FLOW OF INCOMPRESSIBLE FLUIDS IN PIPES

ENTRANCE AND FULLY DEVELOPED REGION

Fully developed flow: du/dx = 0

Entrance region: inviscid core

1 2

Transition/Entrance Length
• Length of the pipe/tube before fully developed flow happens

Laminar Flow: Turbulent Flow:

𝑋𝐿 𝑋𝐿
= 0.06 𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 4.4 (𝑁𝑅𝑒)1/6
𝐷 𝐷

Example: Water at 200C enters a lead pipe with a diameter 10cm and length of 8m. The volumetric flow rate is
15.85 gal/min. Find the entrance length and identify whether the flow become fully developed.

Given:
Q = 15.85 gal/min = 0.001 m3/s
D = 10 cm = 0.1 m

Fluid Properties at 20oC

𝜌 = 998 kg/m3
𝜇 = 1.002 x 10-3 Pa s

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 1
1. Calculate for the Reynolds Number.

𝑘𝑔 0.001 𝑚³/𝑠
(998 ) (0.10𝑚) ( )
𝑚3 𝜋(0.10)𝑚²
𝜌𝐷𝑉 4
𝑁𝑟𝑒 = = −3
𝜇 1.002𝑥10 𝑃𝑎 • 𝑠
𝑘𝑔
𝜌𝐷𝑉 (998 𝑚3 ) (0.10𝑚)(0.1273)
𝑁𝑟𝑒 = =
𝜇 1.002𝑥10−3 𝑃𝑎 • 𝑠
𝑁𝑟𝑒 = 12679.1816 (𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡)

2. Calculate the entrance length using the given formula above.

𝑋𝐿 1
= 4.4(𝑁𝑅𝑒 )6
𝐷
1
𝑋𝐿 = 4.4(12,679.1816)6 (0.10 𝑚)

𝑋𝐿 = 2.1247 𝑚
*The entrance length is 2.12 m. Meaning beyond 2.1247 m, the flow is fully developed.

EQUIVALENT DIAMETER

The equivalent diameter is the diameter of a circular duct or pipe that gives the same pressure loss or resistance
as an equivalent rectangular duct or pipe.

Deq = 4rH rH: hydraulic radius = area of flow/wetted perimeter

Example: Find the equivalent diameter of the following.

a. A square having side D.

𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 4𝑟𝐻

𝐷2 𝐷
𝑟𝐻 = =
4𝐷 4
𝐷
𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 4 ⌈ ⌉
4

𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 𝐷

b. Circle with radius r.

𝜋𝑟 2 𝑟
𝑟𝐻 = =
2𝜋𝑟 2
𝑟
𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 4 ⌈ ⌉ 𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 2𝑟
2

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 2
𝑎𝑏 𝑎𝑏
c. Rectangle with a and b as its length and width respectively. 𝑟𝐻 = =
2𝑎+2𝑏 2(𝑎+𝑏)

𝑎𝑏
𝐷𝑒𝑞 = 4 ⌈ ⌉
2(𝑎 + 𝑏)

2𝑎𝑏
𝐷𝑒𝑞 =
𝑎+𝑏

FLOW OF INCOMPRESSIBLE NEWTONIAN FLUIDS IN PIPES

Newtonians: fluids in which the relative slip of fluid elements past each other is proportional to the shear on the
fluid.

Fanning friction factor

• Ratio of frictional loss to the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid.

𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒⁄𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒

𝑓𝐹 = ( )
𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦⁄𝑚3 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑

(𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠) = (𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑)

We would expect the friction factor to depend on the following:

a. Velocity of flow
b. Density of fluid
c. Viscosity
d. Pipe size
e. Roughness

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 3
MECHANICAL ENERGY BALANCE FOR FLOW IN PIPES

∆𝑃 ∆𝑧𝑔 𝑉 2 + 𝑉1 2
ℎ𝑓 = + + = 𝑄 + 𝑊𝑠 Bernoulli’s equation
𝜌 𝑔𝑐 2⋉

Can be written in terms

of head of a fluid, hL:
hL = 1/g ∑F

𝑃2 − 𝑃1
𝑔(𝑧2 − 𝑧1 ) + 𝑉 2 + 𝑉1 2 + + 𝑊𝑠 + ∑𝐹 = 0
𝜌

*These equations are used to solve pipe flow problems.

FRICTION FACTORS
Two different friction
• Darcy friction factor vs. Fanning friction factor factors are in common
use today.
fD = 4fF

• For laminar flow (NRe < 2100): *Theoretical expressions derived by Poiseuill

16 64
𝑓𝐹 = ; 𝑓𝐷 =
𝑁𝑅𝑒 𝑁𝑅𝑒

• For turbulent regime (NRe>4000)

a. Churchill Equation
1 0.27𝜀 7 0.9
= −4𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( + ( ) )
√𝑓 𝐷 𝑁𝑅𝑒

ԑ/D: relative roughness

b. Colebrook Equation

1 1𝜀 1.255
= −4𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( + )
√𝑓 3.7𝐷 𝑁𝑅𝑒√𝑓

c. Re Pavlov et al.

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 4
1 1𝜀 6.81 0.9
= −4𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( + ( ) )
√𝑓 3.7𝐷 𝑁𝑅𝑒

• For fully developed turbulence in rough pipes, where friction is independent of NRe:

a. In Rough Pipes

1 𝐷
= −4𝑙𝑜𝑔 (3.7 )
√𝑓 𝜀

b. In Smooth pipes (ԑ/D = 0)

1 𝑁𝑅𝑒
= 3.6𝑙𝑜𝑔
√𝑓 6.81

Example: Every summer I carefully grow a giant tomato plant because I love the taste of its fresh-picked fruit.
Since these plants need 2 lit of water each day of the growing season to produce these delectable and irresistible
fruits, how do I grow my plant next summer when I will be away for 4 weeks with no way to water it?

Given:
Q = 2 L/day = 2.3148 x 10-8 m3/s
D = 0.4 mm = 4 x 10-4 m

1. Find the velocity.

𝑄 = 𝐴𝑉

𝑄 2.3148𝑥10−8 𝑚3 /𝑠
𝑉= =
𝐴 𝜋(4𝑥10−4 𝑚)2
4
V = 0.1842 m/s
2. Find the value of Reynold Number.
𝜌𝐷𝑉
𝑁𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇
𝑘𝑔 𝑚
(1000 )(4𝑥10−4 𝑚)(0.1842 𝑠 )
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑚3
10−3
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 73.68 (𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟)
3. Using the Bernoulli Equation in Mechanical Energy Balance, calculate for hf.

∆𝑃 ∆𝑧𝑔 𝑉 2 + 𝑉1 2 Δzg/gc – cancelled because there is no change in

ℎ𝑓 = + + = 𝑄 + 𝑊𝑠
𝜌 𝑔𝑐 2⋉ height given (Potential Energy)
Q – cancelled because no heat is added or removed
Ws – cancelled because there is no shaft work
NJRA/FLUID FLOW 5
∆𝑃 𝑉 2 + 𝑉1 2 P1 becomes 201325 because atmospheric pressure
ℎ𝑓 + + =0
𝜌 2⋉ is added.

101325 − 201325 (0.1842)2 + (0)2

ℎ𝑓 + + =0
1000 2(0.5)

ℎ𝑓 = 99.9661

4. Calculate the friction factor using the formula given for laminar flow.

16
𝑓𝑓 =
𝑁𝑅𝑒

16
𝑓𝑓 = = 0.2172
73.68
5. Calculate for L using the formula for hf.

2𝑓𝑓 𝐿𝑉 2
ℎ𝑓 =
𝐷
2(0.2172)(𝐿)(0.1842)2
99.9661 = = 2.7130 𝑚
4𝑥10−4

Other solution:

Q = AV
𝑄 2.3148x10⁻⁸ m²/s 2.3148x10⁻⁸ m²/s
𝑉= = = = 0.1842 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴 𝜋(4x10−4 m)² 1.2566𝑥10⁻⁷
4

(1000 𝑘𝑔(𝑚3 )(4x10−4 m)(0.1842 m/s

𝑁𝑅𝑒 = = 73.68 (𝐿𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟)
10⁻³
𝑃2 − 𝑃1
𝑔(𝑍2 − 𝑍1 ) + 𝑉2 2 − 𝑉1 2 + + 𝑊𝑠 + ∑ 𝐹 = 0
𝜌
𝑃2 − 𝑃1
𝑉2 2 − 𝑉1 2 + + ∑𝐹 = 0
𝜌
101325 − 201325
(0.1842)2 − (0)2 + + ∑𝐹 = 0
1000
∑ 𝐹 = 99.9661

16 16
𝑓𝐹 = = = 0.2172
𝑁𝑅𝑒 73.68

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 6
2𝑓𝐹 𝐿𝑉 2
∑𝐹 =
𝑑
(2)(0.2172)(𝐿)(0.1842)2
99.9661 =
4 𝑥 10−4
𝐿 = 2.7130 𝑚

PRESSURE DROP EQUATION FOR LAMINAR FLOW

32𝜇𝑉𝐿
∆𝑃𝑠 = (Hagen Poiseuille Equation)
𝐷2

• Relation of Skin Friction and Pressure Drop

−∆𝑃𝑠
ℎ𝑓𝑠 =
𝜌

Example: Calculate the pressure drop per meter length of forcing lube oil through a 1 in. pipe.
Data are as follows:
Oil flow rate = 100 m3/hr = 0.0278 m3/s
Oil density = 0.88 g/cc = 800 g/m3
Oil viscosity = 25 cP = 0.025 Pa s

Given:
L=1m
D = 0.0254 m

1. Calculate the velocity.

𝑄
𝑉=
𝐴
0.0278 𝑚3 /𝑠
𝑉=
𝜋(0.0254)2
4
𝑉 = 54.86 𝑚/𝑠 2
2. Calculate the pressure drop using the Hagen Poiseuille Equation.
32𝜇𝑉𝐿
∆𝑃𝑠 =
𝐷2
𝑚
(32)(0.025 𝑃𝑎 𝑠)(54.86 𝑠 )(1 𝑚)
∆𝑃𝑠 =
(0.0254)2

∆𝑃𝑠 = 68026.54 𝑃𝑎

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 7
TURBULENT FLOW IN PIPES AND CHANNELS

Three layers of flowing fluid in turbulence

1. Viscous Sub layer

- The volume immediately adjacent to the wall where the velocity gradient is essentially constant
and the flow is viscous most of the time
- Occupies only a very small friction of the total x-section

2. Buffer Layer
- Transition layer that exists immediately adjacent to the viscous sublayer in which both the
viscous shear and eddie exist
- Also relatively thin

3. Turbulent Core
- The part of the turbulent flow that occupies the bulk of the cross section where in viscous shear
is negligible compared with eddy diffusion

Effect of Pipe Roughness

- For a given NRe in turbulent flow, a rough pipe leads to a larger friction factor than a smooth
pipe does

Hydraulically Smooth pipes

- A pipe that has reached its ultimate roughness or smoothness
- Further smoothing will not lead to further reduction of friction factor

FRICTIONAL LOSSES

1. From sudden contraction of cross section

Ke : expansion loss coefficient
𝐾𝑐𝑉𝑏2 𝑆
Kc :contraction loss coefficient
ℎ𝑓𝑐 = ; 𝐾𝑒 = 0.5 (1 − 𝑆𝑏 ) Kf :valves and fittings loss coefficient
2𝑔𝑐 𝑎
Va: average velocity
2. From sudden expansion/enlargement of cross section

𝐾𝑒𝑉𝑎2 𝑆 2
ℎ𝑓𝑒 = ; 𝐾𝑒 = [1 − 𝑆𝑎 ]
2𝑔𝑐 𝑏

𝐷𝑎2
𝐾𝑒 = [1 − 2 ]
𝐷𝑏

3. From Valves and Fittings

𝐾𝑓𝑉𝑎2
ℎ𝑓 =
2𝑔𝑐

Example: A centrifugal pump takes a brine from the bottom of a supply tank and delivers it into the bottom of
another tank. The brine level in the discharge tank is 150 ft, above that in a supply tank. The line between the
tank is 600 ft of 4-in-sch 40 pipe. The flowrate is 400 gal/min. In the line are two gate valves, four standard tees

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 8
and four ells. What is the energy cost for running the pump for one 24 hr day? The specific gravity of brine is
1.18 and μ is 1.2 cp and energy cost is $400/hp-yr on a basis of 300 d/yr. The overall efficiency of pump motor
is 60%. Given that ԑ=0.00015 ft.

Given:
𝑄 = 400 𝑔𝑎𝑙/𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0.8911𝑓𝑡 2 /𝑠
SG = 1.18
μ = 1.2 CP

Bernoulli’s Equation:
∆𝜌 ∆𝑧𝑔 𝑉2 2 − 𝑉1 2
ℎ𝑓 + + + = 𝑄 + 𝑊𝑠
𝜌 𝑔𝑐 2𝛼
∆𝑧𝑔
+ ℎ𝑓 = 𝑊𝑠
𝑔𝑐

Solving for PE:

𝑓𝑡
∆𝑧𝑔 32.2 2 𝑙𝑏𝑓 . 𝑓𝑡
= (150 𝑓𝑡) ( 𝑠 ) = 150.1212
𝑔𝑐 𝑙𝑏𝑚 . 𝑓𝑡 𝑙𝑏𝑚
32.174
𝑙𝑏𝑓 . 𝑠 2

Solving for Velocity:

𝑄 0.89112 𝑓𝑡 3 /𝑠
𝑉= = = 10.19 𝑓𝑡/𝑠
𝐴 𝜋(0.3355𝑓𝑡)2
4

Loss from valves and fittings:

• 2 gate valves
• 4 standard tees
• 4 ells

𝐾𝑓 𝑉𝑎2
ℎ𝑓 =
2𝑔𝑐

• 2 gate valves
(0.17)(10.19)2 𝑙𝑏𝑓 · 𝑓𝑡
2[ ] = 0.5486
2(32.174) 𝑙𝑏𝑚
• 4 standard tees
(0.4)(10.19)2
4[ ] = 2.5819
2(32.174)
• 4 ells
(0.75)(10.19)2
4[ ] = 4.8409
2(32.174)

𝑙𝑏𝑓 · 𝑓𝑡
ℎ𝑓𝑣 (𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙) = 7.9714
𝑙𝑏𝑚

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 9
Reynolds number:
𝜌𝐷𝑉
𝑁𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇
𝑘𝑔 𝑓𝑡
(73.6642 3 )(0.3355 𝑓𝑡)(10.0795 𝑠 )
𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 𝑚
𝑙𝑏𝑚
8.064 𝑥 10−4
𝑓𝑡. 𝑠

𝑁𝑅𝑒 = 308,913.9149 (𝑇𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡)

Use Churchill equation to get the value of f.

1 0.27𝜀 7 0.9
= −4𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( + ( ) )
√𝑓 𝐷 𝑁𝑅𝑒

𝑓 = 4.4952 𝑥 10−3

Solving for friction losses:

2𝑓𝐿𝑉 2
ℎ𝑓𝑠 =
𝑔𝑐 𝐷

(2)(4.4952 𝑥 10−3 )(600)(10.19)2 𝑙𝑏𝑓. 𝑓𝑡

ℎ𝑓𝑠 = = 51.8897
(32.174)(0.3355) 𝑙𝑏𝑚

Solving for Ws:

𝑙𝑏𝑓. 𝑓𝑡 𝑙𝑏𝑓. 𝑓𝑡 𝑙𝑏𝑓 · 𝑓𝑡 𝑙𝑏𝑓 · 𝑓𝑡
𝑊𝑠 = 150.1212 + 51.8897 + 7.9714 = 209.9823
𝑙𝑏𝑚 𝑙𝑏𝑚 𝑙𝑏𝑚 𝑙𝑏𝑚

Solving for Power and Energy Cost:

𝑙𝑏𝑓 · 𝑓𝑡
209.9823
𝑊𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 𝑙𝑏𝑚 = 349.9705 𝑙𝑏𝑓 · 𝑓𝑡 = 41.7739 ℎ𝑝
0.60 𝑙𝑏𝑚
₴400 1 𝑦𝑟
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 41.7739 ℎ𝑝 ( )( ) = ₴55.6985/𝑑𝑎𝑦
ℎ𝑝 − 𝑦𝑟 300 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠

NJRA/FLUID FLOW 10