1. Module 4
Flow in pipes
1- Losses in pipes
Pressure loss due to friction in a pipeline.
In a pipe with a real fluid flowing, at the wall there is a shearing stress retarding the flow, as shown
below.
The pressure at 1 (upstream) is higher than the pressure at 2.
We can do some analysis to express this loss in pressure in terms of the forces acting on the fluid.
Consider a cylindrical element of incompressible fluid flowing in the pipe, as shown
2. The pressure at the upstream end is p, and at the downstream end the pressure has fallen by p to (p-
p).The driving force due to pressure (F = Pressure x Area) can then be written
driving force = Pressure force at 1 - pressure force at 2
Darcy formula for the loss of head in pipelines
An alternative form of Darcy formula if Q is the discharge
3. Example: page 104 information sheet
If Q = 2.73 m3/min , f = 0.01, L = 300 m , d = 150 mm
2- Shock losses
P1 P2
V1 V2
A1 A2
Head lost at enlargement hL
For continuity of flow
A1V1 = A2V2
V2 =
hL
Example 1 page 96
A pipe increases suddenly in diameter from 0.5 m to 1 m . a mercury U-tube has one leg
connected just upstream of the change and the other leg connected to the larger section a
short distance downstream. If there is difference of 35 mm in the mercury levels the rest of
the gauge being filled with water find the discharge.
Solution
Sudden contraction
P1 P2
V1 V2
A1 A2
4. Example 2 page 101
A pipe carrying 0.06 m3 /s suddenly contracts from 200 mm to 150 mm diam. Assuming that
a vena contract is formed in the smaller pipe calculate the coefficient of contraction if the
pressure head at a point upstream of contraction is 0.655 m greater than at a point just down
stream of the vena contract.
Solution
Applications on pipelines problems
Examples 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 page 106 - 113