Dr. P.P.

Paily Flow in Pipes and Open Channels with

CVEN 3100: Fluid Mechanics Head Loss_Solved Examples

1. A laminar flow of SAE 30 oil at 20oC occurs in a 6 cm-diameter pipe inclined

at 40o to the horizontal. The pressure at the lower end is 350 kPa and it
decreases to 250 kPa over a 10 m length of pipe. Determine the flow rate in
the pipe and the direction of flow. Verify that the flow is laminar.

Given:

SAE 30 oil at 20 oC: laminar flow

To Find:

(1) Q
(2) direction of flow
(3) R ( if R 2100, flow is laminar)

Theory:

(1) Q = A V = (/4) d2 V
(2) Q1 = Q2 V1 = V2 = V
(3) for flow from 1 to 2: [ (p1/) + (V12/2g) + Z1 ] hL = [ (p2/) + (V22/2g) + Z2 ]
(4) hL = f (L/d) (V2/2g)
(5) for laminar flow, f = (64 / R)
(6) R = ( V d) /

Constant: for SAE 30 oil at 20 oC: = 912 kg/m3; = 8950 N/m3 (table 1.6)
= 0.17 N-s/m2 (figure B1)

Solution:

350 x1000 V 2 250 x1000 V 2

(2,3) [ + + 0 ] hL = [ + + (10 sin 40) hL = 4.745 m
8950 2g 8950 2g
since hL is positive, flow is from lower end to upper end.

(6) R = (912)(V)(0.06) / (0.17) = 321.9 V

(4,5) 4.745 = [ 64 / (321.9 V) ] (10 / 0.06) [V2 / (2x9.81) ] V = 2.809 m/s

(6) R = (321.9) (2.809) = 904.2 < 2100, the flow is laminar

(1) Q = (/4) (0.06)2 (2.809) = 7.101x10-3 m3/s
2. A fluid flows through a 10-mm diameter tube at a Reynolds number of 1800. If
the flow rate is 6.0 liters/min, what is the head loss in 100 m length of tubing ?

Given:

d = 10 mm
R = 1800
Q = 6.0 L/min
L = 100 m

To find:

(1) hL

Theory:

(1) hL = f (L/d) (V2/2g)

(2) f = 64 / R, since flow is laminar ( R < 2100)
(3) Q = A V = (/4) d2 V

Conversion: 1000 L = 1 m3

Solution:

(3) 6.0 / (1000 x 60) = (/4) (0.010)2 V V = 1.273 m/s

(2) f = 64 / 1800 = 0.0356
(1) hL = (0.0356) (100 / 0.010) [ (1.2732 / (2 x 9.81) ] = 29.40 m
3. Water at 20oC flows through a new cast iron pipe of 150 mm diameter at a
velocity of 2 m/s. What is the power loss over a 400 m length of pipe ?

Given:

Water at 20 C in cast iron pipe

d = 150 mm
V = 2 m/s
L = 400 m

To find:

(1) power loss, P

Theory:

(1) P = Q hL
(2) Q = A V = (/4) d2 V
(3) hL = f (L/d) (V2/2g)
(4) for turbulent flow, f = f ( R, e/d) read ( f ) from Moody chart
(5) R = ( V d) /

Constant: for water at 20 oC: = 998.2 kg/m3; = 9789 N/m3 ;

= 1.002 x 10-3 N-s/m2 (table B2)
for cast iron, e = 0.26 mm (table)

Solution:

(5) R = (998.2) (2) (0.150) / (1.002 x 10-3) = 2.989 x 105 3.0 x 105
(4) e/d = 0.26 /150 = 0.001733
for R = 3.0 x 105 and e/d = 0.001733, read from Moody chart: f = 0.023

(3) hL = (0.023) (400/0.150) [ (2)2 /(2 x 9.81) ] = 12.50 m

(2) Q = (/4) (0.150)2 (2) = 03534 m3/s

(1) P = (9789) (03534) (12.50) = 4334 W

4. A flow rate of 2.2 m3/s is to be carried in a rectangular open channel at a
velocity of 1.3 m/s. If Mannings n = 0.020, and the depth of flow is one-half
the channel width, what is the slope of the channel bed ?

Given:

rectangular channel : y = b/2

Q = 2.2 m3/s
V = 1.3 m/s
n = 0.020

To find:

(1) channel bed slope, S

Theory:

n2 L 1
(1) hL = L S = 2 4/3
V2 k = 1.0 for m units
k Rh
(2) Rh = A / P = (b y) / (b + 2y) = (2 y2) / (4y) = y/2
(3) Q = A V = (2 y2) V

Solution:

(3) 2.2 = (2 y2) (1.3) y = 0.9199 m

(2) Rh = 0.9199 / 2 = 0.46 m
(1) S = [ (0.020)2 / (1)2 ] [1 / (0.46)4/3] (1.3)2 = 0.001904
5. A 2.0-m diameter semicircular channel carrying water has a bed slope of
0.0016. If Mannings n = 0.020, what is the discharge ?

Given:

semicircular channel
d = 2.0 m
S = 0.0016
n = 0.020

To find:

(1) Q

Theory:

(1) Q = A V = (/8) d2 V
n2 L 1 k
(2) hL = L S = 2 4/3
V 2 V = Rh3/2 S ; k = 1.0 for m units
k Rh n
2
(3) Rh = A / P = (/8) d / ( d/2) = d / 4

Solution:

(3,2) V = (1.0 / 0.020) (2.0 / 4)2/3 (0.0016) = 1.260 m/s

(1) Q = (/8) (2)2 (1.260) = 1.979 m3/s
6. Water at the rate of 11.66 m3/s flows in a finished concrete pipe so that it is
completely full and the pressure is constant at atmospheric pressure all along
the pipe. If the pipe slope is 0.005 what is the diameter ?

Given:

finished concrete pipe (with channel flow since pressure is atmospheric)

Q = 11.66 m3/s
S = 0.005

To find:

(1) d

Theory:

(1) Q = A V = (/4) d2 V
n2 L 1 k
(2) hL = L S = 2 4/3
V 2 V = Rh3/2 S ; k = 1.0 for m units
k Rh n
2
(3) Rh = A / P = (/4) d / ( d) = d / 4

Constant: for finished concrete, n = 0.012 (table)

Solution:

(1,2,3) 11.66 = (/4) d2 [(1.0) / (0.012) ] (d/4)2/3 (0.005)

d8/3 = 6.349 d = 2.0 m