Replace Implicit Equations with Signomial

Functions
Silverberg, Peter M; George Manadili, P.Eng. Consultant . Chemical Engineering ; New York
 Vol. 104, Iss. 8,  (August 1997): 129.

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ABSTRACT
 
The Signomial Functions are a mathematical system for data fitting. The important advantage of Signomial
Functions is that a low-order equation satisfies a given application. Also, at the extremities, they approximate the
behavior and the tendencies of the experimental data. The development of an explicit Signomial Function for
turbulent flow in circular pipes is presented. Data from the Universal Law have been adapted to apply the log-law
of the wall and the accepted Colebrook and White approach to obtain the generalized explicit Signomial Function
of Equation 4 type.

FULL TEXT
 
Some data sets are difficult to represent even on log-log graph paper. They exhibit curvature and pronounced
deviations from linear at the extremes. Just for fluid mechanics, there are many ways to correlate, given in the
literature for curve-fitting data sets. Now, there is another option that eliminates many deficiencies of the standard
methods.
The Signomial Functions are a mathematical system developed by the author. They are an uncomplicated tool for
data fitting and are easy to program into a personal computer. The general form of the Signomial Function is:
f(x) = sum [C X x superscript p ] (1)
and the simplest particular forms are:
f(x) = C subscript 1 + [C subscript 2 X x superscript n] (2)
f(x) = [C subscript 1 X x superscript n ] + [C subscript 2 X x superscript m] (3)
f(x) = C subscript 1 + [C subscript 2 X x superscript n] + [C subscript 3 X x superscript m] (4)
where C subscript 1, C subscript 2, C subscript 3 are constants and p, n, m are exponents, but are not required to be
integers.
The important advantage of Signomial Functions is that a low-order equation satisfies a given application. Also, at
the extremities, they approximate the behavior and the tendencies of the experimental data. Using them in actual
correlations was difficult in the slide-rule era mainly due to the analytical difficulties.
Case study: Turbulent flow
We will follow the development of an explicit Signomial Function for turbulent flow in circular pipes. In this specific
case, the data from the Universal Law have been adapted to apply the log-law of the wall and the accepted
Colebrook and White approach to obtain the generalized explicit Signomial Function of Equation 4 type.
Designing piping systems always requires computing a pressure drop. As an intermediate step, the friction factor
must be calculated. I am using this problem because it is so familiar that I can work on the mathematics without
long explanation of the physical background. (See References 1 - 4).
Friction factor formulas
The main difficulty in the procedure of determining the friction factor is that Prandtl's concept leads to an implicit

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expression where f is a function of the product of the Reynolds number and the square root of the friction factors.
This is for smooth turbulent flow. Nikuradse developed a correction for hydraulically rough turbulent flow. This was
combined by Colebrook and White into the generalized formula:
(This equation is not available electronically.) (5)
This formula has been accepted, used and presented in Moody's chart. There are many complicated equations that
were developed to fit the chart and avoid having to use graphs to solve the implicit formula. A good example of
this is the work of Churchill [5].
The Explicit Signomial Function is a model in which an explicit expression replaces the original implicit expression.
Such explicit formula is expressed as a function of Reynolds number and thus satisfies the ``Log-Law of the Wall''
(Boundary layer theory leads to equations that are written as logarithms.) The explicit Signomial Function that fits
best for turbulent flow in circular pipe is:
f subscript s = [-2 X log {95.00/Re superscript 0.983 -
96.82/Re superscript 1.0 + (epsilon/D)/3.7}] superscript -2 (6)
The results obtained from Equations 5 or 6 for the friction factor are practically identical for the full range of
Reynolds number in turbulent flow regime. At the upper extreme, as the Reynolds number tends to infinity the two
equations both converge to Nikuradse's equation for equivalent uniform sand roughness:
f subscript r = [-2 X log{(epsilon/D)/3.7}] superscript -2 (7)
Validation of the function
A good one-term fit explicit in Reynolds Number was done by Swamee and Jain [2]. Their fit is Equation 8.
f = [-2 X log (5.74/Re superscript 0.90)] superscript -2 (8)
Calculated results from Equations 5, 6 and 8 are shown in Table 1 and the relative deviation is plotted in Figure 1.
The results indicate clearly that two power terms (in a Signomial Function) in Reynolds Number is more accuracte
than a single power term over the full range of Reynolds Numbers.
Hence, you can enter the Explicit Signomial Function into your PC and then relax and run it. Forget using Moody's
Chart, iterations, approximations, or other procedures and concentrate on the details of the piping system and its
optimization.
Generalized approach
I also fitted the data in the critical and laminar regimes so the PC is programmable for all possible Reynolds
numbers. The difficulty of evaluating the friction factor for flow in circular pipes is simplified at the changes of
regime as follows:
a) Use the Explicit Signomial Function for the turbulent flow regime
b) The function for the critical regime is established by considering the maximum values of the friction factor for a
given relative roughness. Such limits are usually evaluated as a function of Reynolds number. Use the critical
regime function for Reynolds number 2,200 to 5,235 (maximum depends on relative roughness).
f subscript c = (2.82 X 10 superscript -7) X Re superscript 1.50 (9)
c) Use the Laminar Function for Low Reynolds Number. It intercepts the critial formula at Re = 2,200, and is long
accepted by industry.
f subscript la = 64/Re (10)
d) The transition point at which turbulence begins is a function of roughness. The critical region is considered to
end at Re = 5,235. Make another check using Equation 11 to find if the flow is in the hydraulically rough turbulent
flow regime.
f subscript lt = (200/Re) X (epsilon/D) (11)
The friction factor for fluid flow in circular pipe can be programmed easily by using Equations 6, 9, 10 and 11
without recourse to trial-and-error, artificial means or sacrificing accuracy. The logic to be programmed as
described above is in Table 3.
Applications
I used the equations to prepare various graphs (Figures 2 and 3). The practical basic values selected to prepare the

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graphs are as follows:
Absolute Roughness epsilon = 0.15 mm, corresponding to slightly rusted and to galvanized steel pipes. For
smooth pipe, naturally, epsilon = 0.
Kinematic Viscosity nu = 1.139 X 10 superscript -6 m superscript 2/s, corresponding to water at 15 degrees C and
under atmospheric pressure.
Comparison of roughness cases
Obtain the results and calculated ratios in Table 2 and Figure 4 by using the equations. They indicate that by
increasing the relative roughness epsilon/D from 0.0004 to 0.05 the ratio of f subscript (limit)/f subscript (rough)
increases from 1.0132 to 1.0347, while f subscript (high critical)/f subscript (rough) decreases from 2.7895 to
1.0992. Such results point out that using f subscript (rough) or other approximations as a first estimate for the
friction factor will require many iterations before obtaining the result, when working in the critical (aka transition)
regime.

(available online)

NOMENCLATURE

C = generalized coefficient

D = Internal diameter of pipe, m

f = ``Darcy-Weisbach'' friction factor, non-dimentional

f subscript c = Critical friction factor (high &low)

f subscript g = Generalized friction factor (Colebrook &White)

f subscript la = Laminar friction factor

f subscript lt = Limit of transition for rough friction factor

f subscript r = Hydraulically rough friction factor

f subscript s = Signomial friction factor

m, n = exponents

Re = (VXD)/(nu) = Reynolds number, non-dimentional

V = Mean velocity of flow, m/s

x = generalized variable

epsilon = Absolute roughness, m

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 epsilon/D = Relative roughness, non-dimentional

nu = Kinematic viscosity, m superscript 2/s

(available online)

TABLE 1. COMPARISON OF LAWS OF FRICTION FOR HYDRAULICALLY SMOOTH TURBULENT FLOW REGIME

Re f (1) f (2) R: (2/1) f (3) R: (3/1)

3X10 superscript 3 0.04352 0.04352 0.99999 0.04449 1.02230

6X10 superscript 3 0.03550 0.03550 1.00002 0.03583 1.00925

2X10 superscript 4 0.02588 0.02588 0.99996 0.02581 0.99733

6X10 superscript 4 0.02007 0.02007 0.99999 0.01993 0.99339

2X10 superscript 5 0.01564 0.01564 1.00016 0.01553 0.99324

7X10 superscript 5 0.01239 0.01240 1.00046 0.01234 0.99569

2X10 superscript 6 0.01037 0.01038 1.00078 0.01036 0.99890

5X10 superscript 6 0.00898 0.00899 1.00110 0.00900 1.00220

1X10 superscript 7 0.00810 0.00811 1.00135 0.00814 1.00490

5X10 superscript 7 0.00649 0.00650 1.00197 0.00657 1.01148

1X10 superscript 8 0.00594 0.00595 1.00224 0.00603 1.01438

(1) Universal Law of Friction Equation 5 (2) Signomial Law of Friction Equation 6 (3) Swamee, P.K. &Jain, A.K.[2]
Equation 8

Illustration

Illustration: Graph: FIGURE 1. The Signomial Function tracks the actual friction factor with fewer deviations than
Swamee and Jain's equation
JAEGER
Illustration

Illustration: Graph: FIGURE 2 (left). Use the Signomial Function to generate a Moody chart easily with 10 values of
relative roughness
Illustration

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Illustration: Graph: FIGURE 3 (below). This is an enlarged view of Figure 2 in the Reynolds Number range 1,000 to
10,000 showing 8 values of relative roughness
Illustration

Illustration: Graph: FIGURE 4. In the transition regime, relative roughness has a strong impact on the friction factor

(available online)

TABLE 3. PROGRAM LOGIC

Flow regime Tests

Laminar f subscript la greater than flt

Lower critical f subscript la approxiamat equal flt

Middle critical f subscript c less than f subscript s and f subscript c

greater than f subscript la

Upper critical f subscript c approxiamat equal f subscript s

Turbulent f subscript c greater than f subscript s

Flow regime Equations Choose

Laminar 10,11 f subscript la

Lower critical 10,11 either

Middle critical 9,10,11 f subscript c

Upper critical 6, 9 either

Turbulent 6, 9 f subscript s

(available online)

TABLE 2. FRICTION FACTOR AS A FUNCTION OF RELATIVE ROUGHNESS

e/D 0.050 0.040 0.030 0.020 0.010

f subscript rough 0.0716 0.0647 0.0572 0.0486 0.0379

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 f subscript limit 0.0740 0.0668 0.0589 0.0499 0.0388

f subscript high crit. 0.0786 0.0726 0.0662 0.0594 0.0521

Ratios

f subscript lt /f subscript r 1.0347 1.0324 1.0298 1.0268 1.0227

f subscript h.c./f subscript r 1.0992 1.1219 1.1575 1.2218 1.3751

e/D 0.004 0.001 0.0004

f subscript rough 0.0284 0.0196 0.0159

f subscript limit 0.0290 0.0199 0.0161

f subscript high crit. 0.0474 0.0448 0.0443

Ratios

f subscript lt /f subscript r 1.0189 1.0150 1.0132

f subscript h.c./f subscript r 1.6669 2.2841 2.7895

References

1. Kaufman, W., ``Fluid Mechanics,'' Translated by Chilton, E. G., McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1963.
References

2. Miller, D. S., ``Internal Flow Systems,'' British Hydromechanics Research Assn. Fluid Engineering, Cranfield,
Bedford, UK, p.132, 1978.
References

3. Schlichting, H., ``Boundary Layer Theory'', Translated by Kestin, J., McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1968.
References

4. Ward-Smith, A. J., ``Internal Fluid Flow,'' Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1980.

References

5. Churchill, S.W., Friction Factor Equation Spans All Fluid Flow Regimes, Chem. Eng., 84, 24, p.91, Nov. 7, 1977.
AuthorAffiliation

George Manadili is a consultant (182 Handel Rd., Candia, PQ J5R 1S5, Canada; Phone: 514-632-3682, Fax: 514-632-
7876) and professional engineer. He has recorded 44 years experience in various aspects of mechanical
engineering, including design and performance evaluation of equipment and systems. He has a B.Sc.M.E. from
Cairo University and a D.M.E. from McGill University.He has been working on the application of Signomial

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Functions for a number of years.

DETAILS

Subject: Chemical engineering; Pipes; Flow control; Mathematical analysis

Classification: 8640: Chemical industry, includes rubber &plastics; 5310: Production planning
&control

Publication title: Chemical Engineering; New York

Volume: 104

Issue: 8

Pages: 129

Number of pages: 0

Publication year: 1997

Publication date: August 1997

Section: Design

Publisher: Access Intelligence LLC

Place of publication: New York

Country of publication: United States, New York

Publication subject: Chemistry, Engineering--Chemical Engineering

ISSN: 00092460

Source type: Trade Journals

Language of publication: English

Document type: PERIODICAL

Accession number: 01488076

ProQuest document ID: 194406372

Document URL: https://search.proquest.com/docview/194406372?accountid=8155

Copyright: Copyright 1997 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Last updated: 2016-11-19

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