Piping Engineering

Week Name Pipeline Systems: Single-Phase Pressure Drop

Pressure Drop Calculation in Complex Geometry Parallel
Topic Name
Piping Network

Menu Name: Learning Outcome

Learning Outcome:
At the end of the session, you will be able to,
• Solve parallel piping network
• Apply modified Bernoulli equation in determining total head loss
• Determine volumetric flow rate of water in each branch neglecting
minor losses and including minor losses

Menu Name: Problem 1

 Water at 20oC is transported from a water Reservoir 1 to another

water Reservoir 2 through a parallel piping network as shown in
the figure here. The piping network consists of two branches such
as branch 1 and branch 2. The length of Branch 1 is 125m and the
length of Branch 2 is 135m. Each branch is made up of commercial
steel pipe. The inner diameter of the pipe of Branch 1 is 100mm
whereas the inner diameter of the pipe of Branch 2 is 150mm.
Branch 1 and branch 2 are connected at Node ‘A’ and Node ‘B’. The
elevation of the free liquid surface level of Reservoir 1 from the
reference line/Datum line is 100m whereas the elevation of the
free liquid surface level of Reservoir 2 is 75m. One water stream
passes through Branch1 and the other stream passes through
Branch 2. Both the streams join at Node ‘B’ from there water
leaves to Reservoir 2.
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 Determine the water flow rate in each branch pipeline.
 Neglecting the minor losses, and
 Including the minor losses.
 Take the density of water at 20oC as 998.1 kg/m3 and dynamic
viscosity as 1.002x10-3 kg/m-s.
Given Data:
• Type of piping network is parallel
• Number of branches is 2
• Length of Branch 1, L1 = 125m
• Length of Branch 2, L2 = 135m
• Pipe diameter of branch 1, D1 = 100mm
• Pipe diameter of branch 2, D2 = 150mm
• Elevation of free surface of Reservoir 1, z1 = 100m
• Elevation of free surface of Reservoir 2, z2 = 75m
• Density of water at 20oC, ρ=998.1 kg/m3
• Dynamic viscosity, µ = 1.002x10-3 kg/m-s
• Material of the Construction of pipe is commercial steel.
• To find: Volumetric flow rate of water in each branch neglecting
minor losses and including minor losses.

Menu Name: Solution

 Neglecting Minor Losses:
• The cross-sectional area of a pipeline of Branch 1, A1 =
π 2 π
D1 = x(0.01)2 = 0.007857m2
4 4

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 π
• Cross-sectional area of pipeline of Branch 2, A2 = D22 =
4
π 2
x(0.015) = 0.017679m2
4

• Let us apply the modified Bernoulli’s equation between

sectional planes 1-1 and 2-2 for Branch 1 as shown in the
figure here.
• The Modified Bernoulli’s equation is
P1 u21 P2 u22
• + + z1 = + + z2 + hT1
ρg 2g ρg 2g

• Here P1 is the pressure at the free surface level of Reservoir 1

and
• P2 is the pressure at the free surface level of Reservoir 2
which is Patmosphere.
• u1 and u2 are the velocities at the free surface levels of
Reservoirs 1 & 2, respectively, which are approximately equal
to zero.
• Therefore, the modified Bernoulli’s equation becomes 0 +
0 + z1 = 0 + 0 + z2 + hT1
• Therefore, the total head loss including major and minor
losses in Branch 1 is hT1 = z1 − z2 = 100 − 75 = 25m
• Similarly, for Branch 2, the total head loss can be written as
hT2 = z1 − z2 = 100 − 75 = 25m
• For a parallel piping network, the total head loss of both
branch 1 and branch 2 is equal.
• Let us say Q̇ 1 and Q̇ 2 are the volumetric flow rates of water
through branch 1 and branch 2, respectively.
• As per the continuity equation
• Q̇ = Q̇ 1 + Q̇ 2

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 • Since, Q̇ 1 and Q̇ 2 are not known a priori, the values of Q̇ 1 and
Q̇ 2 are determined iteratively.
The iterative procedure is
• Guessed initially the volumetric flow rate through Branch 1,
Q̇ 1 = 0.03695 m3/s
Q̇1
• The average velocity of water in branch 1, u1 = =
A1
0.03695
= 4.703m/s
0.007857

• Reynolds number of the flow of water in Branch 1, Re1 =

ρu1 D1 998.1x4.703x0.1
= = 468442
μ 0.001002

• From the given table, the roughness of commercial steel

pipe, ε = 0.045mm
• Relative roughness of pipeline of Branch1, ε/D1 =
0.000045/0.1 = 0.00045
10
• Selander Friction Factor equation 1978, fD = 4 �3.8log � +
Re
−2
0.2 ϵ⁄D��
10 −2
• fD1 = 4 �3.8log � + 0.2x0.00045�� = 0.01772
468442
L1 125
• = = 1250
D1 0.1
L1
• The flow resistance in Branch1 = fD1 x =
D1
0.01772x1250 = 22.155
L1 u21
• The frictional head loss in branch 1, hf1 = fD1 =
D1 2g
4.7032
22.155x = 24.973m
2x9.81

• The elevation difference, z1 − z2 = 25m

• The difference between elevation difference and head loss of
branch 1 is 25 – 24.973 = 0.027
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 • Since the difference falls within an acceptable range, iteration
is considered closed
• If the difference is significant the procedure from steps 1 to
12 is to be repeated till the difference is acceptable
Let us follow the same iterative procedure to determine the volumetric
flow rate in Branch 2.
• Guessed initially the volumetric flow rate through Branch 2,
Q̇ 2 = 0.1027 m3/s
Q̇2
• The average velocity of water in branch 2, u2 = =
A2
0.1027
= 5.809m/s
0.01768

• Reynolds number of the flow of water in Branch 2, Re2 =

ρu2 D2 998.1x5.809x0.15
= = 868002
μ 0.001002

• From the given table, the roughness of commercial steel

pipe, ε = 0.045mm
• Relative roughness of pipeline of Branch 1, ε/D2 =
0.000045/0.15 = 0.0003
10
• Selander Friction Factor equation 1978, fD = 4 �3.8log � +
Re
−2
0.2 ϵ⁄D��
10 −2
• fD2 = 4 �3.8log � + 0.2x0.0003�� = 0.01612
868002
L2 135
• = = 900
D2 0.15
L2
• The flow resistance in branch2 = fD2 x =
D2
0.01612x900 = 14.506
L2 u22
• The frictional head loss in branch 2, hf2 = fD2 =
D2 2g
5.8092
14.506x = 24.9525m
2x9.81

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 • The elevation difference, z1 − z2 = 25m
• The difference between elevation difference and head loss of
branch 2 = 25 – 24.9525 = 0.0475
• Since the difference falls within acceptable range, iteration is
considered closed.
• If the difference is significant the procedure from steps 1 to
12 are to be repeated till the difference is acceptable.
• The Volumetric flow rate of water from Reservoir 1 to
Reservoir 2 is Q̇ = Q̇ 1 + Q̇ 2 = 0.03695 + 0.1027 =
0.1396 m3/s.
• Let us consider the minor losses to see their effect for branch
1.
• Branch 1 consists of two tees, four 90o elbows, one gate
valve. The end connection of these components is flanged.
• Loss coefficients are taken from the open literature provided
in the previous module.
• KTee =0.2
• KElbow = 0.3
• KGate Valve (Fully Open) = 0.15
• ∑ K Branch1 = 1.75
• Branch 2 consists of two tees, six 90o elbow, one globe valve.
• Loss coefficients are taken from the open literature provided
in the previous module.
• KTee =0.2
• KElbow = 0.3
• KGlobe Valve (Fully Open) = 10

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 • ∑ K Branch2 = 12.2
• So now we need to repeat the steps followed earlier.
• Assumed volumetric flow rate through Branch 1,
Q̇ 1 = 0.0355 m3/s
• The average velocity of water in branch 1,
Q̇1 0.0355
u1 = = = 4.518m/s
A1 0.007857

• Reynolds number of the flow of water in Branch 1,

ρu1 D1 998.1x4.518x0.1
Re1 = = = 450060
μ 0.001002
• From the given table, the roughness of commercial steel
pipe, ε = 0.045mm
• Relative roughness of pipeline of Branch 1, ε/D1 =
0.000045/0.1 = 0.00045
• Selander Friction Factor equation 1978,
10 −2
• fD = 4 �3.8log � + 0.2 ϵ⁄D��
Re

10 −2
• fD1 = 4 �3.8log � + 0.2x0.00045�� = 0.01775
450060
L1 125
• = = 1250
D1 0.1

• The flow resistance offered by pipelines in branch1 =

L
fD1 x 1 = 0.01775x1250 = 22.193
D1
L1
• The total head loss in branch 1, hT1 = �fD1 +
D1
u21 4.5182
∑ K Branch1 � = (22.193 + 1.75)x = 24.912m
2g 2x9.81

• The elevation difference z1 − z2 = 25m

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 • The difference between elevation difference and head loss of
branch 1 = 25 – 24.912 = 0.088
• Since the difference falls within the acceptable range,
iteration is considered closed.
• Let us follow the same iterative procedure to determine the
volumetric flow rate in Branch 2.
• Guessed initially the volumetric flow rate through Branch 2,
Q̇ 2 = 0.0755 m3/s
Q̇2
• The average velocity of water in Branch 2, u2 = =
A2
0.0755
= 4.27m/s
0.01768

• Reynolds number of the flow of water in Branch 2, Re2 =

ρu2 D2 998.1x4.27x0.15
= = 638113
μ 0.001002

• From the given table, the roughness of commercial steel

pipe, ε = 0.045mm
• Relative roughness of pipeline of Branch 2, ε/D2 =
0.000045/0.15 = 0.0003
10
• Selander Friction Factor equation 1978, fD = 4 �3.8log � +
Re
−2
0.2 ϵ⁄D��
10 −2
• fD2 = 4 �3.8log � + 0.2x0.0003�� = 0.0163
638113
L2 135
• = = 900
D2 0.15

• The flow resistance offered by pipelines in branch 2 =

L
fD2 x 2 = 0.0163x900 = 14.679
D2
L2
• The total head loss in branch 2, hT2 = �fD2 +
D2
u22 4.272
∑ K Branch2 � = (14.679 + 12.2)x = 24.988m
2g 2x9.81

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 • The elevation difference, z1 − z2 = 25m
• The difference between elevation difference and head loss of
branch 2 = 25 – 24.988 = 0.012
• Since the difference falls within the acceptable range,
iteration is considered closed.
• The Volumetric flow rate of water from Reservoir 1 to
Reservoir 2 is Q̇ = Q̇ 1 + Q̇ 2 = 0.0355 + 0.0755 =
0.111 m3/s.
 Around 20 – 25% decrease in total fluid rate is observed when
minor losses are included.
 Flow resistance offered by pipe fittings of branch 2 is around 83%
of the flow resistance of the pipeline of branch 2.
 The contribution of the globe valve is higher.
 Hence, the designer should be very cautious while deciding to
include or not to include the minor losses.

Menu Name: Summary

• Demonstrated how to determine the fluid flow rate in each branch
• Demonstrated that the designer should be cautious while
neglecting the minor losses.
• Minor losses may also have a major effect on the flow rate.
• Demonstrated percentage of fluid flow rate is unaltered with
change in inflow rate

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