Basic Hydraulic

Calculation for Fire

Protection
By DJT
Course Outline
01 Definitions & Equations

02 Hydraulic Calculation
Principles

03 Hyena HC
Study of Water
• Hydraulics
The science which defines the
mechanical principles of
water at rest or in motion.

• Hydrostatics
The scientific laws that define
the principles of water at rest.

• Hydrokinetics
The study of water in motion.
Hydraulic Focus
• Pressure

• Flow
 Flow (Q)
• The quantity (of water) which passes by a
given point in a given period of time
• Generally measured in gallons per minute
(gpm) or liter per minute (lpm)
• Uses the term “Q” in most equations

5
 Flow Equation
Q=AxV
• Q = flow in ft3/sec
• A = cross sectional area of pipe in ft2
• V = water velocity in ft/sec

• Q is a constant for any given closed system.

6
 Flowrequired Equation
Q=Axρ
• Q = flow in lpm
• A = area to be protected m2
• ρ = density (10.2 lpm/m2) (based NFPA)

7
 Flow from an Outlet
• Dependent upon a number of factors
– Size of the orifice
– Construction of the device
– Material used in the device
– Other components near the device (e.g. screens)
• For a sprinkler, that ability is determined
experimentally in a laboratory

8
 Flow from an Outlet (continued)
Where: Q  29.83  di  Pv  CD
2
•
• Q is the flow (lpm or gpm)
• di is the diameter of opening (m or inches)
• Pv is the measured velocity pressure (bar or psi)
• CD is the discharge coefficient of the device

• This is used when testing water supplies to

determine the amount of flow

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 Flow from a Sprinkler/Nozzle
Q  k P
Where:
Q is flow (lpm or gpm)
k is k-factor determined in the sprinkler listing
(lpm/bar½ or gpm/psi ½)
P is the pressure (bar or psi)
• The diameter of the opening and discharge
coefficient are incorporated into the empirical
determination of k-factor.
10
 Sprinkler Flow Example
• A sprinkler is being installed with a k-factor of
5.6. If the pressure at the sprinkler is 20 psi,
how much water will exit the sprinkler?
Q k P
Q  5.6 20 psi
Q  25.0 gpm

11
 Flow from a Sprinkler (continued)
• The flow equation can be rearranged to solve
for pressure or k-factor:
2
Q 
P 
k
Q k P
Q
k
P
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 Pressure Calculation Example
• What is the pressure for a sprinkler that has a
k-factor of 17.6 and the expected flow is 83
gpm?
2
 83 gpm 
2 P 
Q   17.6 
P 
k P  4.716  22.2 psi
2

13
 K-factor Calculation Example
• What is the K-factor for an outlet that is
flowing 65 gpm at 30 psi?
• 65 gpm
k
Q 30 psi
k
P 65
k  11.86
5.48

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 Friction Loss (PL)
• Occurs when water flows in pipes, hoses, or
other system devices
• Caused by water in contact with walls
• Used to account for losses in energy from
water making turns or traveling difficult paths

15
 Formulas for Calculating Friction Loss
• Hazen-Williams formula
– Fire sprinkler systems
– Water-spray systems
• Darcy-Weisbach formula
– Anti-freeze systems
– Water mist systems
– Foam-water systems
• Fanning formula

16
 Hazen-Williams Formula
• Most common for sprinkler calculations
• Assumes water is at room temperature but is
still accurate with temperature variations
• Based on C-factor, flow, and pipe size
• Calculates the amount of friction loss in ONE
FOOT of pipe

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 Hazen-Williams Formula
1.85
4.52Q
PL  1.85 4.87
• Where: C di
• PL = friction loss (psi/ft)
• Q = flow (gpm)
• C = roughness coefficient (based on pipe
material)
• di = interior pipe diameter (inches)

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 Roughness Coefficient
Table 22.4.4.7 Hazen-Williams C Values
Pipe or Tube C Value
Unlined case or ductile iron 100
Black steel (dry systems including preaction) 100
Black steel (wet systems including deluge) 120
Galvanized (all) 120
Plastic (listed, all) 150
Cement-lined cast or ductile iron 140
Copper tube or stainless steel 150
Asbestos cement 140
Concrete 140
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 Inside Diameters (di)
List for steel and copper in Table A.6.3.2 and Table A.6.3.5
Nominal Schedule Schedule Type K CPVC*
Pipe Size 40 10 Copper
1-inch 1.049 1.097 0.995 1.101
1 ¼-inch 1.380 1.442 1.245 1.394
1 ½-inch 1.610 1.682 1.481 1.598
2-inch 2.067 2.157 1.959 2.003
2 ½-inch 2.469 2.635 2.435 2.423
3-inch 3.068 3.260 2.907 2.95
4-inch 4.026 4.260 3.857 N/A
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 Hazen-Williams Example
If a pressure gage is reading 40 psi at one end of a 32-
foot section of 2-inch schedule 40 pipe (C = 120)
flowing at 110 gpm, what will a gage at the other end
read? 40 ?

2-inch schedule 40 pipe

32 ft
1.85 1.85
4.52Q 4.52(110gpm)
PL  1.85 4.87  1.85 4.87
C di (120) (2.067in)
PL= 0.112 psi/ft

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 Hazen-Williams Example (continued)
• What will a gage at the other end read?

40 ?

2-inch schedule 40 pipe

32 ft

• PL = 0.112 psi/ft
• Friction Loss = 0.112 psi/ft x 32 ft = 3.6 psi
• Gage Pressure = 40 psi – 3.6 psi  36 psi

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 Fittings
• Energy losses through fittings are caused by
turbulence in the water
• To determine losses through fittings
“equivalent length” is used
• NFPA has a table to provide equivalent pipe
lengths
• Table is based on schedule 40 steel in a wet
pipe system with C Values of 120.

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 Equivalent Length Chart
Fittings & Valves Fittings & Valves Expressed in Equivalent Feet of Pipe
1¼
¾ in 1 in 1 ½ in 2 in 2 ½ in 3 in 3 ½ in 4 in 5 in 6 in 8 in 10 in 12 in
in

45° Elbow 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 7 9 11 12
90° Standard
2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 18 22 27
Elbow

90° Long Turn

1 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 8 9 13 16 18
Elbow
Tee/Cross 3 5 6 8 10 12 15 17 20 25 30 25 50 60
Butterfly Valve - - - - 6 7 10 - 12 9 10 12 19 21
Gate Valve - - - - 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6
Swing Check - 5 7 9 11 14 16 19 22 27 32 45 55 65
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Hydraulic Calculation Principles

25
 Hydraulic Calculation Principles
• Provide enough water from each sprinkler to
control or extinguish fire
• Provide water for all sprinklers which are likely
to open
• Minimize pipe size for material cost, but not
create large pressure loss due to friction

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 K- Factor of nozzle  K- Factor of nozzle
 Density  Minimum flow @ nozzle
 Maximum area to be protect
 Minimum operating pressure
Thank
You