Faculty of Agriculture

Principle of Hydraulics
NR 340

Chapter 4

Pipelines and Pipe Networks

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 Introduction
Any water conveying system may include
the following elements:
• pipes (in series, pipes in parallel)
• elbows
• valves
• other devices.

• If all elements are connected in series,

The arrangement is known as a pipeline.
• Otherwise, it is known as a pipe network.
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 How to solve flow problems
• Calculate the total head loss (major and
minor) using the methods of chapter 3
• Apply the energy equation (Bernoulli’s
equation)

This technique can be applied for

different systems.

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 Flow Through A Single Pipe
(simple pipe flow)
• A simple pipe flow: It is a
• flow takes place in one pipe
• having a constant diameter
• with no branches.

• This system may include bends, valves,

pumps and so on.

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 2(
)

)1(

Simple pipe flow

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 )2 (

To solve such system:

)1 (
• Apply Bernoulli’s equation
P1 V12 P2 V22
  z1    z 2  hL  h p
 2g  2g
• where
fL V 2 V2
hL  h f  hm     KL
D 2g 2g
For the same material and constant diameter (same f , same V) we can write:

V 2  fLTotal 
hL  h f  hm     KL 
2g  D 
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 Example
• Determine the difference in the elevations between the water surfaces in
the two tanks which are connected by a horizontal pipe of diameter 30
cm and length 400 m. The rate of flow of water through the pipe is 300
liters/sec. Assume sharp-edged entrance and exit for the pipe. Take the
value of f = 0.032.

Z1 Z

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 Compound Pipe flow
• When two or more pipes with different
diameters are connected together head to
tail (in series) or connected to two common
nodes (in parallel)

The system is called compound pipe flow

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 Flow Through Pipes in Series
• pipes of different lengths and different
diameters connected end to end (in series) to
form a pipeline

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 Q  A1V1through
• Discharge:The discharge  A2Veach
2  pipe
A3V3is the same

Q  A1V1  A2V2  A3V3

• Head loss: The difference in liquid surface levels is equal to the sum
of the total head loss in the pipes:

PA V A2 PB VB2
  zA    z B  hL
 2g  2g

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 PA V A2 PB VB2
  zA    z B  hL
 2g  2g

z A  z B  hL  H
Where
3 4
hL   h fi   hmj
i 1 j 1

3
Li Vi 2 V12 V22 V22 V32
hL   fi  K ent  Kc  K enl  K exit
i 1 Di 2 g 2g 2g 2g 2g
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 Example
• Two new cast-iron pipes in series connect two reservoirs. Both pipes are
300 m long and have diameters of 0.6 m and 0.4 m, respectively.
• The elevation of water surface in reservoir A is 80 m. The discharge of
10o C water from reservoir A to reservoir B is 0.5 m3/sec.
• Find the elevation of the surface of reservoir B.
• Assume a sudden contraction at the junction and a square-edge entrance.

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 Flow Through Parallel Pipes

• If a main pipe divides into two

or more branches and again
join together downstream to Q1, L1, D1, f1
form a single pipe, then the Q2, L2, D2, f2
branched pipes are said to be
connected in parallel Q3, L3, D3, f3
(compound pipes).

• Points A and B are called

nodes.
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 Q1, L1, D1, f1

Q2, L2, D2, f2

Q3, L3, D3, f3

• Discharge:
3
Q  Q1  Q2  Q3   Qi
i 1

• Head loss: the head loss for each branch is the same

hL  h f 1  h f 2  h f 3

L1 V12 L2 V22 L3 V32

f1  f2  f3
D1 2 g D2 2 g D3 2 g

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 Example
Determine the flow in each pipe and the flow in the main pipe if Head
loss between A & B is 2m & f=0.01

Solution
hf 1  hf 2  2 L2 V22
f . 2
L1 V12 D2 2 g
f . 2
D1 2 g 30 V22
0.01 
25 V12 0.05 2  9.81
0.01  2
0.04 2  9.81 V2  2.557 m/s
V1  2.506 m/s π
Q2  0.05  2.557  5.02 10 3 m 3 /s
2

π 4
Q1  V1 A1  0.042  2.506  3.15 103 m3 /s
4 Q  Q1  Q2  8.17  10 3 m 3 /s 15
 Example
The following figure shows pipe system from cast iron steel. The main
pipe diameter is 0.2 m with length 4m at the end of this pipe a Gate
Valve is fixed as shown. The second pipe has diameter 0.12m with
length 6.4m, this pipe connected to two bends R/D = 2.0 and a globe
valve. Total Q in the system = 0.26 m3/s at T=10 °C. Determine Q in
each pipe at fully open valves.

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 Solution
2
 0.2  2
Aa  π    0 .0314 m
 2 
2
 0.12  2
Ab  π    0.0113 m
 2 

Q  Q1  Q2
0.26 m3  AaVa  AbVb  0.0314Va  0.0113Vb

ha  hb
2 2 2
La Va
2
Va
2 Lb Vb Vb Vb
ha  f a  0.15 hb  f b  20.19  10
Da 2 g 2g Db 2 g 2g 2g
17
 2 2
  4   Va   6.4   Vb
f
 a  0.2   0.15  f
 2 g  b  0.12   0.38  10  2g
       

f a  0.0185
20 f a  0.15Va 2
 53.33 f b  10.38Vb
2
f b  0.0255

200.0185  0.15Va 2  53.330.0255  10.38Vb 2

Va  4.719 Vb

0.26 m3  AaVa  AbVb  0.0314(4.719Vb )  0.0113Vb

Va  7.693 m/s Qa  AaVa  0.03147.693  0.242 m 3 /s

Vb  1.630 m/s Qb  AbVb  0.01131.630   0.018 m 3 /s

18
 Example
Determine the flow rate in each pipe (f=0.015) check the
number???
Also, if the two pipes are replaced with one pipe of the same length
determine the diameter which give the same flow.

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21
 Group work Example
• Four pipes connected in parallel as shown. The following details
are given:

Pipe L (m) D (mm) f

1 200 200 0.020
2 300 250 0.018
3 150 300 0.015
4 100 200 0.020

• If ZA = 150 m , ZB = 144m, determine the discharge in

each pipe ( assume PA=PB = Patm)

22
 Group work Example
Two reservoirs with a difference in water levels of 180 m and are connected
by a 64 km long pipe of 600 mm diameter and f of 0.015. Determine the
discharge through the pipe. In order to increase this discharge by 50%,
another pipe of the same diameter is to be laid from the lower reservoir for
part of the length and connected to the first pipe (see figure below).
Determine the length of additional pipe required.

=180m
QN QN1

QN2

23
 Pipe line with negative Pressure
)siphon phenomena(
• Long pipelines laid to transport water from one reservoir to another
over a large distance usually follow the natural contour of the land.
• A section of the pipeline may be raised to an elevation that is above
the local hydraulic gradient line (siphon phenomena) as shown:

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 )siphon phenomena(

Definition:
It is a long bent pipe which is used to transfer liquid
from a reservoir at a higher elevation to another
reservoir at a lower level when the two reservoirs are
separated by a hill or high ground

Occasionally, a section of the pipeline may be

raised to an elevation that is above the local HGL.

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Siphon happened in the following cases:

• To carry water from one reservoir to another

reservoir separated by a hill or high ground
level.
• To take out the liquid from a tank which is not
having outlet
• To empty a channel not provided with any
outlet sluice.

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Characteristics of this system
• Point “S” is known as the summit.
• All Points above the HGL have pressure less
than atmospheric (negative value)
• If the absolute pressure is used then the
atmospheric absolute pressure = 10.33 m
• It is important to maintain pressure at all
points ( above H.G.L.) in a pipeline above the
vapor pressure of water (not be less than
zero Absolute )
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 A S

2 2
Vp Pp VS P
  Zp   S  Z S  hL
2g  2g 
2
VS PS
Z p  ZS    hL
2g 

-ve value Must be -ve value ( below the atmospheric pressure)

Negative pressure exists in the pipelines wherever the pipe line is
06/04/23raised above the hydraulic gradient line (between P & Q) 28
The negative pressure at the summit point can reach theoretically
-10.3 m water head (gauge pressure) and zero (absolute pressure)
But in the practice water contains dissolved gasses that will
vaporize before -10.3 m water head which reduces the pipe flow
cross section.
Generally, this pressure reach to -7.6m water head (gauge
pressure) and 2.7m (absolute pressure)

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 Example
Siphon pipe between two pipe has diameter of 20cm and length
500m as shown. The difference between reservoir levels is 20m.
The distance between reservoir A and summit point S is 100m.
Calculate the flow in the system and the pressure head at summit.
f=0.02

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 Solution

06/04/23 31
 Pumps
• Pumps may be needed in a pipeline to lift water
from a lower elevation or simply to boost the rate
of flow. Pump operation adds energy to water in
the pipeline by boosting the pressure head

• The computation of pump installation in a

pipeline is usually carried out by separating the
pipeline system into two sequential parts, the
suction side and discharge side.

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 H P  H R  H s  hL

See example 4.5

Pumps design will be

discussed in details in
next chapters

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 Branching pipe systems
Branching in pipes occur when water is brought by pipes to a
junction when more than two pipes meet.
This system must simultaneously satisfy two basic conditions:
1 – The total amount of water brought by pipes to a junction must equal to
that carried away from the junction by other pipes.
Q  0
2 – All pipes that meet at the junction must share the same pressure at the
junction. Pressure at point J = P

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How we can demonstrate the hydraulics of branching
pipe System??

by the classical three-reservoirs problem

Three-reservoirs problem
(Branching System)
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 This system must satisfy:
1) The quantity of water brought to junction “J” is equal
to the quantity of water taken away from the junction:
Q3 = Q1 + Q2 Flow Direction????

2) All pipes that meet at junction “J” must share the

same pressure at the junction.

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Types of three-reservoirs problem:
Two types
Type 1:
• given the lengths , diameters, and materials of all pipes involved;
D1 , D2 , D3 , L1 , L2 , L3 , and  or f
• given the water elevation in each of the three reservoirs,
Z1 , Z2 , Z3
• determine the discharges to or from each reservoir,
Q1 , Q2 ,and Q3 .

This types of problems are most conveniently

solved by trail and error

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• First assume a piezometric surface elevation, P , at the junction.
• This assumed elevation gives the head losses hf1, hf2, and hf3
• From this set of head losses and the given pipe diameters, lengths, and
material, the trail computation gives a set of values for discharges Q1 ,
Q2 ,and Q3 .
• If the assumed elevation P is correct, the computed Q’s should satisfy:
 Q  Q1  Q2  Q3  0
• Otherwise, a new elevation P is assumed for the second trail.
• The computation of another set of Q’s is performed until the above
condition
06/04/23 is satisfied. 38
Note:
• It is helpful to plot the computed trail values of P against .
• The resulting difference may be either plus or minus for each
trail.
• However, with values obtained from three trails, a curve may
be plotted as shown in the next example.

The correct discharge is indicated by the

intersection of the curve with the vertical axis.

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 Example
In the following figure determine the flow in each pipe
Pipe CJ BJ AJ
Length m 2000 4000 1000
Diameter cm 40 50 30
f 0.022 0.021 0.024

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 Trial 1
ZP= 110m
Applying Bernoulli Equation between A , J :

2
L1 V1 1000 V12
Z A  Z P  f1 . 
 120  110  0.024  
D1 2 g 0.3 2 g

V1 = 1.57 m/s , Q1 = 0.111 m3/s

Applying Bernoulli Equation between B , J :

2
L V 4000 V22
ZP  ZB  f2 2 . 2 
 110  100  0.021  
D2 2 g 0.5 2 g

V2 = 1.08 m/s , Q2 = - 0.212 m3/s

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 Applying Bernoulli Equation between C , J
:
2
L V 2000 V32
Z P  ZC  f3 3 . 3 
 110  80  0.022  
D3 2 g 0.4 2 g
V3 = 2.313 m/s , Q2 = - 0.291 m3/s

Q  Q  Q1 2  Q3  0.111  0.212  0.291  0.392  0

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 Trial 2
ZP= 100m

 Q  Q1  Q 2  Q 3  0.157  0  0.237  0.08 m 3

/s0

Trial 3
ZP= 90m

 Q  Q1  Q 2  Q3  0.192  0.3  0.168  0.324 m 3

/s0

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 Draw the relationship between Q and P

  Q  0  at P  99m

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Type 2:
• Given the lengths , diameters, and materials of all pipes involved;
D1 , D2 , D3 , L1 , L2 , L3 , and  or f

• Given the water elevation in any two reservoirs,

Z1 and Z2 (for example)

• Given the flow rate from any one of the reservoirs,

Q1 or Q2 or Q3

• Determine the elevation of the third reservoir Z3 (for example) and the rest of Q’s

This types of problems can be solved by simply using:

• Bernoulli’s equation for each pipe
• Continuity equation at the junction.

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 Example
In the following figure determine the flow in pipe BJ & pipe CJ. Also,
determine the water elevation in tank C

06/04/23 46
 Solution
Applying Bernoulli Equation between A ,
J:
Q1 0.06
V1    0.849 m/s
A1 π
0.32
4
2
L1 V1 1200 0.849 2
Z A  Z P  f1 .  40  Z P  0.024  
D1 2 g 0.3 2  9.81
Z P  36.475 m
Applying Bernoulli Equation between B , J
:
2 2
L V 600 V2
ZB  ZP  f 2 2 . 2 
 38  36.475  0.024  
D 2 2g 0.2 2  9.81
 Q 2  0.0203 m 3 /s
V2  0.645m/s 

06/04/23 47
 Applying Bernoulli Equation between C , J
:
 Q  Q1  Q2  Q3  0
Q3  Q1  Q2  0.06  0.0203  0.0803 m 3 / s

Q3 0.0803
V3    1.136 m / s
A3 
0.32
4
2
800 1.136
2
L3 V3
Z P  ZC  f3 . 
 36.475 - Zc  0.024  
D3 2 g 0.3 2g
Z c  32.265 m

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 Group Work
Find the flow in each pipe
f  0.01

06/04/23 49