Calculating Pressure Losses in Pipelines
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ScribdTranslationsCalculating Pressure Losses in Pipelines
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsCalculation of overall pressure losses
The calculation of linear pressure loss, that corresponding to the general flow in a
rectilinear conduit is given by the following general formula:
p = linear pressure drop in Pa
loss coefficient (dimensionless number)
p = density of water in kg/m3
V = flow velocity in m/s
D = hydraulic diameter of the tube in m
L = length of the tube in m
It is observed that the overall pressure losses depend on the following elements:
The pressure drop is logically directly proportional to the length of the
channeling: it increases when the length of the channeling increases.
When the diameter decreases, the pressure loss increases considerably. The liquid
has more difficulties flowing, so the friction increases for a flow rate
identical.
The higher the flow rate (higher speed), the greater the frictional forces increase.
for the same diameter.
Flow regimes
The nature of the flow regime of a fluid is determined by the value of the number of
Reynolds. The different flow regimes are visualized by the graphical representation.
the Moody diagram using the Reynolds number for the X-axis and the factor of
friction F for the Y-axis.
The flow regime of a fluid is characterized by 3 forms:
Laminar flow A Reynolds number below 2000 indicates that the flow is
calm and steady.
Turbulent regime A Reynolds number greater than 4000 indicates that the flow is
in the form of a whirlpool and eddies.
Critical zone The Reynolds number between 2000 and 4000 indicates that the flow is
unstable between the laminar regime and the turbulent regime.
Viscosity
The viscosity of a liquid is its characteristic of being more or less fluid or, in other words,
terms, to oppose more or less resistance to pumping or passing through a
orifice or a pipe. Temperature has a great influence on viscosity.
Reynolds number is inversely proportional to kinematic viscosity. Viscosity
A fluid's property is a characteristic that allows determining the resistance to movement of the
fluid. The higher the kinematic viscosity, the more difficult it will be to move the fluid.
in the pipeline.
The more viscous the fluid, the higher the friction, hence the pressure drop.
increase.
Temperature dependence on viscosity:
Gaseous fluids = Viscosity increases with the increase in temperature.
Fluids = Viscosity decreases with increasing temperature.
Kinematic viscosity (v) is the ratio of dynamic viscosity to the density of the fluid.
Kinematic viscosity in m2/s Kinematic viscosity in centistokes (mm2/s)
v = kinematic viscosity in mm²/s (or centistokes) - (legal system (S.I) in m²/s =
1000000 centistokes
µ = dynamic viscosity of water Pa.s or (kg/m s)
p = density of water in kg/m3
Calculation of the Reynolds number
The Reynolds number is non-dimensional (therefore without units). It combines 3
important characteristics of flow and fluid: velocity, density, and viscosity.
The diameter is required to make the number dimensionless. The diameter is called the
characteristic length.
A Reynolds number of 2000 or less indicates laminar flow while
a number of 4000 or more indicates turbulent flow.
The Reynolds number is defined as follows:
Depending on the kinematic viscosity Depending on the dynamic viscosity
V = flow velocity in m/s p = density in kg/m3
d = hydraulic diameter of the tube in V = speed in m/s
mm
D = hydraulic diameter of the conduit
v = kinematic viscosity of water in in m
mm²/s (or centistokes)
µ = dynamic viscosity in Pa.s (or
(Legal system (S.I) in m²/s = 1000000 kg/m.s
centistokes or mm²/s
(kg/m.s = 1 Poiseuille = 10 poises)
Pressure loss coefficient
Laminar flow (Re ≤ 2000)
In laminar flow, the nature or state of the surface of the inner walls of the pipes
does not intervene in the calculation of the pressure loss.
The pressure loss coefficient is determined by the following function:
coefficient of pressure drop
Re = Reynolds number
Laminated flow is encountered in practice only in transport and handling.
viscous fluids, such as crude oil, fuel oil, oils, etc.
Turbulent flow (Re > 2000)
In the critical zone, that is to say between 2000 and 4000 Reynolds, the calculation formula used
will be treated in the same way as in a turbulent flow regime.
In turbulent flow, the friction factor is represented by the Colebrook formula.
considered as the one that best translates flow phenomena in regime
turbulent.
It is observed that this formula is in implicit form; therefore, the search for it
can only be done through successive approaches (iterative calculation)
With :
loss coefficient.
k = roughness index of the tube in mm.
d = hydraulic diameter of the tube in mm.
Re= Reynolds number.
The roughness of the pipeline corresponds to the usual notion of presence more or less
important roughness on a surface. It is noted here that when the roughness of a
The channeling increases the friction which will be more numerous, hence the loss of pressure.
will increase.
The pressure drop is therefore a function of the pipe material.
Typical values of roughness indices (K) in mm
Nature of the inner surface Roughness index k
1 cuivre, plomb, laiton, inox 0.001 to 0.002
2 PVC Pipe 0.0015
3 Stainless steel 0.015
4 commercial steel tube 0.045 to 0.09
5 Drawn steel 0.015
6 Welded steel 0.045
7 galvanized steel 0.15
8 Rusty steel 0.1 to 1
9 new source 0.25 to 0.8
10 used source 0.8 to 1.5
11 embedded font 1.5 to 2.5
12 sheet or asphalted cast iron 0.01 to 0.015
13 well smoothed cement 0.3
14 Ordinary concrete 1
15 coarse concrete 5
16 well-planed wood 5
17 ordinary wood 1
Influence of the antifreeze rate (glycol)
In the case of adding antifreeze (glycol) to water, the kinematic viscosity (in
centistokes) varies as follows:
t = temperature in °C
a = percentage of glycol
Conclusion
In conclusion, to reduce the overall pressure losses in a pipeline in order to
to reduce operating costs related to pumps, it is necessary to: