DEFINITIONS

Pressure Drop

Whenever a fluid moves inside a pipe it occurs friction with the inner walls
of this pipe and turbulence of the fluid with itself, this phenomenon
gradually decrease the pressure inside the pipe as fluid is displaced. In this
way the pressure drop is caused by the restriction to the flow of the Fluid
inside the pipe.

Velocity

From the mechanics of fluids we know that the higher the velocity of a fluid
within a pipe, the greater the pressure drop of this fluid. In this way we can
conclude that in order to reduce the pressure drop, it is enough to decrease
the fluid velocity. But lower speed to maintain the same volumetric flow (Q)
will be necessary to use pipes of larger diameter, which entails in a higher
cost installation.

The relation between mass flowrate and line velocity can be written as:

m
u=
A

Where:

u line velocity (m/s);

m Mass flowrate (kg/s);
Liquid density (kg/m);
A Cross-sectional flow Area (m).

Cross-sectional flow Area

The cross-sectional flow area can be calculated using the equation:

2
d
A=
4

Where:

d internal diameter (m)

Reynolds Number

Reynolds number is a dimensionless quantity in fluid mechanics used to

help predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations. Reynolds number
(Re) is an important dimensionless quantity in fluid mechanics used to help
predict flow patterns in different fluid flow situations.

The Reynolds number is defined as:

ud ud
= =
v

is the density of the fluid (kg/m3);

u is the velocity of the fluid (m/s);

d internal diameter (m);

is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pas or Ns/m2 or kg/(ms));

is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid (m2/s).

PIPE PRESSURE DROP CALCULATOR FOR LIQUIDS

For the laminar flow, an expression is deduced theoretically giving the value
of the loss of charge, which is the Poiseuille equation:

32 LvV
J= 2
gd

This equation holds for any liquid and any pipe, regardless of the material
and the condition and the roughness of the walls. In the laminar flow the
pressure drop is always proportional to the speed.

In the turbulent flow it is not possible to deduce any theoretical equation

valid for any case.

For industrial piping, the most employed equation is that of Darcy, also
called the Fanning equation:

fL V 2
J=
2 dg

It can be seen that the dimension of J is a length. This equation can be

presented in several ways, depending on the units that are to be employed.

Darcy's equation allows a rational deduction, provided that the coefficient f

is variable, which will be in function of Re and the degree of roughness of
the pipe walls.

This calculator uses the Darcy equation as presents below:

 4 f Fanning u2
P=
d 10
5( )2

Where:

P Pipe line pressure drop per meter (Bar);

fFanning Fanning friction factor;
d Pipe internal diameter (m);
Liquid density (kg/m);
u Velocity (m/s)

Fanning friction factor

Stuart W. Churchill developed a formula that covers the friction factor for
both laminar and turbulent flow. This friction factor is one-fourth of the
Darcy friction factor.

12 1
f Fanning =2
8
(( ) + ( A + B)
)
1.5 12

16

( ((( ) ) ))
0.9 1
7
A= 2.457 ln + 0.27
D

37530 16
B=

Where:

Re Reynolds Number
- Roughness of the inner surface of the pipe (dimension of length);
D - Pipe internal diameter (m).

Pipe Roughness

In a turbulent flow the pressure drop is affected by the roughness of the

pipe surface, and the absolute pipe roughness is determined by the pipe
materials, as show in the table below.

Absolute
Material Roughness
k (10-6 m)
Cooper 1,5
Lead 1,5
Brass 1,5
 Aluminum 1,5
Epoxy 5
Vinyl Ester 5
Isophthalic Pipe 5
Stainless Pipe 15
Steel Commercial
45
Pipe
Stretched Steel 15
Weld Steel 45
Galvanized Steel 150
Rusted Steel
2000
(Corrosion)
Cast Iron (New) 500
Cast Iron (Worn) 1200
Cast Iron (Rusty) 2000
Absolute Pipe Roughness for use with Darcy equation

As the pipe diameter increases, the effect of pipe roughness becomes less
important, and this calculator uses the Pipe Relative Roughness, that can be
calculated using the equation below.

Pipe Relative Roughness=
D

Where,

Pipe roughness (m);

D - Pipe internal diameter (m).

Pressure Drop Through Pipe Fittings