Coefficients

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 Pressure Losses due to Obstruction
Drag Coefficients
• Needs to be corrected to account
for the effect of geometry
∗
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝐶𝑑 = 𝐶𝑑 × 𝐶𝐻𝐻 × 𝐶𝑆𝑆

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Example (in note 1.1_p34)
A 2.0 km long coal mine gate road is to be supported with
concrete filled pipes during longwall retreat.
The pipes are 800 mm diameter and are located at 4.0 spacing for
500m out by the face line.
The airway is 2.5 m high and 5.4 m wide, the airflow rate is 45
m3/s and the air density is 1.2 kg/m3.
Calculate the total pressure loss along the 500 m supported gate
road.

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Example (in note 1.1_p34)
 Total pressure loss = POb + Pf
1 𝜌
 Pressure loss due to obstruction: 𝑃𝑂𝑂 = 𝐶𝑑 ∗ ∙ 𝐶𝑓 ∙ ∙ ∙ 𝑄2 𝑃𝑃
2 𝐴2

 𝐶𝑑 ∗ = 𝐶𝑑 × 𝐶𝐻𝐻 × 𝐶𝑆𝑆

 Cd = 1.2

 Height / Width = 0.8 / 0.8 = 1.0, refer to the figure, CHW = 1.0

 Spacing / Width = 4.0 / 0.8 = 5.0, refer to the figure, CSW = 0.2

 𝐶𝑑 ∗ = 1.2 × 1.0 × 0.2 = 0.24

 Frontal area = A0 = 0.8×2.5 = 2.0 m2

 A = 2.5×5.4=13.5 m2

 Cf = A0/A = 2.0/13.5 = 0.148

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Example (in note 1.1_p34)
Pressure loss due to one pipe support
1 𝜌 1 1.2
𝑝 = 𝐶𝑑 ∗ ∙ 𝐶𝑓 ∙ ∙ ∙ 𝑄 2 = 0.24 × 0.148 × × × 452 = 0.234 𝑃𝑃
2 𝐴2 2 13.52

Number of pipes = 500/4.0 = 125

Pressure loss due to 125 pipe supports = 125 × 0.234 = 30 Pa
𝑘∙𝐶∙𝐿 𝜌
Pressure loss due to friction: 𝑃𝑓 = ∙ ∙ 𝑄 2 𝑃𝑃
𝐴3 1.2

Perimeter = 2×(2.5+5.4) = 15.8

0.009×15.8×500 1.2
𝑃𝑓 = × × 452 = 59 𝑃𝑃
13.53 1.2

Total Pressure loss in 500 m with support = 30 + 59 = 89 Pa

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Bernoulli’s Equation
With no fan or friction:
𝜌𝑉12 𝜌𝑉22
• 𝑃1 + + ρ𝑔ℎ1 = 𝑃2 + + ρ𝑔ℎ2
2 2
• Or:
𝜌
• 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝑉12 − 𝑉22 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2
2

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Bernoulli’s Equation
With fan and friction:
𝜌𝑉12 𝜌𝑉22
• 𝑃1 + + ρ𝑔ℎ1 + 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑃2 + + ρ𝑔ℎ2 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
2 2
• Or:
𝜌
• 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝑉12 − 𝑉22 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2 + 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
2

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Example
Constant Velocity
• P1=101,000 Pa (Absolute)
• Pfric=225 Pa
• Pfan=2600 Pa
• Pressure change due to elevation +2,010 Pa

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Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to trailing hose survey
• Also called gauge and tube method
• Measures frictional pressure loss

Figure source: Brian S. Prosser and Ian M. Loomis

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Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to trailing hose survey
• The manometer measures PEA-PEB
• PEA=TP1+ρg(h1-h2)
𝜌𝑉12
• 𝑇𝑇1 = 𝑆𝑆1 + 𝑉𝑉1 = 𝑆𝑆1 +
2
𝜌𝑉12
• 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑆𝑆1 + + 𝜌𝜌(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
2

EB
EA

Location 2 Location 1
Elevation h2 Guang Xu Elevation h1 29
Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to trailing hose survey
• The manometer measures PEA-PEB
𝜌𝑉22
• 𝑃𝐸𝐵 = 𝑇𝑃2 = 𝑆𝑆2 +
2

EB
EA

Location 2 Location 1
Elevation h2 Elevation h1
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Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to trailing hose survey
• The manometer measures PEA-PEB
𝜌𝑉12
• 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑆𝑆1 + + 𝜌𝜌(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
2
𝜌𝑉22
• 𝑃𝐸𝐵 = 𝑇𝑃2 = 𝑆𝑆2 +
2
𝜌
• 𝑃𝐸𝐸 − 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑆𝑆1 − 𝑆𝑆2 + (𝑉12 − 𝑉22 ) + 𝜌𝜌(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
2
• In uniformed airway, velocity does not change, V1=V2
• 𝑃𝐸𝐸 − 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑆𝑆1 − 𝑆𝑆2 + 𝜌𝜌(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )

31
Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to trailing hose survey
• 𝑃𝐸𝐸 − 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑆𝑆1 − 𝑆𝑆2 + 𝜌𝜌(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
• According to Bernoulli’s Equation:
𝜌
• 𝑆𝑃2 = 𝑆𝑃1 + 𝑉12 − 𝑉22 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2 + 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
2
• 𝑆𝑆2 = 𝑆𝑆1 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
• 𝑃𝐸𝐸 − 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑆𝑆1 − (𝑆𝑆1 +𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 ) +
𝜌𝜌(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )

𝑃𝐸𝐸 − 𝑃𝐸𝐸 = 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓

32
Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to traverse barometer surveys
• Also used to measure friction loss
• A barometer measures the absolute static pressure
𝜌
• 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝑉12 − 𝑉22 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2 + 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓
2
• 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2 − 𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓

𝑃𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 = 𝑃1 − 𝑃2 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2

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Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to orifice plates and regulators
• Used to measure flow rates in orifice
• Assume no friction and shock losses
𝜌
• 𝑃2 = 𝑃1 + 𝑉12 − 𝑉22 + 𝜌𝜌 ℎ1 − ℎ2
2
• Assume negligible change in elevation
𝜌
• ∆𝑃 = 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 𝑉12 − 𝑉22
2

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Bernoulli’s Equation
Application to orifice plates and regulators
𝜌
• ∆𝑃 = 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = 𝑉12 − 𝑉22
2
• Q=A1×V1=A2×V2
• V1=Q/A1
• V2=Q/A2
𝜌 𝑄 2 𝑄 2
• ∆𝑃 = 𝑃2 − 𝑃1 = −
2 𝐴1 𝐴2

• Q can be solved from the measured ∆𝑃

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Bernoulli’s Equation
However, losses need to be considered
The final corrected solution:
2∆𝑃
• 𝑄 = 𝐴2 ∙ 𝐶𝑑 𝑚2 /𝑠
𝜌 1−𝑚2
• Cd: coefficient of discharge
• Ranges 0.6-0.61 for area ratios from 0.1 to 0.6
• m=A2/A1

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Bernoulli’s Equation
Can be applied to decide the size of mine
regulators for a specified pressure reduction
2∆𝑃 𝑄 𝜌 1−𝑚2
• 𝑄 = 𝐴2 ∙ 𝐶𝑑 𝐴2 = ∙ 𝑚2
𝜌 1−𝑚2 𝐶𝑑 2∆𝑃
• A simplified equation, by assuming Cd = 0.6 and m =
0.1, is commonly used
𝐴2 ∆𝑃
•𝑄≈ 𝑚3 /𝑠
1.2 𝜌

𝝆 𝟐
𝑨𝟐 ≈ 𝟏. 𝟐𝟐 𝒎
∆𝑷

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Example
A Q=43.0 m3/s B

PA = 108 kPa PB = 107 kPa

The flow rate in the above airway needs to be reduced to 28.0 m3/s. Air
density is 1.2 kg/m3. Determine the size of regulator required.
𝜌
𝐴 ≈ 1.2𝑄
∆𝑃

What is the pressure required to force 28.0 m3/s air?

P=RQ2 R=1000/432=0.541  P=0.541×282=424 Pa
Therefore, the regulator needs to create a shock loos of 1000-424=576 Pa
1.2
𝐴 ≈ 1.2 × 28 × = 1.53 𝑚2
576
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 General Pressure Equation
SP2 + VP2 = SP1 + VP1 –Pfric - Px

Point 1
Point 2

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Example (in note 1.1_p31)
9.0 m3/s of air flows through an expansion from 610 mm to 900 mm diameter smooth
pipe.
Static pressure at A is +930 Pa and the loss through the expansion is 45 Pa.
What is the velocity, static and total pressure at point A and B? (𝜌𝑎𝑎𝑎 = 1.16 𝑘𝑘/𝑚3 )
𝐴𝐴 = 0.292 𝑚2 ; 𝐴𝐵 = 0.636 𝑚2
𝑄 9.0 𝑄 9.0
𝑉𝐴 = = = 30.8 𝑚/𝑠; 𝑉𝐵 = = = 14.2 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴𝐴 0.292 𝐴𝐵 0.636
𝜌𝑉 2 1.16×30.82 1.16×14.22
𝑉𝑉 =  𝑉𝑉𝐴 = = 550 𝑃𝑃; 𝑉𝑉𝐵 = = 117 𝑃𝑃
2 2 2

SPA = +930 pa
SPB + VPB = SPA + VPA –Pfric – Px  SPB = +930 + (550 – 117) -45 = 1318 Pa

𝑇𝑇𝐴 = 𝑆𝑆𝐴 + 𝑉𝑉𝐴 = 1480 𝑃𝑃; 𝑇𝑇𝐵 = 𝑆𝑆𝐵 + 𝑉𝑉𝐵 = 1435 𝑃𝑃

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