ENGR. RENATO C.

ONG, MSManE

PIPING NETWORKS AND PUMP SELECTION

 Most piping systems encountered in practice such as the water distribution systems in cities or
commercial or residential establishments involve numerous parallel and series connections as
well as several sources (supply of fluid into the system) and loads (discharges of fluid from the
system)
 The engineering objective in such projects is to design a piping system that will deliver the
specified flow rates at specified pressures reliably at minimum total (initial plus operating and
maintenance) cost.

Two (2) types of piping systems :

 SERIES PIPING : Several pipes connected to each other in series

Working equations:
 The flow rate through the entire system remains constant regardless of the diameters of the individual
pipes in the system.
qA = qB = 𝑞1 = 𝑞2
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

 The total head loss in this case is equal to the sum of the head losses in individual pipes in the system,
including the minor losses.
𝐹ℎ1→2 = 𝐹ℎ𝐴 + 𝐹ℎ𝐵
o Note: The expansion or contraction losses at connections are considered to belong to the
smaller-diameter pipe since the expansion and contraction loss coefficients (𝐾𝐿) are
defined on the basis of the average velocity in the smaller-diameter pipe.

𝟐𝒇𝑨𝑳𝑻 𝑨 𝝊𝑨𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝑩𝑳𝑻 𝑩 𝝊𝑩𝟐

Fh1→2 = [ ] +[ ]
𝑫𝑨 𝐴 𝑫𝑩 𝐵

𝟐𝒇𝑨(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆)𝝊𝑨𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝑩(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆)𝝊𝑩𝟐 𝟐

𝑭𝒉𝟏→𝟐 =[ ] + [ + 𝑲𝑬 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 𝝊𝑩 ]
𝑫𝑨 𝑨
𝑫𝑩 𝟐 𝑩

Or

𝟐𝒇𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆𝑨𝝊𝑨𝟐 𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆𝑩𝝊𝑩𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝑭𝒉𝟏→𝟐 = { + ∑[𝑲𝟏 + 𝑲𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝑲𝒏] (𝝊𝑨 )} + { + ∑[𝑲𝟏 + 𝑲𝟐 + ⋯ + 𝑲𝒏] (𝝊𝑩 )} + 𝑲𝑬 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 𝝊𝑩
𝑫𝑨 𝟐 𝑨
𝑫𝑩 𝟐 𝑩
𝟐

Sample Problem:
Consider the two reservoirs shown in figure below, connected by a single pipe that changes
diameter over its length. The surfaces of the two reservoirs have a difference in level of 9m. The
pipe has a diameter of 200mm for the first 15m (from A to C) then a diameter of 250 mm for the
remaining 45m (from C to B). Determine the flowrate through the piping system.
For the entrance use, 𝐾𝑐 = 0.5 and the exit, 𝐾𝑒 = 1.0. The join at C is sudden. For both pipe,
use 𝑓 = 0.01.

Given:

Pipe D, in mm L, in m 𝑓
1 200 15 0.01
2 250 45 0.01
𝐾𝑐 = 0.5 𝐾𝑒 = 1.0

∆𝑍 = 9𝑚
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

Required: Flowrate, q
Solution:
𝑷 𝒈 𝝊𝟐 −𝒅𝑾𝒔
∆( + 𝒄 𝒛+ ) −∑
= 𝝆 𝒈−𝑑𝑊𝑠 𝟐 𝒅𝒎
𝑭𝒉 ∆𝑃
=0 ; =0
𝑑𝑚 𝜌
𝒈 𝝊 𝟐
∆( 𝒛+ ) = −∑
𝑭𝒉 𝒈 𝒄 𝟐
𝑔 m 𝑚2
𝑔𝑐 ∆𝑧 = (9.81 2
) (9)m = 88.29 2
∆𝜐2 𝜐 − 𝜐sec
1
2
2
2 𝑠𝑒𝑐
=
2 2
For series:

𝐪𝐀 = 𝐪𝐁 = 𝒒𝟏 = 𝒒𝟐 = 𝒒𝒏 → 𝝊 𝑨𝑺𝑨 = 𝝊 𝑩 𝑺𝑩 = 𝝊 𝟏 𝑺𝟏 = 𝝊 𝟐 𝑺𝟐

𝜐1𝑆1 = 𝜐2𝑆2
2
𝜋𝐷1
)
Therefore, 𝜐 4 𝐷 12
𝑢1𝑆1 𝑢1( = 𝜐 (0.20𝑚)2 = 0.64𝜐1
2 = 𝑆2 = 𝜋𝐷2
2
𝐷22 1 = (0.25𝑚)2 𝜐1
( )
4

𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 + 𝑭𝒉𝟐

2𝑓1𝐿𝑇1 𝜐12 2𝑓2𝐿𝑇2 𝜐22
− ∑ 𝐹ℎ = =[ ] +[ ]
A→B
Fh 𝐷1 1
𝐷2 2

2𝑓1(𝐿𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 + 𝐿𝑒1 )𝜐12 2𝑓2(𝐿𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 + 𝐿𝑒2 )𝜐22 𝜐12 𝜐22

− ∑ 𝐹ℎ = =[ ] +[ ] + +
𝐴→𝐵
𝐹ℎ 𝐷1 1
𝐷2 2 𝐾𝑐
2 𝐾𝑒 2

But : 𝐿𝑒1𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐿𝑒2 = 0 ( 𝑛𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠)

𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆 𝟏)𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟐(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆𝟐 )𝝊𝟐𝟐 𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = =[ ] +[ ] + +
𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 𝑫𝟏 𝟏
𝑫𝟐 𝟐 𝑲𝒄
𝟐 𝑲𝒆 𝟐

𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟏𝟓𝒎)𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟒𝟓𝒎)(𝟎. 𝟔𝟒𝝊𝟏)𝟐 𝝊𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏. (𝟎.

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = ] +[ ] + (𝟎.
(𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝒎) (𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎) 𝟓) 𝟔𝟒𝝊𝟏)𝟐
[ 𝟏 𝟐 𝟓) 𝟐
𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [𝟏. 𝟓𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏. 𝟒𝟕𝟒𝟓𝟔𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟑𝟎𝟕𝟐𝝊𝟏𝟐]

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = 𝟑. 𝟓𝟑𝟏𝟕𝟔 𝝊𝟏𝟐

 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

𝒈 ∆𝝊 𝟐
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = ∆𝒛 +
𝒈𝒄 )
( 𝟐
𝑚2 + ( 𝜐1 − 𝜐2 )
2 2

3.53176 𝜐1 = 88.29
2
𝑠𝑒𝑐2 2
3.53176 𝜐12 = 88.29 𝑚2 𝜐12 − (0.64𝜐1)2
𝑠𝑒𝑐2 + [ 2
]
𝑚2
3.53176 𝜐1 = 88.29
2
+ 0.2952 𝜐12
𝑠𝑒𝑐2
𝒎
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝝊𝟏 = 𝟓. 𝟐𝟐𝟑
𝒔𝒆𝒄
qA = qB = 𝑞1 = 𝑞2

𝒎 𝝅(𝟎. 𝟑
𝒒 = 𝝊𝟏 𝑺𝟏 = (𝟓. 𝟐𝟐𝟑 𝟐𝒎))𝟐
[ ] = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝟒 𝒎 = 𝒒𝑨 = 𝒒𝑩 = 𝒒𝟏 = 𝒒𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟒 𝒔𝒆𝒄

 PARALLEL PIPING: Several pipes connected to each other in parallel

2
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

Working equations:
 For a pipe that branches out into two (or more) parallel pipes and then rejoins at a
junction downstream, the total flow rate is the sum of the flow rates in the individual
pipes.
qA = qB = q1 + q2
 The pressure drop (or head loss) in each individual pipe connected in parallel must be the same since
ΔP = PA − PB and the junction pressures PA and PB are the same for all the individual pipes.
𝐹ℎ 1 = 𝐹ℎ 2

𝟐𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻 𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻 𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐

[ 𝟏
] = [ ]
𝑫𝟏 1
𝑫𝟐 2

𝝊𝟏 𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻 ∙ 𝑫𝟏]𝟎.𝟓𝟎
𝝊𝟐 𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻𝟏 𝑫𝟐

𝟎.𝟓𝟎
𝑞 𝝊 𝑺 𝒇𝟐 𝑳 𝑻 𝑫 𝝅𝑫𝟏
𝟐
𝐴𝑙𝑠𝑜, = =[ ∙ ]
[ 𝟒 𝟐]
1 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏
𝑞2 𝝊 𝟐𝑺𝟐 𝒇𝟏 𝑳 𝑻 𝟏 𝝅𝑫𝟐
𝑫𝟐 𝟒

𝑞 𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻𝟐 ∙ 𝑫𝟏]𝟎.𝟓𝟎 [𝑫 𝟐
𝟏
1
𝑞2 𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻𝟏 𝑫𝟐
𝑫𝟐𝟐
Sample Problem:
Two pipes connect two reservoirs (A and B) which have a height difference of 10m. Pipe 1 has diameter
50mm and length 100m. Pipe 2 has diameter 100mm and length 100m. Both have entry loss k = 0.5 and
exit loss k =1.0 and f = 0.008.
Calculate:
1. The rate of flow for each pipe
2. The diameter D of a pipe 100m long that could replace the two pipes and provide the same flow.
Given:

Pipe D, in mm L, in m 𝑓
1 50 100 0.008
2 100 100 0.008
𝐾𝑐 = 0.5 𝐾𝑒 = 1.0
Required:
1. ) 𝑞1 =? 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞2 =?
2. ) 𝐷 =? 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 100 𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑖𝑛 𝑞1 = 𝑞2
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

Solution:

1. ) 𝑞1 =? 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞2 =?
Working equation for parallel piping,

qA = qB = q1 + q2

𝐹ℎ 1 = 𝐹ℎ 2

𝟐𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻 𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻 𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐

[ 𝟏
] = [ ]
𝑫𝟏 1
𝑫 𝟐 2

𝝊𝟏 𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻 ∙ 𝑫𝟏]𝟎.𝟓𝟎
𝝊𝟐 𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻𝟏 𝑫𝟐
𝟎.𝟓𝟎 𝟐
1
𝒇𝟐 𝑻𝟐 𝑫𝟏
𝑞 = [𝑳 ∙ 𝑫 𝟏] [ ]
𝑞2 𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻 𝟏 𝑫𝟐 𝑫𝟐𝟐

For parallel, since 𝐹ℎ1 = 𝐹ℎ2 , apply Bernoulli Equation separately to each pipe.

For Pipe No.1:

𝑷 𝒈 𝝊𝟐 −𝒅𝑾𝒔
∆( + 𝒄 𝒛+ ) −∑
= 𝝆 𝒈 𝟐 𝒅𝒎
𝑭𝒉
−𝑑𝑊𝑠 ∆𝑃 ∆𝜐2
=0 ; =0 ; = 0 (𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜐1𝑖𝑛 = 𝜐1𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
𝑑𝑚 𝜌 2
𝒈
( ∆𝒛) = − ∑
𝑭𝒈𝒉 𝒄

𝑔 m 2
∆𝑧 = (9.81 ) (10)m = 98.1 𝑚 2
𝑔𝑐 sec 2
𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝟐
𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆 )𝝊
𝟏 𝟏 𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝝊𝟏𝟐
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = = + +
𝑲𝒄 𝟐 𝑲𝒆 𝟐
𝑭𝒉𝟏 𝑫𝟏

But : 𝐿𝑒1 = 0 ( 𝑛𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠)

𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆)𝝊𝟏𝟐
𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝝊𝟏𝟐
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 = ] + 𝑲𝒄 + 𝑲𝒆
[ 𝑫𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐

𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟖)(𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝝊𝟏𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 = ] + (𝟎. 𝟓𝟎) 𝝊𝟏𝟐
𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝒎 + (𝟏.
[ 𝟏 𝟐
𝟎) 𝟐

𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟖)(𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟏𝟐
] + (𝟎. 𝝊𝟏𝟐 + (𝟏. 𝝊𝟏𝟐
𝟎. 𝟎𝟓𝒎
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 = 𝟏 𝟓𝟎) 𝟎) 𝟐
[ 𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟕𝟓𝝊𝟏𝟐

 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

𝒈
𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 ∶ ( ∆𝒛) = − ∑ 𝒉
𝑭 𝒈 𝒄

𝑚2 𝑚
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟕𝟓𝝊𝟏𝟐 = 98.1 → 𝜐1 = 1.731
𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑠𝑒𝑐2
𝒎 𝝅(𝟎. 𝒎𝟑
𝒒𝟏 = 𝝊𝟏𝑺𝟏 = (𝟏. 𝟕𝟑𝟏 𝟎𝟓𝒎)𝟐 ] = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟒
)[ 𝒔𝒆𝒄
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟒
For Pipe No.2:

𝑷 𝒈 𝝊𝟐 −𝒅𝑾𝒔
∆( + 𝒄 𝒛+ ) −∑
= 𝝆 𝒈 𝟐 𝒅𝒎
𝑭 𝒉
−𝑑𝑊𝑠 ∆𝑃 ∆𝜐2
=0 ; =0 ; = 0 (𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜐1𝑖𝑛 = 𝜐1𝑜𝑢𝑡 )
𝑑𝑚 𝜌 2
𝒈
( ∆𝒛) = − ∑
𝑭𝒈𝒉 𝒄

𝑔 m 2
∆𝑧 = (9.81 ) (10)m = 98.1 𝑚 2
𝑔𝑐 sec 2
𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝟐
𝟐𝒇𝟐(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆 )𝝊
𝟐 𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = = + +
𝑲𝒄 𝟐 𝑲𝒆 𝟐
𝑭𝒉𝟐 𝑫𝟐

But : 𝐿𝑒2 = 0 ( 𝑛𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠)

𝟐𝒇𝟐(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆)𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝝊𝟐𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟐 = ] + 𝑲𝒄 + 𝑲𝒆
[ 𝑫𝟐 𝟏 𝟐 𝟐

𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟖)(𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟐𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟐 = ] + (𝟎. 𝟓𝟎) 𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝟎. 𝟏𝟎 𝒎 + (𝟏.
[ 𝟏 𝟐
𝟎) 𝟐

𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟖)(𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟐𝟐
] + (𝟎. 𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝒎 𝝊𝟐𝟐 + (𝟏.
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟐 = 𝟏 𝟓𝟎) 𝟎) 𝟐
[ 𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟕𝟓𝝊𝟐𝟐

𝒈
𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 ∶ ( ∆𝒛) = − ∑ 𝒉
𝑭 𝒈 𝒄

𝑚2 𝑚
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟕𝟓𝝊𝟐𝟐 = 98.1 → 𝜐2 = 2.42
𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑠𝑒𝑐2
𝒎 𝝅(𝟎. 𝟑
𝒒𝟐 = 𝝊𝟐𝑺𝟐 = (𝟐. 𝟒𝟐 𝟏𝟎𝒎)𝟐 ] = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟗 𝒎
)[
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟒 𝒔𝒆𝒄

Also for parallel piping, qA = qB = q1 + 𝟑q2: 𝟑 𝟑

Therefore, 𝐪 = 𝐪 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟒 𝒎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟗 𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟐𝟒 𝒎
𝐀 𝐁 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒄
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

𝟐. ) 𝑫 =? 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒎 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒊𝒏 𝒒𝟏 = 𝒒𝟐

𝑚3
. To provide the same flow (𝑞 = 0.0224 = 𝒒
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝟏 = ) for 100-meter straight pipe,
𝒒𝟐
�
� ∆𝒛) = − ∑ 𝑭𝒉
𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 ∶ (
𝒈𝒄
𝑚2 2𝑓𝐿𝜐2
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 98.1 =
𝑠𝑒𝑐2 𝐷
𝑚3
𝑞 0.0224 𝑠𝑒𝑐 0.02852
𝜐=𝑠 = 𝜋𝐷2 = 𝐷2
( )
4 2
0.02852
𝑚2 2𝑓𝐿𝜐 2
2(0.008)(100𝑚) ( 𝐷2 )
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 98.1 2= =
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐷 𝐷
𝑚2 0.0013
98.1 2 =
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝐷5

𝟓 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟑
𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝑫 = √
𝟗𝟖. 𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝟓𝟖 𝒎 (𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝒎𝒎)

𝟐
𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟏𝟓𝒎)𝝊𝟏𝟐 + [ 𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟒𝟓𝒎)(𝟎. 𝟔𝟒𝝊𝟏) ] 𝝊𝟏𝟐 (𝟎.
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = ] (𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎) + (𝟎. 𝟔𝟒𝝊𝟏)𝟐
(𝟎. 𝟐𝟎𝒎) + (𝟏.
[ 𝟏 𝟐 𝟓) 𝟐
𝟓)
𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [𝟏. 𝟓𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏. 𝟒𝟕𝟒𝟓𝟔𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟑𝟎𝟕𝟐𝝊𝟏𝟐]

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = 𝟑. 𝟓𝟑𝟏𝟕𝟔 𝝊𝟏𝟐

qA = qB = q1 + q2 = 𝜐1𝑆1 + 𝜐2𝑆2
2
𝜋𝐷1
𝜐1 ( ) 2
𝜐 𝑆 42 = 𝐷12 = (0.20𝑚)
Therefore, 𝜐2 = 1 1 𝜐 𝜐 = 0.64𝜐1
𝑆2 = 𝜋𝐷2 2 (0.25𝑚)2 1
( ) 𝐷2 1
4
𝐹ℎ 1 = 𝐹ℎ 2

𝟐𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻 𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻 𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐

[ 𝟏
] = [ ]
𝑫𝟏 1
𝑫 𝟐 2

𝟎.𝟓𝟎
𝝊𝟏 𝒇𝟐 𝑻𝟐
𝑳 =[ ∙ 𝑫𝟏
𝝊𝟐 𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻𝟏 𝑫𝟐 ]

𝟎.𝟓𝟎
𝑞 𝝊 𝑺 𝒇𝟐 𝑳 𝑻 𝑫 𝝅𝑫𝟏
𝟐
𝐴𝑙𝑠𝑜, = =[ ∙ ]
[ 𝟒 𝟐]
1 𝟏 𝟏 𝟐 𝟏
𝑞2 𝝊 𝟐𝑺𝟐 𝒇𝟏 𝑳 𝑻 𝟏 𝝅𝑫𝟐
𝑫𝟐 𝟒
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

𝑞 𝒇𝟐𝑳𝑻𝟐 ∙ 𝑫𝟏]𝟎.𝟓𝟎 [𝑫 𝟐
𝟏
1
𝑞2 𝒇𝟏𝑳𝑻𝟏 𝑫𝟐
𝑫𝟐𝟐

BRANCHED PIPES:
 If pipes connect three reservoirs, as shown in figure below, then the problem becomes more complex.
One of the problems is that it is sometimes difficult to decide which direction fluid will flow.
 In practice solutions are now done by computer techniques that can determine flow direction,
however it is useful to examine the techniques necessary to solve this problem.

Working Equations:
 𝑞1 = 𝑞2 + 𝑞3 𝑜𝑟 𝑞3 = 𝑞1 + 𝑞2

 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖′𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠

Sample Problem:
Water flows from reservoir A through pipe 1, diameter 𝐷1 = 120 𝑚𝑚, length 𝐿1 = 120 𝑚, to junction D
from which the two pipes leave, pipe 2, diameter 𝐷2 = 75 𝑚𝑚, length 𝐿2 = 60 𝑚 goes to reservoir B,
and pipe 3, diameter 𝐷3 = 60 𝑚𝑚, length 𝐿3 = 40 𝑚 goes to reservoir C. Reservoir B is 16 m below
reservoir A, and reservoir C is 24 m below reservoir A. All pipe have 𝑓 = 0.01. Ignore entry and exit
losses.
Given:

Pipe D L Flow to
1 120 mm 120 m Junction D
2 75 60 Reservoir B
3 60 40 Reservoir C
 Reservoir B is 16 m below Reservoir A
 Reservoir C is 24 m below Reservoir A
 𝑓 = 0.01 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑠
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

Solution:
 We know the flow is from A to D and from D to C but are never quite sure which way
the flow is along the other pipe – either D to B or B to D. We first must assume one
direction.
 If that is not correct there will not be a sensible solution. To keep the notation from
above we can write 𝑍𝐴 = 24 ; 𝑍𝐵 = 16 ; 𝑍𝐶 = 0

1. Apply flow rate equation :

𝑞1 = 𝑞2 + 𝑞3 𝑜𝑟 𝑞3 = 𝑞1 + 𝑞2

For this problem, 𝑞1 = 𝑞2 + 𝑞3

𝜐1𝑆1 = 𝜐2𝑆2 + 𝜐3𝑆3
𝜐1(𝐷1)2 = 𝜐2(𝐷2)2 + 𝜐3(𝐷3)2
𝜐1(0.12)2 = 𝜐2(0.075)2 + 𝜐3(0.06)2
0.0144𝜐1 = 0.005625𝜐2 + 0.0036𝜐3

𝜐1 = 0.3906𝜐2 + 0.25𝜐3

2. 𝐴𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖′𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠

For flow A to B (Flow in Series)

𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 + 𝑭𝒉𝟐

2𝑓1𝐿𝑇1 𝜐12 2𝑓2𝐿𝑇2 𝜐22
− ∑ 𝐹ℎ = =[ ] +[ ]
A→B
Fh 𝐷1 1
𝐷2 2

2𝑓1(𝐿𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 + 𝐿𝑒1 )𝜐12 2𝑓2(𝐿𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 + 𝐿𝑒2 )𝜐22 𝜐12 𝜐22

− ∑ 𝐹ℎ = 𝐴→𝐵 = [ ] +[ ] + +
𝐹ℎ 𝐷 1
1
𝐷 2
2 𝐾𝑐
2 𝐾𝑒 2
But : 𝐿𝑒1 & 𝐿𝑒2 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾𝑐 & 𝐾𝑒 = 0 ( 𝑛𝑜 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠)

𝟐
𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆)𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟐(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆)𝝊𝟐
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = ] +[ ]
𝑫𝟏 𝑫𝟐
[ 𝟏 𝟐

𝟐
𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟏𝟐𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟏𝟐 + [ 𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟔𝟎𝒎)(𝝊𝟐) ] +
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = ] (𝟎. 𝟎𝟕𝟓 𝒎)
(𝟎. 𝟏𝟐𝒎)
[ 𝟏 𝟐

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝝊𝟐𝟐]

𝑔 m
𝒎𝟐
𝑔𝑐 ∆𝑧 = (9.81 ) (16)m = 𝟏𝟓𝟔. 𝟗𝟔
sec2 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐
𝒈
( ∆𝒛) = ∑ 𝑭𝒉
𝒈𝒄
𝒎𝟐
𝟏𝟓𝟔. 𝟗𝟔 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟐
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

For flow A to C (Flow in Series)

𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑪 = 𝑭𝒉𝟏 + 𝑭𝒉𝟑

2𝑓1𝐿𝑇1 𝜐12 2𝑓3𝐿𝑇3 𝜐32
− ∑ 𝐹ℎ = =[ ] +[ ]
A→C
Fh 𝐷1 1
𝐷3 3

2𝑓1(𝐿𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 + 𝐿𝑒1 )𝜐12 2𝑓3(𝐿𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 + 𝐿𝑒3 )𝜐32 𝜐12 𝜐32

− ∑ 𝐹ℎ = 𝐴→𝐶 = [ ] +[ ] + +
𝐹ℎ 𝐷1 1
𝐷3 3 𝐾𝑐
2 𝐾𝑒 2
But : 𝐿𝑒1 & 𝐿𝑒3 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾𝑐 & 𝐾𝑒 = 0 ( 𝑛𝑜 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠)

𝟐
𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆)𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟑(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆)𝝊𝟑
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑪 = ] +[ ]
𝑫𝟏 𝑫𝟑
[ 𝟏 𝟑

𝟐
𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟏𝟐𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟏𝟐 + [ 𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟏)(𝟒𝟎𝒎)(𝝊𝟑) ]
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑪 = ] (𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟎 𝒎)
(𝟎. 𝟏𝟐𝒎)
[ 𝟏 𝟑

− ∑ 𝑭𝒉 = 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑪 = [𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝝊𝟑𝟐]

𝑔 m
𝒎𝟐
𝑔𝑐 ∆𝑧 = (9.81 ) (24)m = 𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒
𝒈 sec2 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐
( ∆𝒛) = ∑ 𝑭𝒉
𝒈𝒄
𝒎𝟐
𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝝊𝟑𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟐

Summary of equations:
𝝊𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟗𝟎𝟔𝝊𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝝊𝟑

𝒎𝟐
𝟏𝟓𝟔. 𝟗𝟔 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟐

𝒎𝟐
𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝝊𝟑𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟐
3 unknown, 3 equations, solving simultaneously,

𝝊𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟗𝟎𝟔𝝊𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓𝝊𝟑

𝜐3 = 4𝜐1 − 1.5624𝜐2

𝒎𝟐
𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑𝝊𝟑𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟐

𝒎𝟐
𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊 𝟐
+ 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑[4𝜐 − 1.5624𝜐2 ]𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝟐 𝟏 1

𝒎𝟐
𝟏𝟓𝟔. 𝟗𝟔 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐

𝜐2 = √9.81 − 1.25𝝊𝟏𝟐
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

𝟐
𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒 𝒎 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊 𝟐 + 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑[4𝜐 − 1.5624𝜐 ]𝟐
𝟏 1 2
𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐

𝟐𝟑𝟓. 𝟒𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎𝝊 + 𝟏𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 [4𝜐1 − 1.5624 (√9.81 − 1.25𝝊𝟏𝟐)]

𝟏
𝟐

Assume 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝜐1 𝑏𝑦 𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:

𝜐 𝑓(𝜐)
1 -1.148
2 0.2899
1.8 -0.03176
1.85 0.046606
1.83 0.0151
1.82 -0.0006
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒, 𝜐1 = 1.82 , 𝜐2 = 2.38 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜐3 = 12.69
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑚3 𝑚3 𝑚3
𝐴𝑙𝑠𝑜 , 𝑞1 = 0.0206 , 𝑞2 = 0.0105 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑞3 = 0.0101
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐
Using continuity, 𝑞1 = 𝑞2 + 𝑞3 ; 0.0206=0.0105+0.0101
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

Exercise:
Given a pipe system as shown below .

The total pressure drop is Pa – Pb = 150 kPa and the elevation change is 𝑍𝐵 − 𝑍𝑎 = 5𝑚. Given the
following data:

Pipe 𝐿𝑇 (m) D (cm) 𝜀 (mm) 𝜀

𝐷
1 100 8 0.24 0.003
2 150 6 0.12 0.02
3 80 4 0.20 0.005
𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
The fluid is water (𝜌𝐻2𝑂 = 1000 𝜇𝐻2𝑂 = 1.12𝑥10
−3
), determine the flow rate of water through
3 𝑚3 𝑚∙𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑚
the section in
ℎ𝑟

Solution:

𝑷 𝒈 𝟐 −𝒅𝑾𝒔
∆ ( + 𝒛 +𝝊 ) =
𝝆 𝒈𝒄 𝟐 − ∑ 𝑭𝒉 (𝐵𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔)
∆𝑷 𝒈 𝒅𝒎
( + ∆𝒛) = − ∑ 𝑭
𝒉
𝝆 𝒈𝒄
𝑵
∆𝑷 𝟏𝟓𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒎𝟐 𝒎 𝒎𝟐
𝒈
− ∑ 𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = + ∆𝒛 = 𝑘𝑔 + (𝟗. 𝟖 ) (𝟓 𝒎) = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟏𝟓
𝝆 𝒄 1000 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐
𝒈 𝑚3
For series,
qA = qB = 𝑞1 = 𝑞2 = 𝑞𝑛 → 𝜐𝐴𝑆𝐴 = 𝜐𝐵𝑆𝐵 = 𝜐1𝑆1 = 𝜐2𝑆2 = 𝜐3𝑆3

Therefore, 𝜐 𝐷 12 82
= 𝜐 = 𝜐 16
2 1 1 = 𝜐1
𝐷22 2 62 2
9
𝐷1 8
Also, 𝜐3 = 𝜐1 = 𝜐1 = 4𝜐1
𝐷32 42
Also for series,
𝒎𝟐
𝐹ℎ𝐴→𝐵 = 𝐹ℎ1 + 𝐹ℎ2 + 𝐹ℎ3 = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟏𝟓
𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐
𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆)𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟐(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆)𝝊𝟐𝟐 𝝊𝟏𝟐 𝟐𝒇𝟑(𝑳𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆 + 𝑳𝒆)𝝊𝟑𝟐 𝝊𝟐𝟐
𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [ ] +[ + 𝑲 𝑬 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 ( )] + [ + 𝑲𝑬 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 ( )]
𝑫𝟏 𝟏 𝑫𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝑫 𝟑
𝟐
*neglect 𝑲 𝟐
𝝊
𝑬 𝒐𝒓 𝑪 ( ) 𝟐
 ENGR. RENATO C. ONG, MSManE

𝟐
⎡𝟐𝒇 (𝟏𝟓𝟎𝒎) ( 16 𝜐 ) ⎤
𝟐𝒇𝟑(𝟖𝟎𝒎)(4𝜐 1) + 𝟎] = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟏𝟓 𝒎
𝟐 𝟐
𝟐𝒇𝟏(𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎)𝝊𝟏 𝟐 ⎢
] +⎢
𝟐
9 1 ⎥
𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 =[ + 𝟎⎥ + [
𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝒎 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝒎
⎥
𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝒎 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐
𝟏 ⎢ 𝟑
[ ]𝟐

𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐𝒇𝟏 ]𝟏 + [𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟎𝟐. 𝟓𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐𝒇𝟐]𝟐 + [𝟔𝟒, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐𝒇𝟑]𝟑 = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟏𝟓 𝒎𝟐

𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐

1. Estimate the fanning friction factor, 𝑓1, 𝑓2, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓3:

𝟏
𝟏𝟎 𝟔 𝟑
𝒇 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟕𝟓 [𝟏 + (𝟐𝟎𝟎 (𝜺⁄𝑫) + ) ] 𝑹𝒆 > 𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆

Assuming 𝑅𝑒 = 1𝑥106 (𝐹𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛)

𝑓1 = 0.00298
2. Solve for 𝜐1, 𝜐2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜐2:
𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟗𝟖) ]𝟏 + [𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟎𝟐. 𝟓𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟑)]𝟐 + [𝟔𝟒, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟑)]𝟑 = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟏𝟓 𝒎𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐

Determine 𝑅𝑒1, 𝑅𝑒2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑒3:

3. Validate calculated friction factor (𝑓1, 𝑓2, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓3) using the computed determined Re-value from step
𝗌
2 and ( using the empirical friction factor equation.
)
𝐷

Final Iteration result:

𝑓1 = 0.00655
𝑓2 = 0.00585
𝑓3 = 0.0076
Solve for 𝜐1:
𝑭𝒉𝑨→𝑩 = [𝟐𝟓𝟎𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟓𝟓) ]𝟏 + [𝟏𝟓𝟖𝟎𝟐. 𝟓𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓𝟖𝟓)]𝟐 + [𝟔𝟒, 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝝊𝟏𝟐(𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟔)]𝟑 = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟏𝟓 𝒎𝟐
𝒔𝒆𝒄𝟐
𝑚
𝜐1 = 0.29
16 16 𝑠𝑒𝑐
𝑚 𝑚
𝜐2 = 𝜐1 = 9 (0.29 𝑠𝑒𝑐 ) = 0.5156 𝑠𝑒𝑐
9 𝑚 𝑚
𝜐3 = 4𝜐1 = 4 (0.29 ) = 1.16
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑠𝑒𝑐