TOPIC 1 :

PIPE FLOW ANALYSES

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. To apply energy equation to incompressible flow in pipes

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TOPIC 1 : PIPE FLOW ANALYSIS
8. Introduction and general approach
9. Incompressible flow through pipes
10. Flow through pipes in series
11. Flow through pipes in parallel
12. Flow through branching pipes
13. Pipe networks
14. Quantity Balance Method

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LECTURE 1. 9

Incompressible flow through pipes

(density of fluid constant)

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 GENERAL APPROACH
 Concerned with analysis of steady flow of water in
pipes and pipe network
 Only deals with flow in circular pipes flowing full under
steady conditions and flowing under gravity

 Problems analysed are typically flow of water

 From a reservoir discharging to the atmosphere
 From a reservoir of higher elevation to another of
lower elevation
Case 1

Case 2

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DARCY-WEISBACH EQN.
 The head loss due to friction, hf is used same as explained in
previous part.

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 Pipe fittings generally cause flow separation which will result in
head loss
 General expression for this type of head loss due to separation

where K = loss coefficient (dimensionless)

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1) Energy equation

+ hT

hT = hf + hs

2) Continuity equation

QA= QB
The Bernoulli theorem states that the total energy of the fluid anywhere in
the system is composed of three components: the pressure head, the
velocity head, and the elevation head. Since all real piping systems have
losses, so a system energy loss will be counted

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 EXAMPLE 1

9 6/10/2013
 SOLUTION FOR EXAMPLE 1
 Use the steady flow energy equation between points A and C

+ hT
 Where hT = hf + hs

hs

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 From continuity, QC=Q,
, thus,

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 EXERCISE 1
A pipeline connecting 2 reservoirs having a difference in
elevation of 10.5m is 2km long and 1.2m diameter. The
highest point in the pipeline is 5m above the upper reservoir
and is located at 600m from the entrance. If f=0.012, what is
the discharge in the pipeline? What is the pressure at the
highest point in the pipeline? The exit and entry are sharp.
C
5m
A

10.5m
B
Answer: v= 1.59m/s
15 Pc = -81.3kPa
 EXERCISE 2
Two reservoirs connected by a single pipeline, which is
400mm in diameter and 5km long.The difference in water
level elevations between the two reservoirs is 10m. Point B is
the highest point in the pipeline where it is 5m above the
water level in the upper reservoir.The length of the pipeline
from the entrance to point B is 2.0km. The exit and the entry
are sharp edges. Assume f =0.01.
i. Describe all losses in this pipeline
ii. Calculate the discharge in the pipeline. (Q=0.0786m3/s)
iii. What is the pressure at point B? (PB=-88.468Pa)

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