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Major and Minor Losses in

pipes
Roll No. : 110517
Section : M6
Head Losses
Major Losses
Minor Losses
Example Problem
Total Head Loss
Friction Loss
Extended Bernoullis equation
In the analysis of piping systems, pressure losses are commonly
expressed in terms of the equivalent fluid column height called
Head Losses (h
L
).

It also represents the additional height that the fluid needs to be
raised by a pump inorder to overcome the frictional losses in the
pipe
gd 2
fLV
g
P
h
2
avg
L
L
=

A
=
3
4
5
Physical problem is to relate pressure drop to fluid parameters and pipe
geometry
Differential Pressure Gauge-
measure P
Pipe
D
V
L

) , , , , , ( c D L V P A
Using dimensional
analysis we can show
that
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
A
D D
L VD
V
P c

, ,
2
1
2
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Apart from major loss due to friction, there are also other forms of losses which are caused by
changes in internal pipe geometries and by fitted components.

These types of losses are referred to as minor losses. There are four types of minor losses:

Sudden or gradual flow expansion and flow contraction,
Entrance and exit flows to and from reservoirs or tanks,
Bends, elbows, junctions and other fittings,
Valves, including those completely opened or partially closed.

Piping systems include fittings, valves, bends, elbows, tees, inlets, exits, enlargements, and
contractions.

These components interrupt the smooth flow of fluid and cause additional losses because of flow
separation and mixing.

The minor losses associated with these components:


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K
L
is the loss coefficient.
Is different for different components.
Typically provided by manufacturers.
g
V
K h
m
2
2
=
8
The loss coefficient of a component (such as the
gate valve shown) is determined by measuring the
pressure loss it causes and dividing it by the
dynamic pressure in the pipe.
Minor losses are usually expressed in terms of the loss coefficient KL
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Ans: 169 kPa
Total head loss in a system is comprised of major losses (in the pipe
sections) and the minor losses (in the components)





If the entire piping system has a constant diameter, then



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i pipe sections
j components
For laminar flow in rough pipes, the friction factor f is dominantly caused
by viscous friction due to molecular interaction. Hence, we can use
Eq. (8.12) for all occasions involving laminar flow.
However, for turbulent flow, the profile at the core of the pipe is close to
inviscid profile and the friction factor f is much due to the existence of
viscous sublayer near the wall.
Thus, if the wall surface is rougher, the resulting viscous sublayer is
thicker. The roughness of a pipe is measured in length which is defined as
equivalent roughness c. The values of c for typical pipes are listed in
Table 8.1.






Table 8.1 Equivalent Roughness for Typical New Pipes
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For turbulent flow, the friction factor f can be obtained by using the
graphical representation of the Colebrook formula which is the Moody
chart as shown in Figure 8.11











Table 8.11: The moody chart
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In some texts, the same experimental data are refitted to a simpler form of
correlation which can be solved directly with 2% error. This correlation is
known as the Haaland formula which takes the following form:


After knowing the friction factor f for the pipe, we can calculate the major
head loss due to friction for a fluid flowing in the pipe. If fluid properties,
and , pipe length and relative roughness of the pipe wall c are all
known, provided that other variables are also known, the problem can be
one of the following types:
1. Determine pressure loss Ap or friction head loss h
f
,
2. Determine volumetric flow-rate Q or average velocity V,
3. Determine pipe diameter D.
After knowing f, then h
f
can be calculated via Eq. (8.11),
(
(

+
|
.
|

\
|
=
Re
9 . 6
7 . 3
/
log 8 . 1
1
11 . 1
D
f
c
g
V
D
f h
f
2
2

=
13
Based on the previous discussion, the pressure distribution along a pipe system can be
characterized by using the extended Bernoulli's equation:

2
2
1 1 2 2
1 2
1 2 1 2
A E
2 2
For a horizontal(z =z ), fully-developed(V =V ), straight pipe system with no external power in or out
(h =h =0), the pressure drop is related to the losses alone,
A E L
P V P V
gz gh gh gh gz

+ + + = + +
2 2
1 2
that is,
L
1 1
frictional losses + minor losses =f ( ) ( )
2 2
D
L L
P P P gh V K V = A = = +

Both the loss coefficient and the frictional factor can be determined using the empirical
values available in standardized tables or charts in chapter 8.

Special note: due to the non-uniformity of the velocity profiles inside a pipe, the
kinetic energy terms in the extended Bernoulli's equation should be modified to
include this effect. The kinetic energy coefficient, o, is so defined in chapter 8.6.1.
See equations 8.28 and 8.29 to get more information.
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Courtesy: NIT Kurukshetra

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