HEAD LOSS CALCULATOR SPREADSHEET

STEP BY STEP USER GUIDE

ISSUE 1
HEAD LOSS CALCULATOR
Abstract
This spreadsheet allows the user to calculate the frictional head loss (m) for a given flow rate (LPS) and
pipe length (m), for a series of different diameter pipes (in).
Step by Step
1.
2.
3.
4.

Enter the length in metres of the pipe section.

Enter the controlled flow rate required in litres per second.
Optional : Enter the cost of each 100m length of pipe and associated fittings for each pipe
diameter.
For each pipe diameter the head loss is given in metres as well as the cost of the arrangement.

Error Messages

The presence of the "Range" term in a cell signifies that the input data is outside the
parameters of the friction chart.

Example
Consider a spring box at an elevation of 50m above a reservoir tank. The required flow rate is 0.27 LPS
and the distance from the spring box to the reservoir tank is 700m. The preferred residual head lies in
the range 10 15 m. What diameter pipe should be used ?
Answer : The head required to be burned off is in the range 35-40 m. Examination of the results
shows that the dia. Pipe burns off 108.92 m of head which means the water would not even get
there at that flow rate. The pipe burns off 27.73m of head which leaves a residual head of
22.27m, which is a little high. In this case we should use 700m of pipe.

COMBINATION PIPES CALCULATOR

Abstract
This spreadsheet allows the user to find the optimum combination of 100m sections of two pipes of
different diameters (in) to burn off a given frictional head (m).
Step by Step
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Enter the total length in metres of the pipe section.

Enter the required frictional head loss in metres.
Enter the diameter of the smaller pipe (probably derived from the head loss calculator) in
inches.
Enter the controlled flow rate required in litres per second.
Optional : Enter the cost of each 100m length of pipe and associated fittings for each pipe
diameter.
For each pipe diameter the following information is given :

The exact length of the chosen dia. pipe that will (in combination with that particular
diameter) exactly burn off the required frictional head loss.

The above figure rounded down to the nearest 100m length of pipe.
The length of the other diameter pipe.
The actual frictional head burned off using the rounded lengths of pipe.

Error Messages

The presence of the "Range" term in a cell signifies that the input data is outside the
parameters of the friction chart.
The presence of the "Dia." term in a cell signifies that the chosen input data is the same as this
diameter of pipe.
The presence of the "Error" term in a cell signifies that the resulting pipe length is less than
zero or greater than the overall pipe length.
The presence of the "N/A" term in a cell signifies that this data is not applicable.

Example
Take the previous example. What is the best combination of pipes that will achieve the requirements ?
Answer : The preferred residual head lies in the range 1015m. So let us assume the required
frictional burn off is 40m (50 10). Input this value into the required head loss input box. Now
choose the first pipe diameter. We know that 700m of pipe burns off too much head (see
above), but we will input it as the chosen diameter to see if it can achieve the requirements in
combination with another diameter.
The results show that the combination of 100m of dia. pipe and 600m of pipe will burn off
exactly 39.35m of head. This looks fine (a residual head of 10.65m is left). However dia. pipe is
difficult to obtain. So consider and 1 dias. in combination. The spreadsheet shows that 200m
of dia. pipe and 500m of 1 dia. pipe burn off 37.26m of head (leaving a very acceptable
12.74m of residual head). This is the best combination as the larger diameters are more expensive
and give little improvement.