Water flow friction calculations - small vs.

big pipes

Using the Darcy-Weisbach formula for the friction factor

Using the Moody diagram for the friction parameter f

Inside dia.
Item Dia (in) Rel. rough. velocity (ft/s) flow (gpm) Reynolds no Laminar/turb.
1 0.5 0.0036 8 4.9 3.10E+04 Turbulent
2 0.75 0.0024 8 11.0 4.65E+04 Turbulent
3 1 0.0018 8 19.6 6.20E+04 Turbulent
4 1.5 0.0012 8 44.1 9.29E+04 Turbulent
5 2 0.0009 8 78.3 1.24E+05 Turbulent
6 3 0.0006 8 176.3 1.86E+05 Turbulent
7 4 0.00045 8 313.3 2.48E+05 Turbulent
8 6 0.0003 8 705.0 3.72E+05 Turbulent
9 8 0.000225 8 1253.4 4.96E+05 Turbulent
10 10 0.00018 8 1958.4 6.20E+05 Turbulent
11 12 0.00015 8 2820.1 7.44E+05 Turbulent
1 0.5 0.0036 9 5.5 3.49E+04 Turbulent
2 0.75 0.0024 9 12.4 5.23E+04 Turbulent
3 1 0.0018 9 22.0 6.97E+04 Turbulent
4 1.5 0.0012 9 49.6 1.05E+05 Turbulent
5 2 0.0009 9 88.1 1.39E+05 Turbulent
6 3 0.0006 9 198.3 2.09E+05 Turbulent
7 4 0.00045 9 352.5 2.79E+05 Turbulent
8 6 0.0003 9 793.1 4.18E+05 Turbulent
9 8 0.000225 9 1410.0 5.58E+05 Turbulent
10 10 0.00018 9 2203.2 6.97E+05 Turbulent
11 12 0.00015 9 3172.6 8.37E+05 Turbulent
1 0.5 0.0036 10 6.1 3.87E+04 Turbulent
2 0.75 0.0024 10 13.8 5.81E+04 Turbulent
3 1 0.0018 10 24.5 7.75E+04 Turbulent
4 1.5 0.0012 10 55.1 1.16E+05 Turbulent
5 2 0.0009 10 97.9 1.55E+05 Turbulent
6 3 0.0006 10 220.3 2.32E+05 Turbulent
7 4 0.00045 10 391.7 3.10E+05 Turbulent
8 6 0.0003 10 881.3 4.65E+05 Turbulent
9 8 0.000225 10 1566.7 6.20E+05 Turbulent
10 10 0.00018 10 2448.0 7.75E+05 Turbulent
11 12 0.00015 10 3525.1 9.29E+05 Turbulent
1 0.5 0.0036 11 6.7 4.26E+04 Turbulent
2 0.75 0.0024 11 15.1 6.39E+04 Turbulent
3 1 0.0018 11 26.9 8.52E+04 Turbulent
4 1.5 0.0012 11 60.6 1.28E+05 Turbulent
5 2 0.0009 11 107.7 1.70E+05 Turbulent
 6 3 0.0006 11 242.4 2.56E+05 Turbulent
7 4 0.00045 11 430.8 3.41E+05 Turbulent
8 6 0.0003 11 969.4 5.11E+05 Turbulent
9 8 0.000225 11 1723.4 6.82E+05 Turbulent
10 10 0.00018 11 2692.8 8.52E+05 Turbulent
11 12 0.00015 11 3877.6 1.02E+06 Turbulent
1 0.5 0.0036 12 7.3 4.65E+04 Turbulent
2 0.75 0.0024 12 16.5 6.97E+04 Turbulent
3 1 0.0018 12 29.4 9.29E+04 Turbulent
4 1.5 0.0012 12 66.1 1.39E+05 Turbulent
5 2 0.0009 12 117.5 1.86E+05 Turbulent
6 3 0.0006 12 264.4 2.79E+05 Turbulent
7 4 0.00045 12 470.0 3.72E+05 Turbulent
8 6 0.0003 12 1057.5 5.58E+05 Turbulent
9 8 0.000225 12 1880.0 7.44E+05 Turbulent
10 10 0.00018 12 2937.6 9.29E+05 Turbulent
11 12 0.00015 12 4230.1 1.12E+06 Turbulent
1 0.5 0.0036 13 8.0 5.03E+04 Turbulent
2 0.75 0.0024 13 17.9 7.55E+04 Turbulent
3 1 0.0018 13 31.8 1.01E+05 Turbulent
4 1.5 0.0012 13 71.6 1.51E+05 Turbulent
5 2 0.0009 13 127.3 2.01E+05 Turbulent
6 3 0.0006 13 286.4 3.02E+05 Turbulent
7 4 0.00045 13 509.2 4.03E+05 Turbulent
8 6 0.0003 13 1145.7 6.04E+05 Turbulent
9 8 0.000225 13 2036.7 8.06E+05 Turbulent
10 10 0.00018 13 3182.4 1.01E+06 Turbulent
11 12 0.00015 13 4582.6 1.21E+06 Turbulent
August 17, 2020 J. Chaurette
viscosity (cSt) 1 abs. rough. (ft) 0.000150
SG 1 length (ft) 100

frict. factor compared to

12 " dia. pipe

frict. param. f frict. fact. (ft/100 ft pipe) frict comp. friction (ft) friction power (hp)
0.031 74.01 51.3 74.01 0.1
0.0277 44.09 30.6 44.09 0.1
0.0258 30.80 21.4 30.80 0.2
0.023 18.30 12.7 18.30 0.2
0.0215 12.83 8.9 12.83 0.3
1000.00
0.0189 7.52 5.2 7.52 0.3
0.0185 5.52 3.8 5.52 0.4
0.0167 3.32 2.3 3.32 0.6
0.0155 2.31 1.6 2.31 0.7
0.0149 1.78 1.2 1.78 0.9
0.0145 1.44 1.0 1.44 1.0
0.0305 92.15 51.5 92.15 0.1

Friction factor (ft/100 ft of pipe)

100.00
0.0278 56.00 31.3 56.00 0.2
0.027 40.79 22.8 40.79 0.2
0.0245 24.68 13.8 24.68 0.3
0.0225 17.00 9.5 17.00 0.4
0.0195 9.82 5.5 9.82 0.5
0.018 6.80 3.8 6.80 0.6
0.0165 4.15 2.3 4.15 0.8
10.00
0.0157 2.96 1.7 2.96 1.1
0.0155 2.34 1.3 2.34 1.3
0.0142 1.79 1.0 1.79 1.4
0.0301 112.28 49.8 112.28 0.2
0.0275 68.39 30.3 68.39 0.2
0.026 48.49 21.5 48.49 0.3
0.0235 29.22 13.0 29.22 0.4
1.00
0.021 19.58 8.7 19.58 0.5 8
0.0195 12.12 5.4 12.12 0.7
0.0183 8.53 3.8 8.53 0.8
0.0165 5.13 2.3 5.13 1.1
0.0154 3.59 1.6 3.59 1.4
0.015 2.80 1.2 2.80 1.7
0.0145 2.25 1.0 2.25 2.0
F
0.0312 140.82 50.6 140.82 0.2
0.0285 85.76 30.8 85.76 0.3 10.0
0.027 60.93 21.9 60.93 0.4
0.0245 36.86 13.2 36.86 0.6
0.0217 24.49 8.8 24.49 0.7

1.0
 10.0

0.019 14.29 5.1 14.29 0.9

0.0182 10.27 3.7 10.27 1.1
0.0168 6.32 2.3 6.32 1.5
0.0156 4.40 1.6 4.40 1.9 1.0
0.01495 3.37 1.2 3.37 2.3
0.0148 2.78 1.0 2.78 2.7

Power (hp)
0.03 161.14 51.4 161.14 0.3
0.027 96.69 30.9 96.69 0.4
0.025 67.14 21.4 67.14 0.5
0.023 41.18 13.1 41.18 0.7
0.022 29.54 9.4 29.54 0.9 0.1
0.019 17.01 5.4 17.01 1.1
0.0175 11.75 3.8 11.75 1.4
0.0162 7.25 2.3 7.25 1.9
0.0151 5.07 1.6 5.07 2.4
0.01475 3.96 1.3 3.96 2.9
0.014 3.13 1.0 3.13 3.3
0.028 176.51 48.7 176.51 0.4 0.0
0.0256 107.59 29.7 107.59 0.5 8
0.025 78.80 21.7 78.80 0.6
0.0218 45.81 12.6 45.81 0.8
0.021 33.10 9.1 33.10 1.1
0.0189 19.86 5.5 19.86 1.4
0.0174 13.71 3.8 13.71 1.8
0.016 8.41 2.3 8.41 2.4
0.0159 6.26 1.7 6.26 3.2
0.0145 4.57 1.3 4.57 3.7
0.0138 3.62 1.0 3.62 4.2
 Pipe flow friction, small vs. big pipes
Absolute roughness 0.00015 ft, viscosity 1 cSt,
1000.00 water

Dia (in) 0.5

Friction factor (ft/100 ft of pipe)

100.00 0.75
1
1.5
2
3
4
6
8
10.00 10
12

1.00
8 9 10 11 12 13

Velocity (ft/s)

Friction power, small vs. big pipes

100 ft long pipe, SG 1, water
10.0

Dia (in) 0.5

1.0 0.75
 10.0

Dia (in) 0.5

1.0 0.75
1
1.5
2
Power (hp)

3
4
6
8
0.1 10
12

0.0
8 9 10 11 12 13

Velocity (ft/s)