FLUID FLOW

Mechanical Energy Balance

gZ +
potential
energy
change

V 2
+ = Wo F

dp

expansion
kinetic
work added/ sum of
work
energy change subtracted by friction
pumps or
losses
compressors

Note that the balance is per unit mass. In differential

form:

dp = ( g dZ V dV F + Wo )

ChE 4253 - Design I

FLUID FLOW
Mechanical Energy Balance
Divide by dL, (L is the length of the pipe)

Wo
dp
dZ
dV
F
= g
+ V
+

dL
dL
L
L
dL Tot
or:

dp
dp
dp
dp
+
=
+
dL Tot dL elev dL accel dL frict
Wo
L

is usually ignored, as the equation applies to a pipe

section.

The above equation is an alternative way of writing the

mechanical energy balance. It is not a different equation
ChE 4253 - Design I

Mechanical Energy Balance

Potential energy change:
dL

dZ

Friction Losses:
Fanning equation:

dZ
g
= g sin
dL

2V 2 f
dF =
dL
D

This equation applies to single phase fluids.

The friction factor is obtained from the Moody Diagram
(see PT page 487).
ChE 4253 - Design I

Mechanical Energy Balance

Friction factor equations. (Useful for computers and Excel)

16
f =
Re

Laminar Flow
Smooth pipes: a = 0.2
Iron or steel pipes: a = 0.16

0.046
f =
Re a

2.51
1

= 2 log10
+

f
3.7 D Re f

Colebrook equation for

turbulent flow.

Equivalent length of valves and fittings.

Pressure drop for valves and fittings is accounted for as
equivalent length of pipe.
See PT&W for a table containing these values (page 490).
ChE 4253 - Design I

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Scenario I
Need pressure drop in known pipes (pump or compressor is
not present.)
Incompressible Flow
a) Isothermal ( is constant)

dV F
dp
dZ
= g
+V
+

dL L
dL Tot
dL
for a fixed
Integral form:

V constant

dV = 0

L + Le

2
p = g Z + 2V f
+ F
D

b) Nonisothermal
It will not have a big error if you use (Taverage)
ChE 4253 - Design I

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow
a) Relatively small change in T (known)
For small pressure drop (something you can check after you
are done) can use Bernoulli and fanning equation as follows

V 2
g dz + v dp + d = F
2
g
V
1
F
dz
dp
dV

v2
v
v2
v2
V = Velocity
G = Mass flow (Kg/hr)
Note:
ChE 4253 - Design I

v = Specific volume (m3/Kg)=1/

A = Cross sectional area

G
V = v
A

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)

1
g
F
G dL
G dV
= 2 = 2 f
dz + dp +
2
v
v
v
A v
A D
2

Now put in integral form

dz
dp G
g 2 +
+
v
v A

Assume:

av =

Tav =

dV
G 1
V = 2 A D f dL

Tin + Tout
2

(Tin , Pin ) + (Tout , Pout )

ChE 4253 - Design I

f av =

f in + f out
2

f (Tin , Pin ) + f (Tout , Pout )

f av =
2

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)
The integral form will be:

av2 gz +

out

in

dp G Vout
G
L
= 2 f av
+ ln
v A Vin
D
A

Recall:

Z RT
pv=
M

Then:

RTav
v Z av
pM

and

dp
M
v = Z av RTav
ChE 4253 - Design I

M: Molecular weight

M
2
2
p

dp
=
p

p
out
in

2 Z av RTav

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)
Substitute in the integral form:
av2 g z +

Since:

M
2
pout
2 Z av RTav

L
G
G Vout
2
f
2
=

pin + ln
av

D
A
A Vin

Vout Z out Tout pin

=
Vin Z in Tin pout

we get
pout

2
Z RT
= pin 2 av av
M

G 2
L G Z outTout pin
2
+ av g z
2 f av + ln
D A Z inTin pout

ChE 4253 - Design I

1
2

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)
This is an equation of the form:

pout = F ( pout )

Algorithm:
(1)
p
a) Assume out
b) Use formula to get a new value

( )

( )

( 2)
(1)
pout
= F pout

( i +1)
(i )
p
=
F
p
c) Continue using out
out

( i +1)
(i )
p
p

out
out
until

(i )
pout
OR BETTER: Use Solver in EXCEL, or even use PRO II,
or any other fluid flow simulator.

ChE 4253 - Design I

Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)
The above algorithm can be applied for cases where

pout pin
0 .2 0 .3
pin
For longer pipes, break the pipe into smaller sections

ChE 4253 - Design I

PIPING STRENGTH
Bursting pressure of a pipe

tm
Pb = 2 ST
Dm
Dm= Mean Diameter
tm= Wall Thickness
St= Tensile Strength (properties of material and
fabricate)
Pb= Bursting pressure
Pb = Pin - Pout

Pin
Pout
ChE 4253 - Design I

PIPING STRENGTH
Safe Working Pressure

tm
PS = 2 S S
Dm
We substitute with a safe working stress, Ss < ST
Range of Ss = 6500-9000 psi (T < 250 oF)
(Low end) butt-welded

lap-welded (High end)

Schedule of a Pipe (American Standard Association)

There are 10 Sch numbers:
10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160
ChE 4253 - Design I

PIPING STRENGTH
Schedule of a Pipe (American Standard Association)
You specify a pipe by giving the diameter and the Schedule
Get pressure inside , Pin (psia)
PS = Pin - 14.696

PS
= 1000
SS

; SS ==> Characteristic of pipe (6500

9000 psi)

Pick lower possible Sch standard.

Sch > a

ChE 4253 - Design I