Chapter 4

Frictional Losses in Hydraulic Pipelines

4-1. It is very important to keep all energy losses in a fluid

power system to a minimum acceptable level.

4-2. Laminar flow is characterized by the fluid flowing in

smooth layers. In turbulent flow, the movements of a particle
becomes random and fluctuate up and down in a direction
perpendicular as well as parallel to the mean flow direction.
This causes a mixing motion as particles collide.

4-3. 1. If N R is less than 2000, the flow is laminar.

2. If N R is greater than 4000, the flow is turbulent.
3. Reynolds numbers between 2000 and 4000 cover a
transition region between laminar and turbulent flow.

4-4. Relative roughness is defined as the pipe inside surface

roughness divided by the pipe inside diameter.

4-5. The K factor equals the head loss divided by the velocity
head.

4-6. The equivalent length of a valve or fitting is that length

of pipe which, for the same flow rate, produces the same
head loss as the valve or fitting.

4-7.  P  K, true

4-8. High velocity and large pipe roughness.

46
4-9. NR 
 
7740  v ft s  Din

7740  20  1.5
 3096

 cS  75

vD 6 m s  0.030 m
4-10. NR   2  1800
 0.0001 m s

Since N R is less than 2000, the flow is laminar.

vD
4-11. NR  , increase


4-12. Assuming laminar flow we have:

64 L v2 64 100 202
HL      1.5   102.7 ft
NR D 2g 3096 12 64.4

 P   H L  62.4  0.9   102.7  5767 psf  40.0 psi

If turbulent flow with smooth pipe we have:

f = 0.044,  p  85.0 psi

7740  15  075
.
4-13. (a) N R   871 la min ar flow
100

Thus f  64 N  64 871  0.0735

R

7740  45  0.75
(b) N R   2612
100

47
 We therefore assume the flow to be turbulent and must
calculate the relative roughness of the pipe.

 (from Figure 4-8) = 0.0018 in. Thus the relative

roughness can now be found.

 0.0018
  0.0024
D 0.75

From the Moody Diagram (Figure 4-9): fturbulent  0.046

If the flow is laminar, the friction factor is:

64 64
fla min ar    0.0245
NR 2612

4-14. HL 
64

L

v2

64

100 m

6 ms    217.5 m
NR D 2g 1800 0.030 m 2  9.81 m 2
s

kg m
 pL   H L  (1000 2
 0.90  9.81 2 )  217.5 m
m s
MN
 1.92  1.92 MPa  19.2 bars
m2

vD 2  0.020
4-15. (a) N R    400 la min ar
 0.0001

64 64
f    0.16
NR 400

10  0.020
(b) N R   2000 la min ar
0.0001

64
f   0.032
2000

48
 p 64 L v 2 64 L v2
4-16.  HL      
g N R D 2g vD D 2 g


p 32 Lv 32 Lv
 HL  so p 
g  gD2 D2

Hence for laminar flow, p is proportional to v.

p L v2  f Lv 2
4-17.  HL  f   so p 
g D 2g 2D

Thus  p varies as the square of the velocity (provided

the flow is fully turbulent where f is a constant).

v2
4-18. HL  K  First calculate the velocity.
2g

Q  449 
3
100 ft
v  s  18.1 ft
A   1.5 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

From Figure 4-10, K for a wide open gate valve is 0.19.

18.12
H L  0.19   0.97 ft of oil
64.4

v2
4-19. HL  K  and K  0.19
2g

3
Q 0.004 m s
v     5.66 m s
A 2

4

0.030 m 

49
 5.662
Thus H L  0.19   0.31 m and the pressure loss is:
2  9.81

 p L   H L  1000  0.90  9.81  0.31  2740 N  0.0274 bars

m2

4-20.  p  Q2, factor is 4

4-21. For a given opening position, a valve behaves as an

orifice. Thus use Eq. 8-1 (See Section 8.4) for flow
through an orifice, to determine the flow coefficient.

p
Q  38.1 C A Substituting values we have:
SG

40
60  38.06 C  0.5 Thus C = 0.473
0.90
To determine the K factor use Eq. 4-8.

p v2 2g  p
 HL  K  so K
 2g  v2

where g  32.2 ft ,  p  40  144  5760 lb and

s2 ft 2
  0.9  62.4  56.2 lb
ft 3

Q  449  s
3
60 ft
v   38.6 ft
A 0.5144 ft 2 s

2  32.2  5760
Thus K   4.43
.2
56.2  386

50
4-22. The flow coefficient and K factor values would be the same
because these two parameters are dimensionless.

4-23. First find the velocity.

Q  449 
3
30 ft
v  s  21.8 ft
A   0.75 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

Next find the Reynolds Number.

7740  21.8  075

.
NR   1687
75

Then find the friction factor.

64 64
f    0.0379
NR 1687

Finally we calculate the equivalent length where the K

factor equals 0.19 from Figure 4-10.

0.75
KD 0.19 
Le   12  0.313 ft
f 0.0379

vD Q 0.002
4-24. NR  where      6.37 m s
 A
 0.0202
4

6.37  0.020 64
NR   1274 and f   0.0502
0.0001 1274

KD 0.19  0.020
Thus Le    0.076 m
f 0.0502

51
4-25. For the system of Figure 4-20, we have the following data:

p1
H m  0 between stations 1 and 2 , v1  0 ,  0 and

Z 2  Z1  20 ft.

Writing Bernoulli’s equation between stations 1 and 2, we

have:

p1 v12 p v2
Z1    H P  H m  H L  Z2  2  2
 2g  2g

Q  449 
3
25 ft
Let’s first solve for v2: v2   s  18.1 ft
A   0.75 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

v 22 .2
181
The velocity head at station 2 is:   5.09 ft
2g 64.4

Reynolds Number can now be found.

NR 
 
7740  v ft s  Din

7740  18.1  075
.
 1400
cS 75

64 64
The flow is laminar. Thus f    0.0457
NR 1400

We can now find the head loss due to friction between

stations 1 and 2.

L v2
HL  f   where L is found as follows:
D 2g

0.75
K D 0.9 
  12  22.2 ft
L  16  1  4     21 
 f  std elbow 0.0457

52
 22.2
H L  0.0457  0.75  5.09  82.6 ft
12

We can now substitute values into Bernoulli’s equation to

p
solve for 2 .


p2 p1 v22
 Z1  Z 2   H P   HL 
  2g

p2
 20  H P  0  82.6  5.09  H P  107.7


Using Equation 3-29 allows us to solve for the pump head.

3950  ( HHP ) 3950  4

HP    702.2 ft
Q ( gpm )  (SG ) 25  0.9

Thus we can solve for the pressure head at station 2.

p2
 702.2  107.7  594.5 ft of oil  H ft of oil


Finally we solve for the pressure at station 2.

1 psi
p2   H  62.4  0.9  lb  594.5 ft   231.7 psi
ft 3 144 psf

4-26. For the system of Figure 4-21, we have the following data:

H m  0 , v 1  0 , Z1  Z2  10 ft and H P  0 between stations

1 and 2.

Writing Bernoulli’s equation between stations 1 and 2, we

have:

53
 p1 v12 p v2
Z1    H P  H m  H L  Z2  2  2
 2g  2g

Q  449 
3
30 ft
Let’s first solve for v2: v2   s  5.44 ft
2
A   1.5  s
 ft 
4  12 

v 22 5.442
The velocity head at station 2 is:   0.46 ft
2g 64.4

p1 10  144
The pressure head at station 1 is:   25.6 ft
 62.4  0.9

The Reynolds Number can now be found.

NR 
 
7740 v ft s  Din

7740  5.44  1.5
 632
cS 100

The flow is laminar so the friction factor is:

64 64
f    0.101
NR 632

We can now find the head loss due to friction between

stations 1 and 2.

L v2
HL  f    head loss across the strainer
D 2g

 K D .  1.512
09
where L  20  3     20  3   23.3 ft
 f  std elbow 0101
.

Head loss across strainer 

 p strainer 
1
 2.6 ft
0.433 ( SG ) 0.433  0.9

23.3
H L  0.101  1.5  0.46  26
.  8.6  2.6  11.2 ft
12

54
 We can now substitute into Bernoulli’ equation to solve
p
for 2 .


p2 p1 v22
 Z1  Z 2    H L 
  2g
 10  25.6  11.2  0.46  23.9 ft of oil  H ft of oil

Finally we can solve for the pressure at station 2.

1 psi
p2   H  62.4  0.9  lb  23.9 ft   9.31 psi
ft 3 144 psf

4-27. For the system of Figure 4-20, we have the following data:

p1
H m  0 between stations 1 and 2 , v1  0 ,  0 and

Z 2  Z1  6.096 m

Writing Bernoulli’s equation between stations 1 and 2 we

have:

p1v12 p2 v22
Z1    H P  H m  H L  Z2  
 2g  2g

0.00158
Let’s first solve for v 2 : v 2    5.54 m s
 0.019052
4

v 22 5.542
The velocity head at station 2 is:   1.57 m
2g 2  9.81

The Reynolds Number can now be found where the kinematic

viscosity is:

 cS 75
 
2
 m s 
1,000,000

1,000,000
2
 75  10 6 m s

55
NR 
 
v m s  D m 

5.54  0.01905
 1400
2
 m s  75  10 6

The flow is laminar so the friction depends only on N R .

64 64
Therefore f    0.0457
NR 1400

We can now find the head loss due to friction between

stations 1 and 2.

L v2
HL  f   where
D 2g

 K D 0.9  0.01905
L  4.88  0.305  1.22     6.41 
 f  std elbow 0.4057

= 6.79 m

6.79
H L  0.0457   1.57  25.6 m
0.01905

P2
Next use Bernoulli’s equation to solve for .


p2 p1 v22
 Z1  Z 2   H P    H L  6.096  H P  0  25.6  1.57
  2g

 H P  33.2

Solving for the pump head we have:

Pump Power Watts 2984

HP  m     214.3 m
 m   Q m s
 N 3
3
8817  0.00158

Next we solve for the pressure head at station 2.

p2
 214.3  33.2  181.1 m of oil


Finally we solve for the pressure at station 2.

56
 p2  181.1 m  8817 N  1,600,000 Pa  1600 kPa
m3

4-28. For the system of Figure 4-21 we have the following data:

H m  0 , v 1  0 , Z1  Z2  3.048 m and H P  0 between

stations 1 and 2.

Writing Bernoulli’s equation stations 1 and 2, we have:

p1 v12 p v2
Z1    H P  H m  H L  Z2  2  2
 2g  2g

0.001896 m
Let’s first solve for v 2 : v 2    166
. s
2
 0.0381
4

v 22 1.662
The velocity head at station 2 is:   0.141 m
2g 2  9.81

P1 68,970
The pressure head at station 1 is:   7.82 m
 8817

The Reynolds Number can now be found:

NR 
 
v m s  D m  .  0.0381
166
 100  632
2
 m s   1,000,000

64 64
The flow is laminar so f    0.101
NR 632

We can now find the head loss due to friction between

stations 1 and 2.

L v2
HL  f    head loss across strainer
D 2g

57
  K D .  0.0381
09
where L  6.097  3    6.097  3 
 f  std elbow 0101
.
 7.12 m

Head loss across strainer 

 p strainer 
6897
 0.782 m
 8817

712
.
H L  0.101   0.141  0.782  3.44 m
0.0381

p2
Next use Bernoulli’s equation to solve for .


p2 p1 v22
 Z1  Z 2    HL   3.048  7.82  3.44  0.141
  2g
 7.29 m of oil

Finally we can solve for the pressure at station 2.

p2  7.29  8817  64,300 Pa  64.3 kPa

Q  449 
3
40 ft
4-29. v  s  16.3 ft
A 1 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

NR 

7740 v ft s  Din


7740  16.3  1
 1262
cS 100

64 64
f    0.0507
NR 1262

 K D 10  112
L e T  L pipe     50   50  16.4  66.4 ft
 f  valve 0.0507

Le T v2 66.4 16.32
HL T  f    0.0507  1   167 ft of oil
D 2g 12 64.4

58
 1 psi
 p   p1  p2  62.4  0.9 lb ft 3  167 ft   65.1 psi
144 psf

p2  p1  65.1 psi

Q 0.0025
4-30. v     5.09 m s
A 2
 0.025
4

5.09  0.025
NR   1272
0.0001

64
f   0.0503
1272

10  0.025
L e T  16   16  5.0  21.0 m
0.0503

21.0 5.092
HL T  0.0503    55.8 m of oil
0.025 2  9.81

 p   H LT  1000  0.9  9.81  55.8  493,000 N

m2

p2  p1  p   493 kPa   4.93 bars

4-31.
Q
v 
30 
449
ft 3 
s  5.44 ft
A   1 .5 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

7740  5.44  1.5

NR   632
100

64
f   0.101
632

59
  K D  K D
L e  L pipe     2 
 f  valve  f  elbow

10  1.5 .  1.5
075
 45   2   45  12.4  19
.  59.3 ft
0.001  12 0101
.  12

59.3 5.442
H L  0101
.  1.5   22.0 ft of oil
12 64.4

1 psi
 p  62.4  0.9  lb 3  22.0 ft   8.6 psi Thus p2  91.4 psi
ft 144 psf

Q 0.002 m
4-32. v     176
. s
A
 0.0382
4

1.76  0.038
NR   669
0.0001

64
f   0.096
669

10  0.038 0.75  0.038

L e  15   2   15  4.0  06
.  19.6 m
0.096 0.096

19.6 1.762
H L  0.096    7.82 ft of oil
0.038 2  9.81

 p   H L  1000  0.9  9.81  7.82  69,000 N  0.69 bars

m2

Therefore p2  6.31 bars

13 2
 L v Q
4-33. HL   f  and v
1  D 2g A

60
  82  42 
Qreturn line  40   30 gpm
 82 

v1, 2,3 
40
449
 ft 3

s  7.25 ft
  1.5 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

v 4 , 5, 6 
40 449  16.3 ft
1
2 s
 
4  12 

v7 , 8 
30 
449  12.2 ft
1
2 s
 
4  12 

v9,10 
40 449  29.0 ft
  0.75 
2 s
 
4  12 

v11,12,13 
30 449  21.8 ft
  0.75 
2 s
 
4  12 

vD
Now sin ce NR  , we have:


7.25  1.512 16.3  1.012

N R 1,2,3   906 , N R 4,5,6   1358
0.001 0.001

12.2  1.012 29.0  0.7512

N R 7,8   1017 , N R 9,10   1813
0.001 0.001

21.8  0.7512
N R 11,12,13   1363
0.001

61
 64
All flows are laminar. Hence f 
NR

 64 10  7.252
H L 1,2,3    1.5  1.5   5.84 ft of oil
 906 12  64.4

5.84 ft  50 lb 3
 ft  2.03 psi sin ce P   h
2
144 in
ft2

 64 65  16.32
H L 4,5,6 
   1.0 
 10.5   195 ft  67.8 psi
 1358 12  64.4

 64 10  12.22
H L 7,8 
   1.0 
 0.75   19.1 ft  6.66 psi
 1017 12  64.4

 64 10  2
H L 9,10    075  0.75  29.0  83.6 ft  29.0 psi
. 
 1813 12  64.4

 64 90  21.82
H L 11,12,13 
   0.75 
 1.5   510 ft  177 psi
 1363 12  64.4

 2  2
F  1000  2.03  67.8  29.0  8  6.66  177  8  42 
4 4

F = 45,300 - 6,900 = 38,400 lb

 p  psi   Q gpm 
4-34. HPloss 
1714

Using values from Exercise 4-33, we have:

62
 2.03  67.8  29.0  40 6.66  177  30
HP loss  
1714 1714

= 2.30 + 3.21 = 5.51 HP

Since 1 HP = 42.4 BTU/min, we have:

Heat generation rate = 42.4 x 5.51 = 234 BTU/min

= 14,000 BTU/hr

4-35. Q  Q pump  40 gpm for both the extending and retracting

speeds of the cylinder. Thus we have:

vextending 
Q

40
449
 ft 3

s  0.255 ft
Apiston 8 
2 s
 ft 
4  12 

vretracting 
Q

40 
449
ft  3

s  0.340 ft
Apiston  Arod   82  4 2  2 s
  ft
4  144 

1 Pa
4-36.  p pump  1000 psi   6.90 MPa
0.000145 psi

3
Q pump  0.0000632  40  0.00253 m s

2
ft2  1m  2
  0.001     0.0000930 m s
s  3.28 ft 

63
 3
lb 1N  3.28 ft  N
  50 3      7840
ft 0.225 lb  1m  m3

1 ft 1 m
Cylinder piston diameter  8 in    0.203 m
12 in 3.28 ft

Cylinder rod diameter = 0.102 m

All elbows are 90 with a K factor = 0.75

Pipe lengths and inside diameters are as follows:

Pipe No. Length(m) Dia.(m) Pipe No. Length(m) Dia.(m)

1 0.610 0.0381 8 1.52 0.0254

2 1.83 0.0381 9 1.52 0.0190
3 0.610 0.0381 10 1.52 0.0190
4 15.2 0.0254 11 18.3 0.0190
5 3.05 0.0254 12 3.05 0.0190
6 1.52 0.0254 13 6.10 0.0190
7 1.52 0.0254

The following equations are applicable:

13 2
 L  v Q vD
Hl  
1
f 
 D
 K
 2g
, v 
A
, NR 


0.2032  0102
. 2
 3
Qreturn line  0.00253  2  0.00189 m s
0.203

0.00253
v1,2,3    2.22 m s
2
 0.0381
4

64
 0.00253
v 4,5,6    4.99 m s
 0.02542
4

0.00189
v7,8    3.73 m s
2
 0.0254
4

0.00253
v9,10   . ms
 892
2
 0.0190
4

0.00189
v11,12,13    6.67 m s
2
 0.0190
4

2.22  0.0381 .  0.0254

499
N R 1,2,3   909 , N R 4,5,6   1362
0.000093 0.000093

3.73  0.0254 .  0.019

892
N R 7,8   1018, N R 9,10   1822
0.000093 0.000093

6.67  0.019
N R 11,12,13   1363
0.000093

64
All flows are laminar. Hence f =
NR

 64 3.05  2.222
H L 1,2,3    1.5   1.79 m  14,000 Pa
 909 0.0381  2  9.81

 64 19.8  . 2
499
H L 4,5,6     10.5   59.8 m  469,000 Pa
 1362 0.0254  2  9.81

 64 3.05  3.732
H L 7,8    .  
 075  5.89 m  46,200 Pa
 1018 0.0254  2  9.81

65
  64 3.05  . 2
892
H 9,10    075
.   25.9 m  203,000 Pa
 1822 0.019  2  9.81

 64 27.4  6.672
H L 11,12,13    1.5   157 m  1,230,000 Pa
 1363 0.019  2  9.81


F  6,900,000  14,000  469,000  203,000   0.2032
4

 46,200  1,230,000  0.2032  0.1022 
4

= 201,000 - 30,900 = 170,000 N

4-37. Power Loss Watts   p Pa   Q m s

3

Using the values from Exercise 4-36, we have:

Power Loss = (14,000 + 469,000 + 203,000)x(0.00253)

+ (46,200 + 1,230,000)x(0.00189)

= 1740 + 2410 = 4150 Watts = 4.15 kW

4-38.
3
  3
Q pump m s  0.0000632 Q gpm   0.0000632  40  0.00253 m s

2.54 cm
Cylinder piston diameter  8 in   20.32 cm
1 in

3
Q 0.00253 m s
v extending     0.0780 m s
A piston 2

4

 0.2032 m 
2.54 cm
Cylinder rod diameter  4 in   10.16 cm
1 in

3
Q 0.00253 m s
v retracting     0.104 m s
A piston  A rod
 0.2032  0.1016 
2 2
4

66