sr2018 Pressure Loss from Fitings — 3K Methed — Neutra aR Neutrium ARTICLES PODCAST CONTACT DONATE PRESSURE LOSS FROM FITTINGS - 3K METHOD SUMMARY Fittings such as elbows, tees, valves and reducers represent a significant component of the pressure loss in most pipe systems. This article details the calculation of pressure losses through pipe fittings and some minor equipment using the 3K method. 1. DEFINITIONS D_ : Internal diameter of pipe Dn : nominal diameter of pipe in inches K_ : Resistance Coefficient Ka : 3K method constant Koo : 3K method constant Ky : 3K method constant Re : Reynolds number 2. INTRODUCTION The 3K method allows the user to characterise the pressure loss for flow through fittings in a pipe. As the name suggests, three K coefficients are used to characterise htips:neutrium.netfuid_ lowipressure-oss-fom-fitings-3k-method! 16tia018 Pressure Loss fom Fitings~ 3K Mathod ~ Neutum the fitting, which when combined with the flow conditions and the pipe diameter may be used to calculate the fitting K value. Once the K value has been determined the head or pressure loss through the fitting may be calculated. Like the 2K method, the 3K method is an improvement on the K value (excess head) method. While the 2K method improves on the excess head method by characterising the change in pressure loss due to varying Reynolds Number the 3K method further improves the accuracy of the pressure drop prediction by also characterising the change in geometric proportions of a fitting as its size changes. This makes the 3K method particularly accurate for a system with large (greater than DN300/12in) fittings. For alternative methods of characterising pressure loss for flow through fittings and a discussion of which method is most appropriate please refer to the summary of methods for estimating pressure loss from fittings . 3. CALCULATION OF K VALUE USING THE 3K METHOD The 3K method is an extension of the 2K method and therefore the Excess Head (K method). As such the 3K method requires the 3K coefficients to be converted into a K value before the fitting pressure drop may be calculated. 3.1 Formula for Calculating the K Value from the 3K Method The K value may be calculated from the 3K coefficients as demonstrated in the equation below. Ki Ka KF (1+ pe) As you can see from the equation above the calculation of the K value depends on both the fluid Reynolds number and the size of the fitting hips: fneutrium.netfuid_ lowipressure-oss-fom-fitings-3k-method!sr2018 Pressure Loss from Fitings — 3K Methed — Neutra 3.2 Table of 3K Coefficients The table below contains the 3K parameters for a wide range of commonly encountered fittings Fitting Types Ky Ky Standard Radius (R/D 800 0.14 =) 90° Elbow, Threaded Long Radius (R/D = 800 0.071 1.5) Standard Radius (R/D 800 0.091 =) Long Radius (R/D = 800 0.056 90° Elbow, Flanged or 2) Welded Long Radius (R/D = 800 0.066 4) Long Radius (R/D = 800 0.075 6) 1 weld 90° 1000 0.27 90° Elbow, Mitered 2 welds 45° 800 0.068 3 welds 30° 800 0.035 45° Elbow, Threaded — Standard Radius (R/D hips: fneutrium.netfuid_ lowipressure-oss-fom-fitings-3k-method! Ki Ki Gin®3) | (mm?) 4.2 3.9 3.9 4.2 41 4.2 10.6 11.1 10.6 10.3 10.3 11.1 10.6 10.8 11.1sr2018 Pressure Loss from Fitings — 3K Methed — Neutra 4, EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF PRESSURE LOSS USING 3K-VALUES This example demonstrates how to use the 3K method to calculate the head loss through simple pipe and fitting arrangement. The example uses water in system of standard weight carbon steel pipe. Note that for this example we consider a flat system, with no elevation changes. 10m 10m 20m J 10m ~ 4.1 System details Pipe Size :DN100 (4") Pipe Diameter (Nominal) : 4" Pipe Internal Diameter: 102.3 mm Pipe Length :50m Fittings :3 x 90° long radius (R/D = 2) flanged elbows Fluid Velocity :3 m/s Fluid Density :1000 kg/m? Reynolds Number : 306,900 Friction Factor :0.018 hips: fneutrium.netfuid_ lowipressure-oss-fom-fitings-3k-method! 46sr2018 Pressure Loss from Fitings — 3K Methed — Neutra Gravitational Acceleration : 9.1 m/s? 4.2 Calculation Using the table of fittings and 3K-values above we find that the excess head or K- value for the 90° elbow. Ky Ka Ko e+ Ku (1+ pes) ———— + 0.056 (1 oot ( + K = 0.203 With this we can calculate the head loss for a single elbow. 2 hy = KY 2g 2 hy = 0.20855 hy = 0.0931 m Using the equation for head loss in pipe, we can calculate the loss through the straight piping : Lv? hp = fo D 2g hp =0.018-—20___ > _ pe **102.3/1000 2 x 9.81 hp = 4.03 m hips: fneutrium.netfuid_ lowipressure-oss-fom-fitings-3k-method!sr2018 Pressure Loss from Filings — 3K Methed — Neutra The total head loss for the system is the addition of the head loss from the pipe and the fittings. hp = hp +3 hy hy = 4.03 + 3 x 0.0931 hp = 4.30 m In the above example we first calculated the head loss for a single fitting and then multiplied by the number of fittings. It is also correct to add or multiply the K- values of fittings and then covert to a pressure or head loss. This is useful when there are many fittings of several types. However the 3K values must be converted to single K values for each fitting type individually. yD WS Article Created: October 25, 2012 ARTICLE TAGS 3K Method Elbow Excess Head Fitting Flow Rate Fluid Flow Head Pressure Drop Pressure Loss Valve SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST Email Name Subscribe © 2018 Native Dynamics | Contact | Copyright and Disclaimer hips: fneutrium.netfuid_ lowipressure-oss-fom-fitings-3k-method!