Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

Example 1
Calculate the discharge flow rate through the cast iron pipe as shown in the figure below. The pipe
diameter is 200 mm. The minor loss coefficients for the entrance, 90o elbows and gate valve are 0.5,
1.5 and 0.2, respectively. The absolute roughness () of the pipe is 0.26 mm. The kinematic
viscosity of water is 1.0106 m2 / s .
1

Gate valve
2

3m
Tank
2m
entrance

air

elbows
datum

5m

15 m

Solution:
Applying energy equation between point 1 and point 2 gives:
2

P
V
P
V
Z 1 1 1 =Z 2 2 2 h L
g 2g
g 2g

P 1= P 2 = atmospheric pressure
V 1 =0 (assume that the tank is large)
V 22
h L
2g
V2
23=2 2 h L
2g
2
V
h L=3 2
2g

Z 1= Z 2

Total head losses h L = major losses ( h L , major ) + minor losses ( h L , minor )

h L= f

L V2
V2
K entrance 2 K elbow K valve
D 2g
2g

V 22
5215 V 2
V2
3 = f
0.521.50.2
2g
0.2
29.81
29.81
3

V 22
=5.61 f V 20.189 V 2
2g

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

V 2=

3
...............................(1)
5.61 f 0.1891/2g

Method 1
Assume the friction factor f =0.015 . The flow velocity is:
V 2=

3
5.610.0150.1891/29.81

V 2=3.04 m/ s
Relative roughness

0.26
=
=0.0013
D 200

VD 3.040.2
=6.08105
Reynolds number Re= =
6
1.010
With the known values of

and Re, the Moody diagram is used to find the friction factor f.
D

f =0.0215

~0.0215

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

Substituting the new value of f into Eq. 1 gives: V 2=

3
5.610.02150.1891/29.81

V 2=2.88 m/ s
VD 2.880.2
5
=5.7610
Reynolds number Re= =
6
1.010

=0.0013 and Re=5.76105 f =0.0218 .

D
3
=2.88 m / s same as the last calculation.
From Eq. 1, V 2=
5.610.02180.1891/29.81
From Moody diagram,

Therefore, flow rate Q=V 2 A2 =V 2

D2
3.14160.22
=2.88
4
4

Q=0.09 m3 / s .

~0.0218

Method 2
Assume that the flow is fully turbulent, the friction factor is not a function of Reynolds number. For
0.26
=
=0.0013 , the friction factor f is approximately equal to 0.0208.
D 200

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

From Eq. 1, V 2=

3
=2.90 m/ s
5.610.02080.1891/29.81

~0.0208

VD 2.90.2
=5.810 5
Reynolds number Re= =
6
1.010
From Moody diagram,

=0.0013 and Re=5.8105 , f 0.0218

D

From Eq. 1, V 2=2.88 m/ s

Flow rate Q=0.09 m3 / s (same result as Method 1).

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

Example 2
A long rectangular channel with a bottom width (b) of 5 m transports water at a constant rate (Q) of
15 m3/s. The channel bottom slope (S0) is 0.002. The Manning coefficient (n) of the channel is
0.015. The flow depth measured at a gauging station is 1.25 m. Use direct-step method to determine
the distance upstream of the gauging station where the normal depth of the flow resumes.
Solution:
A=by

Cross-sectional area:
Wetted perimeter:

P=b2y

Hydraulic radius:

R=

A
by
=
P b2y

1 2/ 3 1/ 2
Velocity calculated by Manning equation: V = R S 0
n
V=

uniform flow

Q 1 2/ 3 1/ 2
= R S0
A n

Q 1 by
=
by n b2y

2/3

2
S 1/
0

15
1
5y
=
5y 0.015 52y
By trial and error:
y
LHS

2/3

0.002 1/2

RHS

3.000

2.382

1.5

2.000

2.856

1.3

2.308

2.686

1.2

2.500

2.592

1.16

2.586

2.553

1.17

2.564

2.563

The normal depth y n=1.17 m .

3
Critical flow condition: Q= gA , where T = top width = channel width b
T
Q2 T = gA3

T=

g (by c )3
Q2

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

5=

9.81(5yc )
15

By trial and error:

y
LHS

RHS

5.0

5.5

0.8

5.0

2.8

0.9

5.0

4.0

0.95

5.0

4.7

0.96

5.0

4.8

0.97

5.0

5.0

The critical depth yc is 0.97 m. yn > yc, therefore the flow is sub-critical flow and the channel slope
is a mild slope.

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

y (m)

A (m2)

P (m)

R (m)

V (m/s)

E (m)

E (m)

Sf

Avg Sf

x (m)

1.25

6.25

7.50

0.83

2.40

1.544

0.0016526

x
(m)

1.24

6.20

7.48

0.83

2.42

1.538

0.0052

0.0016915 0.0016721 16.0

16.0

1.23

6.15

7.46

0.82

2.44

1.533

0.0051

0.0017315 0.0017115 17.8

33.8

1.22

6.10

7.44

0.82

2.46

1.528

0.0050

0.0017729 0.0017522 20.2

54.0

1.21

6.05

7.42

0.82

2.48

1.523

0.0049

0.0018157 0.0017943 23.8

77.7

1.2

6.00

7.40

0.81

2.50

1.519

0.0048

0.0018600 0.0018378 29.3 107.1

1.19

5.95

7.38

0.81

2.52

1.514

0.0046

0.0019057 0.0018828 39.5 146.5

1.18

5.90

7.36

0.80

2.54

1.509

0.0045

0.0019530 0.0019293 63.5 210.0

1.17

5.85

7.34

0.80

2.56

1.505

0.0043

0.0020019 0.0019774 192.5 402.5

The distance is about 402.5 m from the gauging station.

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

Example 3
Calculate the required diameter of a cast iron pipe to carry a flow of 0.5 m 3/s. The slope of the cast
iron pipe is 0.0012 and Manning roughness coefficient n is 0.013. Also calculate the flow velocity
and flow depth in the pipe.
Solution:
Manning equation and continuity equation are used to calculate the flowing full condition:
1 2/3 1/ 2
V= R S f
n

S f =S 0 = bed slope of the pipe for uniform flow

D 2 D2 /4
A
Q=V A= R 2/3 S 1/f 2=
n
4n
D

3.1416 D 2 3.1416D 2 / 4
0.5=
40.013
3.1416D
0.6= D

2/ 3

S 1/f 2

2/3

0.00121/ 2

8/3

D=0.826 m = 826 mm
Choose the commercially available pipe size of 900 mm.
The flow rate in the pipe of 900 mm diameter in flowing full condition is:
D
Q full =V A=
4n
Q full =

D
4

2/3

S 1/2
f

3.14160.92 0.9
40.013
4

2/ 3

0.0012

1/ 2

Q full =0.627 m3 / s > 0.5 m3/s

V full =

Q full
0.627
=
A full 3.14160.92 / 4

V full =0.986 m / s
The pipe of 900mm diameter transports the design flow of 0.5 m3/s will be partially full.
Ratio of flow rate

q
0.5
=
=0.797 . From the hydraulic element graph below, the ratio of d/D is
Q 0.627

0.675.

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

1
0.9
0.8
0.7

0.675
0.6
d/D
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0

0.797
0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6
q/Q

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.1

1.2

The flow depth in the 900 mm diameter pipe, which carries a flow of 0.5 m3/s is d =0.675 D
= 0.6750.9=0.608m=608 mm
d
=0.675
From the figure of Geometric Elements of a Circular Section by V. T. Chow, for
D
gives:
T
T
R
R
=
=0.93 , and
=
=1.17 ,
d 0 D full
R 0 R full

A
A
=
=0.72
A0 A full

Note that the subscript 0 in the above expressions represents the flowing full condition.
From Manning equation, the flow velocities for partially full and flowing full conditions are:
1 2/3 1/2
1 2/3 1/ 2
V= R S f
and V full = R full S f
n
n

V
R 2/3
R
= 2/3 =
V full R full
R full

2/3

V
=1.17 2/3 =1.11
V full
V =1.11V

full

=1.110.986=1.09 m/ s

A=0.72 A full =0.72

3.14160.92
=0.458 m2
4

Pipe Flows and Open Channel Flows - Examples

T =0.93 D full =0.930.9=0.837 m

10