University of Nueva Caceres

College of Engineering and Architecture

Week 2: Pipes (Series and Parallel)

I. Introduction
This chapter covered flow in closed conduits, but the consideration was generally limited to flow
through a single conduit of constant size. In many practical applications, problems are
considerably more complicated, for they must involve more than one conduit or a single conduit
of varying size. This also covers some of these more complex pipeline flow problems, including
equivalent pipes, pipes in series and in parallel, branching pipes, and pipe networks.

II. Objectives
After completion of the course the student should be able to:

1. Evaluate the methods of pipes connected in series.

2. Create examples using pipes in series by Darcy Weisbach’s and Manning’s formula.
3. Generate examples using pipes in series by Hazen-William’s formula.

III. Equivalent Pipes

A pipe is equivalent to another one or to a piping system when, for a given head loss,
the same flow rate is produced in the equivalent pipe as occurred in the original.

The equivalent pipe must have:

a) same discharge as original

b) same head loss as original

Qo
Original pipe system, O
Head loss = Ho

Equivalent single pipe, E QE

Head loss = Ho

IV. Pipes in
Series

Pipes are in series if they are connected end to end so that a fluid flows in a continuous line
without any branching. The volume rate of flow through pipes in series is constant throughout.

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 University of Nueva Caceres
College of Engineering and Architecture

Figure 1: Pipe in Series Diagram

If the pipe length in any problem is about 500 diamters, the error resulting from neglecting
minor losses will ordinarily not exceed 5% and if the pipe length is 1000 diamters or more, the
effect of minor losses can usually be considered negligible. Then,

HL = hf1 + hf2 + hf3

Q1 = Q 2 = Q 3 = Q
Example 1:
HL = hf + hf + hf + h
Three concrete pipes are connected1 in series
2 as shown.
3 Ifminor
the rate of flow in the pipe is 0.10
m3/s.
1 2 3

1 2 3
L 360 m 300 m 600 m
D 200 mm ∅ 150 mm ∅ 250 mm ∅
f 0.0248 0.0242 0.0255

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Determine the total head loss of the pipe.

a) Determine the length of a 200 mm diameter equivalent pipe

b) Determine the diameter of a 1260 m. long equivalent pipe with f = 0.0255

Solution:

a) Total Head loss

0.0826 fL Q 2
Hf =
D5

HL = hf1 + hf2 + hf3

2
hf1 = 0.0826(0.0248)(360)(0.10)
¿¿
hf1 = 23.05 m
2
hf2 = 0.0826(0.0242)(300)(0.10)
¿¿
hf2 = 78.97 m
2
hf3= 0.0826(0.0255)(600)(0.10)
¿¿
hf3= 12.94 m

HL = hf1 + hf2 + hf3

HL = 23.05 + 78.97 + 12.94
HL = 114.96 m
c) Equivalent length of pipe having a diameter of 200 mm

0.0826 fL Q 2
hf =
D5
0.0826(0.0248) L(0.10)2
114.96 =
0.25
𝑳=𝟏𝟕𝟗𝟓.𝟕𝟕 𝒎
c) Diameter of a 1260 m long equivalent pipe with f = 0.0255
HL = 114.96 m

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0.0826 fl Q 2
HL =
D5

0.0826(0.0255)(1260)(0.10)2
114.96 =
D5
D = 0.187 m
D = 187 mm

V. Pipes in Parallel
Pipes are in parallel if they are connected in such a way that flow branches into two or
more separate pipes and then comes together again downstream.

Figure 2: Pipe in Parallel Diagram

As illustrated in the figure, fluid flowing in pipe A B branches at joint B, with part of the
fluid going through pipe BCE and the remainder through pipe BDE. At joint E, these two
pipes combine, and the fluid flows singly through pipe EF.

In solving problems involving pipes in parallel, three important principles are applicable:

1. The total flow entering each joint must equal the total flow leaving that joint.
2. The head loss between two joints is the same for each branch connecting these
joints.
3. Within the range of velocities normally encountered, the percentage of total flow
passing through each branch will be constant, regardless of the head loss between
the joints.

Q1 = Q2 + Q3= Q 4

HL = hL1 + hL2 + hL3

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The necessary equations for the system are:

Q1= Q4 Eq. (1)

Q1= Q2 + Q3 Eq. (2)
hf2 = hf3 Eq. (3)
HLAB = hf1 + hf2 + hf4 Eq. (4)

Note: The number of equations needed to solve the problem must be equal to the number of
pipes.

Example 2

A pipeline splits into parallel pipes 1, 2 and 3 at junction A and merges again at junction B.
Pressure heads at A and B are 70 m and 45 m, respectively.

Pipe 1 Pipe 2 Pipe 3

C 120 120 120
Length 3000 m 1600 m 1500 m
Diameter 300 mm 250 mm 200 mm

a. Rate of flow in pipe 1, Q1

b. Rate of flow in pipe 2, Q2
c. Rate of flow in pipe 3, Q3

SOLUTION:
Hazen-Williams Formula:

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10.67 L Q 1.85
hL = 1.85 4.87
C D

Rate of flow in pipe 1:

10.67(3000)(Q 1.85
1 )
70 – 45 = 1.85 4.87
(120) (0.3)
Q1 = 0.10546 m3 /s

Rate of flow in pipe 2:

10.67(1600)(Q1.85
1 )
70 – 45 = 1.85 4.87
(120) (0.25)
Q2 = 0.09167 m3 /s

Rate of flow in pipe 3:

10.67(1500)(Q1.85
3 )
70 – 45 = 1.85 4.87
(120) (0.2)
Q3 = 0.05275 m3 /s

Example 3

Pipelines 1, 2, and 3 are connected with parallel to each other with pipeline 1 having
diameter of 450 mm, 600 m. long, pipeline 2, 400 mm diameter, 800 m long ad pipeline 3,
m3
500 mm diameter, 700 m long. The 3 pipes carry a combined discharge of 0.86 .
s
Assuming f = 0.02 for all pipes

SOLUTION:
Compute the discharge of pipeline 1,2 and 3.

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hf 1 = hf 2 = hf 3

0.0826(0.02)(600)Q 12
hf1 = 5
(0.450)
2
hf1 = 53.72 Q 1

0.0826(0.02)(800)Q 22
hf2 = 5
(0.400)
2
hf2 = 129.06 Q 2

0.0826(0.02)(700)Q 32
hf3 = 5
(0.500)
2
hf3 = 37.00 Q 3

53.72 Q 12 = 129.06 Q 22=37.00  Q 32

7.33 Q 1 = 11.36 Q 2=6.08  Q 3 Eq. 1

Q 1 + Q 2 + Q 3 = 0.86 Eq. 2

Q1=0.3017 m3 / s
Q2=0.1946 m3 / s
Q 3=¿ 0.3637 m 3 /s
Example 4

In a series parallel pipe connections, pipe 1, 3, and 5 are in series while pipes 2, 3 and 4 are
parallel to each other . Pipe 1 carries a discharge of 0.50𝑚^3/𝑠. If f = 0.020 for a pipelines,
compute the following using the tabulated data.

Pipes Diameter Length

1 700 mm 900 m
Compute the rate of flow in pipeline 2, 3, and 4.
2 350 mm 600 m
hf 2 = hf 3 = hf 4
3 200 mm 500 m
hf2 =
4 350 mm 700 m
0.0826(0.02)(600)Q12
5 600 mm 1200 m
(0.350)5

hf2 = 188.72 Q 22

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0.0826(0.02)(500)Q 22
hf3 = 5
(0.200)
2
hf3 = 2581.25 Q 3

0.0826(0.02)(700)Q 32
hf4 = 5
(0.350)
2
hf4 = 220.17 Q 4
2 2 2
188.72 Q 2 = 2581.25 Q 3 =220.17  Q 4  

13.74 Q 2 = 50.81 Q 3=14.84  Q 4 Eq. 1

Q 2 + Q 3 + Q 4 = 0.50 Eq. 2

Q2=0.2277 m3 / s
Q3=0.0616 m3 / s
Q 4 =¿ 0.210 m 3 /s

Example 5

The flow from A to E is 280 liters/sec. Using n = 0.011

a) Discharge of Line 4

Q 1=Q 6 =0.280
Q 1=Q 2 +Q 5 +Q 4
Q 3=Q2 +Q 5
Q 6=Q 4 +Q 3

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hf 4=h f 2+ h f 3

h f 2=h f 5

Use Q 6=Q 4 +Q 3
0.280 = Q 4 +Q 3
Use hf 4=h f 2+ h f 3

10.29n 2 L4 Q24 10.29n 2 L2 Q 22 10.29n 2 L3 Q23

16 = 16 + 16
D43 D23 D33
10.29 ( 0.011 )2 (1200)Q 24 10.29 ( 0.011 )2 (360)Q 22 10.29 ( 0.011 )2 (300) Q23
16 = 16 + 16
3 3 3
( 0.300) (0.250) (0.350)
2 2 2
918.478 Q = 728.601 Q 2 + 100.916 Q 3
4

Q 24 = 0.793 Q 22 + 0.1099 Q 23
Use h f 2=h f 5

10.29n 2 L2 Q 22 10.29n 2 L5 Q 25
16 = 16
3 3
D 2 D 5

10.29 ( 0.011 )2 (360)Q22 10.29 ( 0.011 )2 (600)Q25

16 = 16
(0.250) 3 (0.200) 3

728.601 Q 22 = 3992.014 Q 25

Q2=2.341 Q 5

Use Q1=Q2 +Q5 +Q4

0.280=Q2+ Q5+Q 4
Q2
0.280=Q2+ +Q 4
2.341
0.280=1.427 Q 2+Q 4

Q 24 = 0.793 Q 22 + 0.1099 Q 23
0.280−Q 4 2
2
Q 4 = 0.793 (
1.427 ) 2
+ 0.1099 Q 3
2
Q 4 = 0.389 ( 0.280−Q 4 ) + 0.1099 Q 23
2

From 0.280 = Q 4 +Q 3

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2 2
Q 24 = 0.389 ( 0.280−Q 4 ) + 0.1099 ( 0.280−Q 4 )
Q 24 = 0.389 (0.0784 - 0.56 Q4 +Q 24 ¿+ 0.1099(0.0784 - 0.56 Q4 +Q 24 ¿
Q 24 = 0.0305 – 0.218 Q4 + 0.389Q24+ 0.0086−0.0615Q 4+ 0.1099 Q 24
0.5011 Q24 + 0.2795 Q 4 −0.0391=0
Q4 =0.116 cu .m/ sec

b) Discharge of line 5
¿ Q2=2.341 Q5
From 0.280=1.427 Q 2+Q 4
0.280=1.427 Q2+ 0.115
Q 2 = 0.115 𝑐𝑢.𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐
Q 5 = 0.0491 𝑐𝑢.𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐

c) Total head loss from A to E

H.L = hf 1 +h f 4 +h f 6

10.29 ( 0.011 )2 ( 300 ) ( .280 )2 10.29 ( 0.011 )2 ( 1200 ) ( .116 )2

H.L = 16 + 16 +
(0.450) 3 ( 0.300) 3
10.29 ( 0.011 )2 ( 600 ) ( .280 )2
16
(0.450) 3
H.L = 18.57 m

Example 6

The total head loss from A to E as shown in the figure is 20 meters. Use friction factor, f =
0.02 in all pipes.

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a) Find the discharge at line 2
b) Find the discharge at line 1
c) Find the discharge at line 4

Solution:

a) Find the discharge at line 2

Q 1=Q 5
Q 1=Q 2 +Q 3
Q 3=Q 4
HL = hf 1 +h f 2+ h f 5
h f 2 = h f 3+ h f 4

Use Q 1=Q 2 +Q 3

Use h f 2 = h f 3+ h f 4

0.0826 f L2 Q 22 0.0826 f L3 Q 32 0.0826 f L4 Q24

D 52
=
D 53
+ D 54

0.0826(0.02)(600)Q 22 0.0826(0.02)(400) Q 23 0.0826(0.02)(450)Q 24

= +
( 0.500 )5 ( 0.450 )5 ( 0.450 )5

31.7184 Q22 = 35.81 Q 23 +40.289 Q 24

Q22=1.129 Q23 +1.270 Q 24

USE Q3 =Q4

Q22=1.129 Q23 +1.270 Q23

Q22=2.399 Q23
Q2=1.549 Q 3

Q1=Q2 +Q3

Q1=Q2 +0.646 Q2

Q 1=¿ 1.646 Q 2

Use HL =  hf 1+ h f 2 +h f 5

0.0826 (0.02)( 500) Q21 2

2 0.0826(0.02)(650)Q 5
20 = +31.7184 Q2 +
( 0.600 )5 ( 0.600 )5

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20 = 10.622Q 21 + 31.7184 Q22 + 13.809 Q 25

Use Q 1=Q 5

20 = 10.622Q 21 + 31.7184 Q 22 + 13.809 Q 21

20 = 24.471Q 21 + 31.7184 Q 22

20 = 24.471 ( 1.646Q 2) 2+ 31.7184 Q 22

Q 2 = 0.452 cubic m/sec

b) Find the discharge at line 1.

Q 1=¿ 1.646 Q 2
Q 1 = 0.744 cum/sec
c) Find the discharge at line 3.

Q1=Q2 +Q3
0.744=0.452+Q 3
Q 3 = 0.292 cum/sec

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