CHAPTER 03

FLOW IN PIPES

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INTRODUCTION
 Fluid flow in circular and noncircular pipes is commonly encountered in practice. The hot and cold
water that we use in our homes is pumped through pipes. Water in a city is distributed by extensive
piping networks.
 Oil and natural gas are transported hundreds of miles by large pipelines. Blood is carried throughout
our bodies by arteries and veins.
 The cooling water in an engine is transported by hoses to the pipes in the radiator where it is cooled
as it flows.
 Fluid flow is classified as external and internal, depending on whether the fluid is forced to flow over a
surface or in a conduit. Internal and external flows exhibit very different characteristics.
 In this chapter we consider internal flow where the conduit is completely filled with the fluid, and flow
is driven primarily by a pressure difference. This should not be confused with open-channel flow where
the conduit is partially filled by the fluid and thus the flow is partially bounded by solid surfaces, as in
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an irrigation ditch, and flow is driven by gravity alone.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PIPE FLOW

 For all flows involved in this chapter, we assume that the pipe is completely filled with
the fluid being transported as is shown in Fig. 8.2a. Thus, we will not consider a
concrete pipe through which rainwater flows without completely filling the pipe, as is
shown in Fig. 8.2b. Such flows, called open-channel flow.
 The difference between open-channel flow and the pipe flow is in the fundamental
mechanism that drives the flow. For open channel flow, gravity alone is the driving
force—the water flows down a hill. For pipe flow, gravity may be important (the pipe
need not be horizontal), but the main driving force is likely to be a pressure gradient
along the pipe.
 If the pipe is not full, it is not possible to maintain this pressure difference, p1-p2.
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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PIPE FLOW

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REYNOLDS NUMBER (RE)

 There are three characteristics, denoted as laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow,
respectively, of the flow of a fluid in a pipe as illustrated in Fig. 8.3b.
 For pipe flow the most important dimensionless parameter is the Reynolds number (Re).

 where V is the average velocity in the pipe. Pipe of diameter D. μ viscosity of fluid. And ρ of fluid
density.
 The flow in a round pipe is laminar if the Reynolds number is less than approximately 2100.
 The flow in a round pipe is turbulent if the Reynolds number is greater than approximately 4000.
 For Reynolds numbers between these two limits, the flow may switch between laminar and
turbulent conditions in an apparently random fashion (transitional flow).
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REYNOLDS NUMBER (RE)

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 LAMINAR FLOW
 Relation between wall shear stress (τw) and pressure drop (∆p):

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW
 Velocity profile of lamina flow:

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW
 Flowrate of lamina flow in a horizontal pipe:

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW
 Flowrate of laminar flow in a non-horizontal pipe:

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW
• Friction factor for laminar pipe flow:

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW
 Head loss in laminar pipe flow:
 Recall the energy equation for incompressible, steady flow between two locations
without shaft work as is given in Eq. 5.89.
Head loss

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LAMINAR FLOW

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LAMINAR FLOW

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EXERCISES 01

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EXERCISES 01

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EXERCISES 01

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TURBULENT FLOW

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TURBULENT FLOW

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Major Losses:

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TURBULENT FLOW
• Pressure drop ∆p:

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TURBULENT FLOW

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Friction factor for turbulent pipe flow according to Moody chart:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Friction factor for turbulent pipe flow according to Colebrook
formula:

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TURBULENT FLOW

 Friction factor for turbulent pipe flow according to Haaland equation:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Minor Losses:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Loss coefficient and minor head loss:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Equivalent length:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Geometric consideration for loss coefficient KL:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Flow from a reservoir into a pipe:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Flows from a pipe into a tank:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 A change in pipe diameter (sudden contraction):

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TURBULENT FLOW
 A change in pipe diameter (sudden expansion):

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Gradual expansion:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Gradual contraction:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Bends in pipes:

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TURBULENT FLOW

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 TURBULENT FLOW
 Pipe fittings:

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TURBULENT FLOW
 Valves:

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TURBULENT FLOW

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TURBULENT FLOW

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TURBULENT FLOW

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EXERCISES 02

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EXERCISES 02

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EXERCISES 02

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EXERCISES 02

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EXERCISES 02

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EXERCISES 02

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NONCIRCULAR CONDUITS

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NONCIRCULAR CONDUITS

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NONCIRCULAR CONDUITS

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EXERCISES 03

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Q&A 83