Pipe Friction

L v hL f D 2g

NR
p1

vD

2 1

vD

2 2

v p2 v z1 hA hR hL z2 2g 2g
John G. Willden, P.Eng.

Darcy-Weisbach Equation (metric)

L v hL f D 2g
hL = energy loss, meters f = friction factor, dimensionless (from Moody chart) L = length of pipe, meters D = internal diameter of pipe, meters v = average velocity, m/s

g = acceleration of gravity, 9.81m/s2

Darcy -Weisbach Equation (imperial)

L v hL f D 2g
hL = energy loss, feet f = friction factor, dimensionless (from Moody chart) L = length of pipe, feet D = internal diameter of pipe, feet v = average velocity, m/s

g = acceleration of gravity, 32.2ft/s2

Typical Friction Problem

Water is pumped from a pond to an irrigation system. The pond is 12m below the irrigation nozzles.
12m

Typical Friction Problem

You need 30psi (200 KPa) for the sprinkler heads to work properly. You need 1200 USGPM for flow. Your irrigation pipe is 4sch40 aluminum, 250m long.
250m

Bernoullis Equation
How big a pump do you need? How big a motor do you need. What rpm and horsepower? What friction loss is in the pipe?

General Energy Equation

p1 v p2 v z1 hA hR hL z2 2g 2g p1 pressure head
2 1 2 2

z1 elevation head 2 v1 velocity head 2g

General Energy Equation

p1 v p2 v z1 hA hR hL z2 2g 2g
2 1 2 2

hA head added by pump hR head removed by turbine or motor hL head lost to friction

General Energy Equation

p1 v p2 v z1 hA hR hL z2 2g 2g
2 12m p1=0 z1=0 1 v1=0 0 0

20 1

2 2

General Energy Equation

v hA hL z2 2g
2 12m 1 p2=30 psig(200KPa) z2=12m v2=Q/A

p2

2 2

Darcys Equation

L v hL f D 2g
hL = energy loss, m f = friction factor, dimensionless (from Moody chart) L = length of pipe, m D = internal diameter of pipe, m

v = average velocity, m/s

g = acceleration of gravity, m/s2

Velocity
Q Q 1200 USGPM 0.0631 l / s m v A D 2 0.10226 2 m 2 USGPM 1000 l 4 4 v 9.22 ft s
3