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Standard Line Sizing Spreadsheet For Liquids
Introduction
This spreadsheet can be used to calculate pressure drops in liquid lines, taking account fittings (such as bends,
valves and other equipment items).
The spreadsheet is split into the following sections
- A "How to Use This Calculation" Worksheet
- The Pressure Drop Calculation Worksheet itself - marked "Calculation"
- A Theory Worksheet which presents the equations used in the calculation.
It is recommended that the user first reads the 'How to Use These Calculation' worksheet before starting a
calculation.
Revision
Rev. 1
Initial issue
Rev. 1A
Cosmetic changes only (spell checking & revised disclaimer)
12-Oct-09
15-Dec-09
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible
for its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
Introduction
This spreadsheet can be used to calculate pressure drops in pipelines, taking account of inline fittings (such as
bends, valves and other equipment items.
The spreadsheet has four columns which link from one to the next. This can be used to break a piping system
down into a number of component sections, if needed.
2.0
2.1
Colour Coding
The following colour coding is used:
Boxes shaded light green require a user input.
Boxes shaded light blue give a calculated output.
2.2
Calculation Description
The spreadsheet leaves space to add a Calculation Title at the top, and a Notes Section at the bottom
of the sheet. At the top of the calculation column are two boxes ('To' and 'From') to indicate the pipe
route.
Although these items are not strictly necessary, they help describe the calculation - this can be
invaluable it is to be checked by another engineer. The 'To' and 'From' Sections are particularly useful
if the calculation is split over several columns.
2.3
Pressure Data
The user enters the upstream pressure in the first column. The spreadsheet then calculates the downstream
pressure - based on the flow, physical property and pipeline data entered (see below). The downstream
pressure from the first column is transferred across to the upstream pressure of the second column, thus
allowing a pipework network to be built up.
2.4
Viscosity
The user inputs the liquid viscosity in Centipoise (Cp). It should be noted that viscosity
changes with temperature - thus the user must ensure that the viscosity value entered
must be at the correct temperature.
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held
responsible for its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
2.5
Revision 1A
Density
The user inputs the liquid density in kg/m3. As with viscosity, the density changes with
temperature - thus the user must ensure that the density value entered must be at the
correct temperature.
Pipe Data
2.5.1
2.5.2
Pipe Schedule
The spreadsheet allows the user to choose from a range of available pipe schedules
(thicknesses) - these are: 5S, 10S, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, XS and XXS.
By entering the nominal diameter and schedule, the spreadsheet automatically retrieves the
correct internal diameter of the pipe. It should be noted that not all combinations of nominal
diameter and schedule are permissible; if the wrong combination is selected the spreadsheet
displays an error. A list of standard pipe sizes can be found by clicking on the link below:
List of Standard Pipesizes
On occasions, the user may wish to calculate a pressure drop for a non-standard pipe. In this
case, the user can simply over write the internal diameter cell on the spreadsheet (either in
inches or mm).
2.5.3
2.6
Pipe Schedule
The pressure drop per unit length is affected by the pipe surface roughness - which depends
on the materials of construction. The spreadsheet is provided with a range of possible pipe
material types: glass/tubing, steel (new), steel (corroded), concrete and riveted steel. By
selecting the piping material type, the spreadsheet automatically sets the surface roughness.
Flowrates
The user enters the required liquid flowrate in kg per hour. The spreadsheet then calculates the
volumetric flowrate (in m3/s), the line velocity (m/s) and the pressure drop per unit length.
(in bar/100m).
The calculated line velocity and pressure drop per unit length can be used to assess whether the pipe
diameter is reasonable for the required flowrate.
2.7
Line Losses
The spreadsheet can now be used to determine the line losses (pressure drop) through the system. The
user enters the total pipe length, as well as the number of inline fittings (bends, valves and Tee-junctions).
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held
responsible for its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
The spreadsheet then calculates the line losses - see Summary Section below.
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held
responsible for its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Revision 1A
Elevation Changes
For liquid systems, variation in height can have a major impact onto the total pressure drop. To
account for this, the spreadsheet allows the user to enter changes in elevation.
- For increases in elevation - i.e. the end of the pipe is higher than the inlet, the
change in elevation should be entered as a positive number (this will result in a
larger total pressure drop than if the pipe had been level.
- For decreases in elevation - i.e. the end of the pipe is lower than the inlet, the
change in elevation should be entered as a negative number (this will result in a
smaller total pressure drop than if the pipe had been level.
2.8.2
2.9
Summary
The summary section provides a summary of the calculation results, namely:
- Calculated line losses
- Calculated static head gain
- Other pressure drops.
These three values are used to calculate the total pressure drop in the line and the downstream pressure.
3.0
For pressure drop calculations down a single pipe, only the first column of the pressure drop calculation needs to
be used. The other three calculation columns can be ignored.
However, for more complex piping systems, the other calculation columns can be used to build up a piping network
This can be very useful if, for example, the user needs to determine pressure drop in distribution systems.
To make this easier, the downstream pressure of the first column is used as the upstream pressure of the second
column and so on. The physical property and flowrate data entered in the first column is copied across to the
other three columns to make it easier to set up a network - these values can be overwritten, if required.
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held
responsible for its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
www.myChemE.com
Calculation Title:
From:
To:
Pressure Data
Upstream Pressure
Physical Property Data
Viscosity
Liquid Density
Pipe Data
Nominal Line Diameter
Pipe Schedule
Pipe Material Type
Internal Diameter
Internal Diameter
Flowrates
Mass Flow
Volumetric Flow
Line Velocity
Pres drop per 100m
Line Losses
Pipe Length
Number of 90o bends
Number of valves
Check Valves
T-Piece straight run
T-Piece as elbow
Other Pressure Drops
Elevation Increase
Other Pressure Drops
Summary
Line Losses
Static Pressure Gain
Other Pressure Drops
Total Pressure Drop
Downstream Pressure
bar (g)
1.02
0.85
0.85
0.85
Cp
kg/m3
1.0
1000
1.0
1000
1.0
1000
1.0
1000
1.50
10S
Steel (New)
1.68
42.7
0.50
40
Steel (New)
0.62
15.8
3.00
40
Steel (New)
3.07
77.9
3.00
40
Steel (New)
3.07
77.9
2,160
2.16
0.42
0.060
2,160
2.16
3.06
8.696
2,160
2.16
0.13
0.003
2,160
2.16
0.13
0.003
280
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
m
bar
0.0
0.00
0.0
0.00
0.0
0.00
0.0
0.00
bar
bar
bar
bar
bar (g)
0.17
0.00
0.00
0.17
0.85
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.85
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.85
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.85
inches
inches
mm
kg/h
m3/h
m/s
bar/100m
Notes
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible
for its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
Revision: 1A
www.myChemE.com
Introduction
This spreadsheet can be used to calculate pressure drops in pipelines, taking account of inline fittings (such as
bends, valves and other equipment items. To use the spreadsheet, follow the instructions given in the "How to
Use this Spreadsheet" Worksheet.
This worksheet presents the equations and algorithms used in the calculation and discusses elements of fluid flow
theory.
2.0
2.1
A =
2.2
d
4
Equation (1)
u =
m
A
Equation (2)
Where:
m - Mass flowrate (in kg/s)
- Liquid density (in kg/m3)
A - Cross-sectional flow area (in m2)
2.3
Re =
Where
u d
Equation (3)
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible for
its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
Revision: 1A
www.myChemE.com
Pipe Roughness
2.0E-06 m
5.0E-05 m
1.0E-03 m
2.6E-04 m
3.0E-04 m
5.0E-03 m
The effect of pipe roughness becomes less important as the pipe diameter increases, thus the spreadsheet
calculates the pipe roughness relative to the pipe diameter using Equation 4.
2.5
Equation (4)
fFanning = 2 x
8
Re
12
1
(A + B)1.5
Equation (5)
Where
1
A = 2.457 x ln
7
Re
0.9
+ 0.27 x
Equation (6)
and
B =
37530
Re
Equation (7)
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible for
its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
Revision: 1A
www.myChemE.com
Re
Equation (7)
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible for
its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
Revision: 1A
www.myChemE.com
2.6
Pipe
4 fFanning LPipe
d
.u2
2
Equation (8)
Where
PPipe - Pipe line pressure drop (in Pa)
LPipe - Pipe length (in m)
metres
4 fFanning x 100
.u2
Bar per 100m =
5
2
d x 10
Pa / bar
2.7
Equation (9)
Fittings
.u2
2
Equation (10)
N.B. It can be seen from Equations 8 and 10 that the Resistance Coefficient equates to (4f FanningL)/d for
a straight length of pipe. The spreadsheet uses the following Resistance Coefficients for different pipe
fittings
Fitting
90o Bends
Valve
Check Valve
Straight Tee piece
Thru' Tee Piece
Resistance Coeff, K
0.8
1.2
1.5
0.1
0.7
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible for
its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.
Revision: 1A
www.myChemE.com
2.8
Elevatio
n
x 9.81 x h
105
Equation (11)
Pa / bar
Disclaimer: This calculation provides an estimate for estimating pressure drops in liquid pipelines. We cannot be held responsible for
its use. As with all areas of process engineering, calculations should be checked by a competent engineer.