cen72367_ch08.

qxd 11/4/04 7:14 PM Page 350

TABLE 8–4
Loss coefficients KL of various pipe components for turbulent flow (for use in the relation hL
KLV 2/(2g), where V is the
average velocity in the pipe that contains the component)*

Pipe Inlet
Reentrant: KL
0.80 Sharp-edged: KL
0.50 Well-rounded (r/D 0.2): KL
0.03
(t

D and I  0.1D) Slightly rounded (r/D
0.1): KL
0.12

(see Fig. 8–36)

V D V D V D

l t

Pipe Exit
Reentrant: KL
a Sharp-edged: KL
a Rounded: KL
a

V V V

Note: The kinetic energy correction factor is a
2 for fully developed laminar flow, and a  1 for fully developed turbulent flow.

Sudden Expansion and Contraction (based on the velocity in the smaller-diameter pipe)
d2 2
Sudden expansion: KL
a1  b
D2

0.6
V d D

0.4
KL for sudden
KL contraction
Sudden contraction: See chart.
0.2

0
D d V 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
d2/D2

Gradual Expansion and Contraction (based on the velocity in the smaller-diameter pipe)
Expansion: Contraction (for u
20°):
KL
0.02 for u
20° KL
0.30 for d/D
0.2
KL
0.04 for u
45° KL
0.25 for d/D
0.4
KL
0.07 for u
60° V d u D KL
0.15 for d/D
0.6 D u d V
KL
0.10 for d/D
0.8
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TABLE 8–4 (CONCLUDED)

Bends and Branches
90° smooth bend: 90° miter bend 90° miter bend 45° threaded elbow:
Flanged: KL
0.3 (without vanes): KL
1.1 (with vanes): KL
0.2 KL
0.4
Threaded: KL
0.9

45°
V V V V

180° return bend: Tee (branch flow): Tee (line flow): Threaded union:
Flanged: KL
0.2 Flanged: KL
1.0 Flanged: KL
0.2 KL
0.08
Threaded: KL
1.5 Threaded: KL
2.0 Threaded: KL
0.9

V
V V

Valves
Globe valve, fully open: KL
10 Gate valve, fully open: KL
0.2
Angle valve, fully open: KL
5 1
4 closed: KL
0.3
Ball valve, fully open: KL
0.05 1
2 closed: KL
2.1
Swing check valve: KL
2 3
4 closed: KL
17

* These are representative values for loss coefficients. Actual values strongly depend on the design and manufacture of the components and may differ from the
given values considerably (especially for valves). Actual manufacturer’s data should be used in the final design.

Pressure head
Head converted to Total
velocity head head

KLV 2/2g Lost velocity head

V 21
2g V 22 /2g Remaining
P0 velocity head
rg
P1 Pressure P2 Remaining
rg head rg pressure head

1 2

Vena contracta

0 1 2
FIGURE 8–35
Graphical representation of flow
Separated contraction and the associated head
flow loss at a sharp-edged pipe inlet.