1

file: Fluid Flow Calculator equations 14.pdf

from: Mark van Dijk
revision: DEC 2012

LAMINAR FLOW (Reynolds < 2320, parabolic velocity profile)
Name symbol formula unit
gravity g 981 .
m s /
2

pipe length L m
elevation change
h
m
inner diameter Di mm
distance to pipe centre r mm
pipe cross-sectional area A
A Di = 025
2
.
mm
2

average velocity v
v flow A = / m s /
Reynolds Re

Di v
= Re
-
equivalent length Leq
L
L
Di
Di
L
Di
fromtables eq =
|
\

|
.
|

|
\

|
.
|

( )
m
friction factor F
64/ Re
-
relative roughness surface k/Di
not appl i cabl e f or l ami nar f l ow
-
friction of pipe Kw(pipe)
Kw pipe F L Di ( ) / =
-
friction of appendages Kw(app)
Kw app F L Di eq ( ) / =
-
pipe volume V V A L =
litre
average residence time in
pipe, transportation lag,
distance/velocity lag
t
flow V v L t / / = =
sec
power loss in fluid P
flow p P =
N m
Watt

=
sec

pressure drop pipe
p
??? + = h g p

bar
dynamic viscosity

Also called Newtonian shear
viscosity.

= /


mPa.s =
centiPoise

average shear rate

Di
v
x
v
= =

(see Figure 1)
( est i mat ed shear r at e i n r ound pi pes)
1
sec

shear stress
or
A F / =

N / m
2

velocity profile, v(r)
= velocity @ position r
V position
) )) 5 . 0 /( ( 1 ( 2
2 2
Di r v Vposition =
m s /
residence time profile, t(r)
= residence time @ position r
t position
Vposition L position t / =
sec
shear rate profile,

(r)
= shear rate @ position r

position
2
) 5 . 0 (
4
Di
r v
position

1
sec

2


Figure 1: Laminar shear field due to applied shear stress.


Figure 2: Velocity profile and shear rate profile in laminar flow. The highest shear rate is where the velocity
gradient is the highest: at the wall of the pipe.



3
revision: J AN 2006

LAMINAR FLOW POWER-LAW FLUIDS (Reynolds < 2320, parabolic velocity profile)

name symbol formula unit
Gravity g 981 .
m s /
2

pipe length L m
elevation change
h
m
inner diameter Di mm
distance to pipe centre r mm
pipe cross-sectional area A
A Di = 025
2
.
mm
2

average velocity v
v flow A = / m s /
Reynolds power-law Re
1
8
*
1 3
4
* Re

|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
=
n n
v
Di
n
n
K
Di v

-
equivalent length Leq
L
L
Di
Di
L
Di
fromtables eq =
|
\

|
.
|

|
\

|
.
|

( )
m
friction factor F
64/ Re
-
relative roughness surface k/Di
not appl i cabl e f or l ami nar f l ow
-
friction of pipe Kw(pipe)
Kw pipe F L Di ( ) / =
-
friction of appendages Kw(app)
Kw app F L Di eq ( ) / =
-
pipe volume V V A L =
litre
average residence time in
pipe, transportation lag,
distance/velocity lag
t
flow V v L t / / = =
sec
power loss in fluid P
flow p P =
N m
Watt

=
sec

pressure drop pipe
p
( ) p g h Kw pipe Kw app v = + + ( ) ( )
1
2
2

bar
dynamic viscosity

Also called Newtonian shear
viscosity.

= /


mPa.s =
centiPoise

average shear rate

Di
v
x
v
= =

(see Figure 1)
( est i mat ed shear r at e i n r ound pi pes)
1
sec

shear stress
or
A F / =

N / m
2

velocity profile, v(r)
= velocity @ position r
V position
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

|
.
|

\
|
+
+
=
+ n n
Di
r
v
n
n
Vpos
/ ) 1 (
5 . 0
1
1
1 3

m s /
residence time profile, t(r)
= residence time @ position r
t position
Vposition L position t / =
sec
shear rate profile,

(r)
= shear rate @ position r

position
2
) 5 . 0 (
4
Di
r v
position

1
sec

NB. The highest shear rate is where the velocity gradient is the highest: at the wall of the pipe.


4


TURBULENT FLOW (Reynolds >= 2320, flat velocity profile)
name symbol formula unit
gravity g 981 .
m s /
2

pipe length L m
elevation change
h
m
surface roughness k mm
inner diameter Di mm
distance to pipe centre r mm
pipe cross-sectional area A
A Di = 025
2
.
mm
2

average velocity v
v flow A = / m s /
Reynolds Re
Re=

v Di

-
Equivalent length Leq
L
L
Di
Di
L
Di
fromtables eq =
|
\

|
.
|

|
\

|
.
|

( )
m
friction factor
(iterative algorithm of
Colebrook-White)
= = f F

|
\

|
.
|

2
37
25
2
log
.
.
Re
k
Di

-
relative roughness surface k/Di
k Di /
-
friction of pipe Kw(pipe)
Kw pipe F L Di ( ) / =
-
friction of appendages Kw(app)
Kw app F L Di eq ( ) / =
-
pipe volume V V A L =
litre
average residence time in
pipe, transportation lag,
distance/velocity lag
t
flow V v L t / / = =
sec
power loss in fluid P
flow p P =
N m
Watt

=
sec

pressure drop pipe
p
( ) p g h Kw pipe Kw app v = + + ( ) ( )
1
2
2

bar
velocity profile, v(r)
= velocity @ position r
V position
n
Di r v Vposition
/ 1
)) 5 . 0 /( ( 1 ( 2 =
n i s a f unct i on of t he Reynol ds
number . Var i es f r omabout 6 t o 10.
Speci f i c val ues: n=7 f or Re=10^5, n=9
f or Re=10^6
m s /
residence time profile, t(r)
= residence time @ position r
t position
flow V v L t position t / / = = =
The r esi dence t i me at posi t i on r i s
t he same as t he aver age r esi dence
t i me. The assumpt i on made i s t hat t he
f l ui d i s i deal l y mi xed due t o t he
t ur bul ence.
sec
5

shear rate profile,

(r)
= shear rate @ position r

position 6 / 5
)
6
5 . 0
(
Di r
v position

=

The i nt egr al over V posi t i on. I n
r eal i t y t he shear r at e wi l l be hi gher
due t o t ur bul ence.

1
sec

average shear rate

Di
v
x
v
= =

(see Figure 1)
The assumpt i on made i s t hat t he
t ur bul ent f l ui d minimum shear r at e i s
t he same as t he aver age shear r at e
f or l ami nar f l ow. I n r eal i t y t he
shear r at e wi l l be hi gher due t o
t ur bul ence.

I n f act i t i s t he i nt egr al over

position

1
sec

Friction factor:

The chart above shows the relationship between Reynolds number and pipe friction. Calculation of
friction factors is dependant on the type of flow that will be encountered. For Re numbers <2320 the
fluid flow is laminar, when Re number is >=2320 the fluid flow is turbulent.

Laminar flow (Re <2320) : f = 64/Re
Turbulent flow (Re >2320) :
2
Re
5 . 2
7 . 3
log 2

(

|
.
|

\
|

= =

Di
k
f

In case of turbulent flow, the inner roughness of the pipe work can have a significant effect on the
friction factor. See also: http://www.pipeflow.co.uk/theory.html



6

Figure 3: Flow disturbance of a fluid passing a cylindrical obstacle. The flow changes from laminar to
turbulent.
7
Tables


EQUIVALENT PIPE LENGTH OF FITTINGS

Bends / Tees
180 bend, R=5D [ 28 L/Di ]
90 bend, R=5D [ 16 L/Di ]
90 bend (square , R=1.5D) [ 20 L/Di ]
45 bend (square , R=1.5D) [ 16 L/Di ]
Tee (flow straight through) [ 20 L/Di ]
Tee (flow through side outlet) [ 65 L/Di ]
Valves
Gate valve open [ 13 L/Di ]
-closed [ 39 L/Di ]
-closed [ 195 L/Di ]
-closed [ 300 L/Di ]
Membrane valve [ 200 L/Di ]
Ball valve (spherical plug valve) [ 18 L/Di ]
Needle valve [ 1000 L/Di ]
Butterfly valve (larger then 6 inch) [ 20 L/Di ]
Globe valve [ 300 L/Di ]
Nozzle (suction nozzle on vessel) [ 32 L/Di ]
Check valve (in-line ball type) [ 150 L/Di ]
Check valve (swing type) [ 135 L/Di ]
Filter (Y-type and bucket type) [ 250 L/Di ]


Surface roughness value [E]

Various materials
Glass 0.015 [mm]
Lead 0.015 [mm]
Copper 0.015 [mm]
Brass 0.015 [mm]
Concrete tube 2.0 [mm]
Steel Pipe
New 0.04 [mm]
After longer use 0.2 [mm]
Slightly rusted 0.4 [mm]
Very rusted 3.35 [mm]
Galvanised 0.15 [mm]
Cast iron
New 0.5 [mm]
With bitumen layer 0.2 [mm]
Slightly rusted 1.5 [mm]
Very rusted 3.0 [mm]



MvD