pipe_system_01

In the five-pipe horizontal network shown in the figure, assume that all pipes have a friction factor
f=0.025. For the given inlet and exit flow rate of 2 ft3/s of water at 20 °C, determine the flow rate and
direction in all pipes. If pA=120 lbf/in2 (gage), determine the pressures at points B, C, and D.

2 ft3/s

C 8 in dia.
D

9 in dia. 3 in dia.
6 in dia.
3000 ft

A 8 in dia.
B
4000 ft

2 ft3/s

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SOLUTION:

Apply the Extended Bernoulli Equation around the loops ABCA and DBCD.
æ p V2 ö æ p V2 ö
çç +a + z ÷÷ = çç +a + z ÷÷ - H L, ABCA + H S , ABCA (1)
è rg 2g øA è r g 2g øA
æ p V 2 ö æ p V 2 ö
çç +a + z ÷÷ = çç +a + z ÷÷ - H L, DBCD + H S , DBCD (2)
è rg 2g øD è r g 2g øD
Note that the shaft head terms (HS,ABCA and HS,DBCD) are zero since there are no fluid machines in the
loops. Simplifying Eqns. (1) and (2) gives:
H L, ABCA = 0 (3)
H L, DBCD = 0 (4)

Expanding the head loss term and neglecting minor losses since the pipes are very long gives:
VCD QD
æ L öV 2 æ L öV 2 æ L öV 2 C
H L, ABCA = f AB ç AB ÷ AB + f BC ç BC ÷ BC - f AC ç AC ÷ AC = 0 D (5)
è DAB ø 2 g è DBC ø 2 g è DAC ø 2 g VBC VBD
2 2 2 VAC
æ LBD ö VBD æ LBC ö VBC æ LCD ö VCD
H L, DBCD = - f BD ç ÷ + f BC ç ÷ + fCD ç ÷ = 0 QA B (6)
è DBD ø 2 g è DBC ø 2 g è DCD ø 2 g A VAB
Note that particular velocity directions have been assumed in the head loss expressions.

At each pipe node the volumetric flow rate must be conserved (conservation of mass). Hence:
2 2
p DAB p DAC
at node A: QA = QAB + QAC Þ QA = VAB + VAC (7)
4 4
2 2 2
p DAB p DBC p DBD
at node B: QAB = QBC + QBD Þ VAB = VBC + VBD (8)
4 4 4
2 2 2
p DCD p DAC p DBC
at node C: QCD = QAC + QBC Þ VCD = VAC + VBC (9)
4 4 4
2 2
p DBD p DCD
at node D: QD = QBD + QCD Þ QD = VBD + VCD (10)
4 4

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 pipe_system_01

Simplify and summarize Eqns. (5) - (10).

æL ö 2 æL ö 2 æL ö 2
f AB ç AB ÷ VAB + f BC ç BC ÷ VBC - f AC ç AC ÷ VAC = 0 (11)
è DAB ø è DBC ø è DAC ø
æL ö 2 æ LBC ö 2 æ LCD ö 2
- f BD ç BD ÷ VBD + f BC ç ÷ VBC + fCD ç ÷ VCD = 0 (12)
è DBD ø è DBC ø è DCD ø
æ p DAB
2 ö æ p DAC
2 ö
çç ÷÷ VAB + çç ÷÷ VAC = QA (13)
è 4 ø è 4 ø
æ p DBC
2 ö æ p DBD
2 ö æ p DAB
2 ö
çç ÷÷ VBC + çç ÷÷ VBD -ç
ç 4 ÷÷ VAB = 0 (14)
è 4 ø è 4 ø è ø
æ p DAC
2 ö æ p DBC
2 ö æ p DCD
2 ö
çç ÷÷ VAC + çç ÷÷ VBC - çç ÷÷ VCD = 0 (15)
è 4 ø è 4 ø è 4 ø
æ p DBD
2 ö æ p DCD
2 ö
çç ÷÷ VBD + çç ÷÷ VCD = QD (16)
è 4 ø è 4 ø
Note that Eqn. (16) is not independent since it can be formed by adding Eqns. (13) and (14), subtracting
Eqn. (15) and noting that QD = QA. Hence, Eqns. (11) - (15) represent five equations with five unknowns
( VAB , VBC , VAC , VBD , and VCD ) . Note that fAB, fBC, fAC, fBD, and fCD are given in the problem statement
along with each pipe’s length and diameter and the volumetric flowrate QA.

Using the given data:

fall pipes = 0.025
LAB = LCD = 4000 ft
LAC = LBD = 3000 ft
LBC = 5000 ft (from the Pythagorean theorem)
DAB = DCD = 8/12 ft
DAC = 6/12 ft
DBD = 3/12 ft
DBC = 9/12 ft
QA = 2 ft3/s

The system of non-linear algebraic equations (Eqns. (11) - (15)) can be solved iteratively. One approach
is given below.
1. Assume a value of VAB .
2. Solve for VAC using Eqn. (13).
3. Solve for VBC using Eqn. (11).
4. Solve for VCD using Eqn. (15).
5. Solve for VBD using Eqn. (12).
6. Solve for VAB using Eqn. (14).
7. Are the VAB s from step 6 and step 1 equal? If so, then the iterations are finished. If not, then
choose a new value for VAB and go to step 2.

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After some iteration.

VAB = 3.40*100 ft/s Þ QAB = 1.19*100 ft3/s
VAC = 4.14*100 ft/s Þ QAC = 8.13*10-1 ft3/s
VBC = 2.24*100 ft/s Þ QBC = 9.90*10-1 ft3/s
VCD = 5.17*100 ft/s Þ QCD = 1.80*100 ft3/s
VBD = 4.02*100 ft/s Þ QBD = 1.97*10-1 ft3/s

To find the pressure at the various nodes, apply the Extended Bernoulli Equation between the nodes.
æ p V2 ö æ p V2 ö
çç +a + z ÷÷ = çç +a + z ÷÷ - H L, AB + H S , AB
è rg 2g øB è r g 2g øA
where
pA = 120 psig
pB = ?
VA = VB (the velocity just upstream of point B is equal to the velocity just downstream of point A)
zA = zB
HS,AB = 0
rH20 @ 20 °C = 1.94 slug/ft3 (Note: 1 lbf = 1 slug×ft/s2)
æ L öV 2
H L, AB = f AB ç AB ÷ AB
è DAB ø 2 g
2 æL ö
Þ pB = p A - 12 rVAB f AB ç AB ÷
è DAB ø
2
pB = 1.08*10 psig

Using a similar approach from A to C (or from B to C):

pC = 1.03*102 psig

Using a similar approach from B to D (or from C to D):

pD = 7.57*101 psig

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