SAMPLE PROBLEMS

WATER FLOW IN PIPES

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1

There is a leak in a horizontal 300-mm diameter pipeline. Upstream

from the leak two gauges 600m apart showed a difference of 140kPa.
Downstream from the leak two gases 600 m apart showed a difference
of 126kPa. Assuming f=0.025, how much water is being lost from the
pipe.
Solution:
P1 P2 P3 P4
300 mm Ø 300 mm Ø

1 Q1 2 3 Q2 4

LEAK
0.0826𝑓𝐿𝑄2 0.0826(0.025)(600) 2
ℎ𝑓 = = 𝑄 QO
𝐷5 (0.03)5
ℎ𝑓 = 509.876 𝑄2
Solution:
P1 P2 P3 P4
300 mm Ø 300 mm Ø

1 Q1 2 3 Q2 4

LEAK
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙,
𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 QO
𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒.
Solution:
P1 P2 P3 P4
300 mm Ø 300 mm Ø

1 Q1 2 3 Q2 4

𝑝1 − 𝑝2 LEAK 𝑝2 − 𝑝4
ℎ𝑓1 = ℎ𝑓2 =
𝛾 𝛾
QO 126
1.40 509.876 𝑄2 =
509.876 𝑄2 = 9.81
9.81 3
3
𝑄1 = 0.167 𝑚 /𝑠 𝑄1 = 0.159 𝑚 /𝑠
Solution:
P1 P2 P3 P4
300 mm Ø 300 mm Ø

1 Q1 2 3 Q2 4

LEAK
𝑄𝑜 = 𝑄1 − 𝑄2
𝑄𝑜 = 0.167 − 0.159 = 0.008 𝑚3 /𝑠 QO
𝑄𝑜 = 8 lit/sec
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
In the syringe of the figure shown, the drug had 𝜌=900 kg/m3 and 𝜇=0.002 Pa-s. The
flow through the needle is 0.4 mL/s. Neglect the head loss in the larger cylinder.
(a) Determine the velocity at point B in m/s
(b) What is the Reynolds number for the flow in the needle.
(c) Determine the steady force F required to produce the given flow.

d1=10mm

d1=0.25mm
Q F

20mm 30mm
Solution:
a) Velocity at point B:
𝑄 0.4 × 10−6
𝑣𝐵 = = 𝜋 = 8.1487 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴
4
(0.00025)2

b) Reynold’s number:
𝑣𝐷𝜌 8.1487 (0.00025)(900)
𝑅𝑒 = = = 916.73 (𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤)
𝜇 0.002
c) Force, F:
Energy equation between A and B:
𝐸𝐴 − 𝐻𝐿 = 𝐸𝐵
𝑣𝐴2 𝑝𝐴 𝑣𝐵2 𝑝𝐵
+ + 𝑧𝐴 − 𝐻𝐿 = + + 𝑧𝐵
2𝑔 𝛾 2𝑔 𝛾
𝑣𝐴 = 0 (𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒)
HL = ℎ𝑓 in the needle
Since the flow is laminar:
f=64/Re = 64/916.73 = 0.0698
Solution:
c) Force, F:
0.0826(0.0698)(0.02) (0.4 × 10−6 )2
𝐻𝐿 = = 18.89 𝑚
(0.00025)5

𝑝𝐴 8.1487 2
0+ + 0 − 18.89 = +0+0
𝛾 2 9.81
𝑝𝐴 = 196,681 𝑃𝑎

Force, F =pa x area of piston = 196, 681 x (𝜋/4) x (0.01)2 = 15.45 N

SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
What size of pipe is required to carry 450 liters per second
of water with a head loss of 3.4m for 5000 m length?
Assume friction factor f=0.024.
Solution
0.0826 𝑓𝐿𝑄 2
ℎ𝑓 =
𝐷5
0.0826 (0.024)(5000)(0.45)2
ℎ𝑓 =
𝐷5
D = 0.895 m = 895 mm
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
Water at 20°C is to be pumped through 3 km of 200-mm
diameter wrought iron pipe at the rate of 0.06m 3/s.
Compute the head loss and power required to maintain the
flow. Use v=1.02x10-6 m2/s and roughness 𝜀=0.000046 m.
Solution
𝑓𝐿 𝑣 2
ℎ𝑓 =
𝐷 2𝑔
Solve for f:
𝑣𝐷 1.91 (0.2)
𝑅𝑒 = = −6
= 374,510
v 1.02 × 10
𝑄 0.06
𝑣= = 𝜋 = 1.91 𝑚/𝑠
𝐴 (0.2)2
4
𝜀 0.000046
= = 0.00023
𝐷 0.2
Solution
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚:

f = 0.016
Solution:
Using Eq. 7-30
𝜀 1.11
1 6.9 𝐷
= −1.8 𝑙𝑜𝑔 +
𝑓 𝑅𝑒 3.7

1 6.9 0.00023 1.11

= −1.8 𝑙𝑜𝑔 +
𝑓 374,510 3.7

f = 0.016
0.0165(3000) 1.912
ℎ𝑓 = = 𝟒𝟔 𝒎
0.2 2(9.81)

Power Required, 𝑃 = 𝑄𝛾𝐻𝐿 = 0.06 9.81 46 = 𝟐𝟕. 𝟏 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒔

 SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
Water is flowing at the rate of 300 lit/sec from A to E as shown in the
figure. Compute the flow in each pipe in lit/sec and the total head loss.
Assume f=0.025 for all pipes.

1500m-300mm

A B C D E

300m-450mm 600m-250mm 600m-300mm 400m-450mm

600m-200mm
 Solution
Q2
2
1500m-300mm

Q1 B Q3 Q5 D Q6 E
A C
1 3 5 6
300m-450mm 600m-250mm 600m-300mm 400m-450mm

Q4
4
600m-200mm
Solution:
𝑄1 = 𝑄6 = −0.3 → 𝐸𝑞. 1 0.0826(0,025)(600)(𝑄3 )2 2
ℎ𝑓3 = = 1269 𝑄3
𝑄1 = 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 + 𝑄4 → 𝐸𝑞. 2 (0.25)5

𝑄3 + 𝑄4 = 𝑄3 → 𝐸𝑞. 3 0.0826(0,025)(600)(𝑄4 )2 2
ℎ𝑓4 = = 3871 𝑄4
ℎ𝑓1 = ℎ𝑓3 + ℎ𝑓5 → 𝐸𝑞. 4 (0.2)5

ℎ𝑓3 = ℎ𝑓4 → 𝐸𝑞. 5 0.0826(0,025)(600)(𝑄5 )2 2

ℎ𝑓5 = = 510 𝑄5
(0.3)5
𝐻𝐿 = ℎ𝑓1 + ℎ𝑓2 + ℎ𝑓6 → 𝐸𝑞. 6

2 0.0826(0,025)(400)(0.3)2
0.0826(0,025)(300)(0.3) ℎ𝑓6 = = 4.03 𝑚
ℎ𝑓1 = = 3.02 𝑚 (0.45) 5
(0.45)5

0.0826(0,025)(1500)(𝑄2 )2
ℎ𝑓2 = 5
= 1275 𝑄22
(0.3)
Solution:
In Eq. 5: 1269 𝑄32 =3871 𝑄42 ; Q3 = 1.747Q4

In Eq. 3: 1.747Q4 + Q4 = Q5 ; Q5 = 2.747Q4

In Eq. 4: 1275 𝑄22 = 1269 (1.747𝑄4 )2 + 510 (2.747 𝑄4 )2 ; 𝑄2 = 2.461 𝑄4

In Eq. 2: 𝑄1 = 2.461𝑄4 + 1.747𝑄4 + 𝑄4 = 0.3

𝑚
𝑄4 = 0.0576
𝑠
𝑄2 = 2.461 0.0576 = 0.1418 𝑚3/𝑠

𝑄3 = 1.747(0.0576) =0.1006 𝑚3/𝑠

𝑄5 = 2.747(0.0576) =0.1582 𝑚3/𝑠

Check :
𝑄1 = 𝑄2 + 𝑄3 + 𝑄4

0.3 = 0.1418 + 0.1006 + 0.0576 = 0.3 (OK)

 SAMPLE PROBLEM 6
The pipe network shown in the figure represents a spray rinse system.
Find the flow in each pipe. Assume C 1=120 for all pipes.
0.3m3/s

600m-300mm 600m-300mm 600m-300mm

A B C D
400m-250mm

400m-250mm

400m-250mm

400m-250mm
H G F E
600m-300mm 600m-300mm 600m-300mm

0.1m3/s 0.1m3/s 0.1m3/s 0.1m3/s

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