PIPE FLOW PROBLEMS
Arvind Deshpande
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 2
Problem
The reservoirs with 15 m difference in their water levels are
connected by 300 mm diameter pipeline 3000 m long.
Calculate the discharge. If a parallel pipeline of 300 mm
diameter is attached to the 1500m length of the existing
pipe, determine the modified discharge (assume f = 0.04)
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 3
Solution
Case 1
𝑓𝐿𝑄2
𝐻𝑓 =
12.1𝐷5
0.04 × 3000 × 𝑄2
15 =
12.1 × 0.35
𝑄 = 0.0606 𝑚3 /𝑠
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 4
Solution
Case 2 – A parallel pipeline of 300 mm diameter is attached
to the 1500 m length of the existing pipe. Discharge in each
300 mm pipe for 1500 m will be Q/2.
2
𝑄
𝑓𝐿1 𝑄2 𝑓𝐿2 2
𝐻𝑓 = 5
+
12.1𝐷 12.1𝐷5
2
𝑄
0.04 × 1500 × 𝑄2 0.04 × 1500 × 2
15 = +
12.1 × 0.35 12.1 × 0.35
𝑄 = 0.0767 𝑚3 /𝑠
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 5
Problem
A water line connecting two reservoirs at 200 C has 1500 m
of 60 cm steel pipe, three standard elbows, a globe valve,
and re-entrant pipe entrance. Determine the discharge if
the difference in elevation is 12 m ( K for standard elbow,
globe valve, and re-entrant pipe entrance are 0.9, 10, and
1.0 respectively). Take f = 0.034.
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 6
Solution
𝑓𝐿𝑉 2 𝑉2 𝑉2 𝑉2 𝑉2
𝐻𝑓 = + 3 × 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 + 𝑘3 +
2𝑔𝐷 2𝑔 2𝑔 2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑉 2 𝑓𝐿
𝐻𝑓 = + 3 × 𝑘1 + 𝑘2 + 𝑘3 + 1
2𝑔 𝐷
𝑉 2 0.034 × 1500
12 = + 3 × 0.9 + 10 + 1 + 1
2𝑔 0.6
𝑉2
12 = 99.7
2𝑔
𝑉 = 2.361 𝑚/𝑠
𝑄 = 0.668 𝑚3 /𝑠
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 7
Problem
A siphon of diameter 20 cm connects two reservoirs having
difference of level of 20 m. the length of the siphon is 800
m and the summit is 5 m above the water level in the
reservoir. If the separation takes place at 2.4 m absolute.
Find the length of siphon from upper reservoir to summit.
Take f = 0.016
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 8
Solution
Considering entry and exit losses
𝑓𝐿𝑉 2 𝑉2 𝑉2
𝐻𝑓 = + 0.5 +
2𝑔𝐷 2𝑔 2𝑔
𝑉 2 𝑓𝐿
𝐻𝑓 = + 1.5
2𝑔 𝐷
𝑉 2 0.016 × 800
20 = + 1.5
2𝑔 0.2
𝑉 = 2.448 𝑚/𝑠
𝑄 = 0.0769 𝑚3 /𝑠
01-05-2023 Arvind Deshpande(VJTI) 9
Solution
Applying Bernoulli’s equation between upper reservoir and
summit (L1 is length of pipe between upper reservoir and
summit )
𝑝1 𝑉1 2 𝑝1 𝑉1 2 𝑉 2 𝑓𝐿1 𝑉 2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧1 + 0.5 +
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 2𝑔 2𝑔𝐷
𝑉2 𝑉 2 𝑓𝐿1 𝑉 2
0 + 0 + 20 = 10.3 − 2.4 + + 25 + 0.5 +
2𝑔 2𝑔 2𝑔𝐷
𝐿1 = 99.932 𝑚