Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7

Dr. Tariq Talha

College of EME, NUST.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses
In the previous lecture, the major loss calculation for flow through
horizontal pipes, by use of friction factor obtained from Moody
charts/Coolbrook relation has been discussed.
Most pipe systems, however, consist of considerably more than straight
pipes.
These additional components (valves, bends, tees..) add to the overall
head loss of the system and are categorized as minor losses
For example, the purpose of a valve is to regulate flowrate.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses
It is not possible to perform theoretical analysis to calculate the head loss
due to these components.
Minor losses information is given in dimensionless form [Loss coefficient
(KL )] which is based on experimental data.
Loss coefficient (KL ) is defined as:

Pressure difference and Head loss and in terms of KL :

Loss coefficient is function of geometry and Reynolds number:

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

The energy equation for steady, incompressible, viscous pipe flow

between section (1) and (2):

The energy equation including the major and minor losses:

Where f and KL are function of Reynolds number and geometry and are
evaluated by using experimental data.
As the friction factor for very large Reynolds number, fully developed pipe
flow is independent of the Reynolds number (remember Moody Chart?),
the loss coefficients KL for components are a function of geometry only.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

Minor losses are sometimes (in case of change in diameter of pipe) given
in terms of equivalent length (leq ).
The equivalent length (leq ) is the length of horizontal pipe which would
produce the same head loss (friction losses) in the component as for the
component.

The head loss of the pipe system is the same as that produced in a straight
pipe whose length is equal to the pipes of the original system plus the sum
of the additional equivalent lengths of all of the components of the system.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

The loss coefficient for flow, into a pipe from reservoir, has different values
depending upon the exit geometry:

The more the vena-contracta effect, higher would be the loss coefficient.
Less head loss would be experienced due to rounding off the entrance edge.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses
Head loss due to the dissipation of kinetic energy in viscous flows

Vena contracta region in the vicinity of square-edged entrance.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST
Minor Losses

Effect of rounding off corner on the head loss coefficient:

Less flow separation due to rounding off would result in less

vena-contracta effect, thereby reducing the minor head loss.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

Head loss due to flow from a pipe into a tank:

Entire kinetic energy is dissipated due to viscous effects as a result of

mixing of incoming fluid with the fluid at rest in the tank (V = 0)

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses: Sudden Contraction
Head loss due to sudden contraction:

Head loss due to sudden expansion:

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses: Sudden Expansion

For sudden expansion, the loss coefficient (KL ) can be derived from the
continuity, momentum and energy equations:

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses: Sudden Expansion/Contraction
Head loss due to gradual expansion (conical diffuser):

For very small angles, the diffuser is excessively long and most of the head
loss is due to the wall shear stress as in fully developed flow.
For moderate or large angles, the flow separates from the walls and the
losses are due mainly to a dissipation of the kinetic energy of the jet
leaving the smaller diameter pipe.
Head loss due to gradual contraction (conical nozzle): Head loss is less
due to no flow separation
Typical loss coefficients based are quite small i.e. KL = 0.02 for θ = 30◦
and KL = 0.07 for θ = 50◦ .

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

Head loss due to gradual change in flow direction (bend):

Greater head loss due to swirling flow which results in flow separation
(imbalance in centripetal force).
Head loss due to 90◦ sharp bend: advantage of guide veins.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Minor Losses

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Example Problem

A large artery in a person’s body can be approximated by a tube of diameter

9 mm and length 0.35 m. Also assume that blood has a viscosity of
approximately 4 × 10−3 N.s/m , a specific gravity of 1.0, density ρ = 999 kg/m
and that the pressure at the beginning of the artery is equivalent to 120 mm Hg
(γ = 133 kN/m3 ). The mean velocity of the flow is V = 0.2m/s, determine the
pressure at the end of the artery if it is oriented
(a) vertically up (flow up).
(b) horizontal.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Example Problem

To conserve water and energy, a flow reducer is installed in the shower

head as shown in figure. If the pressure at point (1) remains constant and
all losses except for that in the flow reducer are neglected, determine the
value of the loss coefficient (based on the velocity in the pipe) of the flow
reducer if its presence is to reduce the flowrate by a factor of 2. Neglect
gravity.

Homework Problems: 8.20, 8.28, 8.50, 8.35, 8.46, 8.52, 8.53, 8.60, 8.62,
8.64, 8.66

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Pipe flow problems: Types

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Pipe Flow Problems: Pressure Drop (Head Loss) Determination

The pressure at section (2) shown in the figure is not to fall below 60 psi when
the flow rate of water (ν = 1.21 × 10−5 f t  /s, γ = 62.4 lb/ f t  ) from the tank
varies from 0 to 1.0 c f s and the branch line is shut off. Determine the
minimum height, h, of the water tank under the assumption that

(a) minor losses are negligible

(b) minor losses are not negligible

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Pipe Flow Problems: Pressure Drop (Head Loss) Determination

Water (ν = 1.66 × 10−5 f t  /s, ρ = 1.94 slug/ f t  ) flows through the coils of
the heat exchanger (ε/D = 1.2 × 10−4 ) at a rate of 0.9 gal/min
[1 gal = 0.1336 f t  ]. Determine the pressure drop between the inlet and
outlet of the horizontal device.

Homework Problems: 8.78, 8.80, 8.81, 8.83, 8.87, 8.90.

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Pipe Flow Problems: Flow Rate Determination
Water flows from the nozzle attached to the spray tank shown in the
figure. Determine the flowrate if the loss coefficient for the nozzle (based
on upstream conditions) is 0.75 and the friction factor for the rough hose
is 0.11 (γ = 9.8 × 103 N/m ).

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST

Pipe Flow Problems: Flow Rate Determination

The turbine, shown in the figure, extracts 50 hp[1hp =  f t.lb/s] from
the water flowing through it. The 1 f t diameter, 300 f t long pipe is
assumed to have a friction factor of 0.02. Minor losses are negligible.
Determine the flowrate through the pipe and turbine.

Home work Problems: 8.94, 8.95, 8.97, 8.98

Dr. Tariq Talha Fluid Mechanics-II, Lecture-7: College of EME, NUST