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Fluid Pressure Drop in Pipes by Moody Chart, a rational method: opa2017Oct

Here is a universal method to solve fluid or molar units. A spread-sheet will readily
friction losses by the Moody method. The produce these units. Some basic gas
inputs needed are volumetric flow, conduit equations are: density in g
3
inside diameter, kinematic viscosity(), and Lb/ft =PSIA(MW)/(10.73Z(460+TF). A typical
pipe roughness. gas has a viscosity between 0.015 and
Solve Moody Friction Losses as follows: 0.025cp. Centistokes are centipoises, cp,
divided by density in g/cc. The density in g/cc
p =(fL/D)(V2/2g), P/L= f/D V2/2g,
is (g)/62.4. There are 7.48 US gallons per
Use Moody's chart f, & 2g=64.4, working in cubic foot & 379 Normal cubic feet in one
American Units: mole of gas. If gas specific gravity is given,
2
D = d/12, dP/L = (12f/d)V /64.4, V = then MW=(Gas SG)29.
0.4085gpm/d2 & V2 = 0.167gpm2/d4 So Collect For water, CS=0.0008exp(3784/R) 32F-110F;
constants: 64.4/12/0.167= 32.16. This yields: or (0.0064, 2576), for range 110-300F. For
dP/L (ft-fluid/ft-length)= f(gpm2/d5)/32.2 others consult or factor: crude oil is 10x,
Woods method solves f explicitly in steps by: kerosene 2x, gasoline x/2. The effect of
f = a + (b/Rc) & c = 1.62k0.135, b = 88k0.44, and viscosity upon pressure loss is diminished
a = 0.094k0.225 + 0.53k, with k = /D ft/ft. because the power term is only 1/10 that of
flow and only 1/25 that of pipe diameter.
By Woods value of f, solve Moodys implicit
Material nM Ch feet Given in this
Equation by substitution, Moody chart is:
AsbestosCement 0.011 140 5.0E-06 table are some
1/f=0.7396{ln[k/3.7+2.51/R/f0.5]}2 use f.Wood in Brass 0.011 135 5.0E-06 roughness
1st try and use Moody f in the subsequent one Brick 0.015 100 2.0E-03 values for
or two iterations. CastIron.new 0.012 130 8.5E-04
various pipe
R is Reynolds number, (3162gpm/d'), d pipe Concrete by: materials. The
Steel Forms 0.011 140 6.0E-03
inner diameter, inches & ' is kinematic Wood.Forms 0.015 120 2.0E-03 nM is for
viscosity in centistokes. Centrifugal.Spun 0.013 135 1.2E-03 Manning
This method was checked against standard Copper.tube 0.011 135 5.0E-06 Equation in
Galvanized.Iron 0.016 120 5.0E-04 American Units.
hydraulic tables for new pipe in sizes from 2"
Glass 0.011 140 5.0E-06 The c is for use
to 42" and viscosity from 1-44cs. The average H
Lead 0.011 135 5.0E-06
difference was 2%, range 0-3.5% higher. The in the Hazen
PVC 0.009 150 5.0E-06
roughness used by the hydraulic tables was Steels: (3)
Williams Flow
unstated. So a pipe roughness of 0.00015ft for CoalTar.enamel 0.01 148 1.6E-05 Equation.
commercial steel pipe was used. Several other New Unlined 0.01 145 1.5E-04 Mannings is
spot checks were made on other text Riveted 0.019 110 3.0E-03 mostly used for
examples. Those checks gave the same range Corrugated mtl 0.022 na 1.5E-01 open channels.
Wood.stave 0.012 120 6.0E-04 For any
of agreement.
This method applies to both Liquids and hydraulic situation the Flow Area (A) divided
Gases, given the flowing density and by Wetted Perimeter (WP) is called the
kinematic viscosity. (link property calc .xls) Hydraulic Radius. An equivalent circular
diameter is d/4=A/WP. Both Hazen Williams
The method applies to gases provided dP/P is
and Manning have an implied friction factor
less than 10%. For gasses the flowing density
in the constants above.
is required, since gas rates are usually in mass

Otis Armstrong PE Page 1

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