Design of Circular Pressurized Water Pipes

Calculation uses Hazen-Williams friction loss equation (commonly used by Civil Engineers).  Valid for water at temperatures typical of city water supply systems (40 to 75 oF; 4 to 25 oC).

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Topics:    Scenarios  Common Questions   Equations   H-W Coefficients     Minor Loss Coefficients

Piping Scenarios

Hazen Williams Piping Scenarios

Common Questions                                                      Back to Calculations
I took fluid mechanics a long long time ago.  What is head?  Why does it have units of length?  Head is energy per unit weight of fluid (i.e. Force x Length/Weight = Length).  The program on this page solves the energy equation (shown below); we call energy "head."
Why is Pressure=0 for a reservoir?  A reservoir is open to the atmosphere, so its gage pressure is zero.
Why is Velocity=0 for a reservoir?  This is a common assumption in fluid mechanics and is based on the fact that a reservoir has a large surface area.   Therefore, the water level drops very little even if a lot of water flows out of the reservoir.  A reservoir may physically be a lake or a large diameter tank.
What is a "main" and a "lateral"?  A "main" is a large diameter water supply pipe that has many smaller diameter "laterals" branching off of it to supply water to individual residences, businesses, or sub-divisions.   In fluid mechanics, we set V=0 for the main since it has a large diameter (relative to the lateral) and thus a very small velocity.  To further justify the V=0 assumption, the main's pressure is typically high, so the velocity head in the main is negligible.  The main is drawn such that it is coming out of your computer monitor.
Can I model flow between two reservoirs using either Scenario B or E?  Yes, you can.  If using Scenario E, just set P1-P2=0.  Scenario B automatically sets P1-P2=0.
Can I model flow between two mains using either Scenario B or E?  Only if the pressure is the same in both mains.
How do I model a pipe discharging freely to the atmosphere?  Use Scenario A, C, or F.  Since P2=0 (relative to atmospheric pressure), P1-P2 that is input or output will be P1.
What are minor losses?  Minor losses are head (energy) losses due to valves, pipe bends, pipe entrances (for water flowing from a tank to a pipe), and pipe exits (water flowing from a pipe to a tank), as opposed to a major loss which is due to the friction of water flowing through a length of pipe.  Minor loss coefficients (Km) are tabulated below.   For our program, all of the pipes have the same diameter, so you can add up all your minor loss coefficients and enter the sum in the Minor Loss Coefficient input box.
I'm confused about pumps.  Only input Pump Head if the pump is between points 1 and 2.  Otherwise, enter 0 for Pump Head.
Your program is great!  What are its limitations?  Pipes must all have the same diameter.  Pump curves cannot be implemented.  The fluid must be water.
Where can I find additional information?  References
What is Driving Head?  See below.

Steady State Energy Equation used for this page:         Back to Calculations
Obtained from References

Energy Equation using Hazen-Williams Friction Loss

Driving Head (DH) = left side of the first equation
g = acceleration due to gravity = 32.174 ft/s2 = 9.8066 m/s2
k = unit conversion factor = 1.318 for English units = 0.85 for Metric units
S = Specific Weight of Water (i.e. weight density; weight per unit volume)
   = 62.4 lb/ft³ for English units = 9800 N/m³ for Metric units
Pump Power = SQHp.  Note that 1 horsepower = 550 ft-lb/s

All of the calculations on this page have analytic (closed form) solutions except for "Solve for V, Q" and "Q known. Solve for Pipe Diameter."  These two calculations required a numerical solution.  Our solution utilizes a modified implementation of Newton's method that finds roots of the equations with the result accurate to 8 significant digits.  All of the calculations utilize double precision.

Table of Hazen-Williams Coefficients (C is unit-less):        Back to Calculations
Compiled from References

Material C Material C
Asbestos Cement 140 Copper 130-140
Brass 130-140 Galvanized iron 120
Brick sewer 100 Glass 140
  Cast-Iron:   Lead 130-140
New, unlined 130 Plastic 140-150
10 yr. old 107-113   Steel:  
20 yr. old 89-100 Coal-tar enamel lined 145-150
30 yr. old 75-90 New unlined 140-150
40 yr. old 64-83 Riveted 110
  Concrete/Concrete-lined:      
Steel forms 140 Tin 130
Wooden forms 120 Vitrif. clay (good condition) 110-140
Centrifugally spun 135 Wood stave (avg. condition) 120

Table of Minor Loss Coefficients (Km is unit-less):        Back to Calculations
Compiled from References

Fitting Km Fitting Km
Valves:   Elbows:  
Globe, fully open 10 Regular 90°, flanged 0.3
Angle, fully open 2 Regular 90°, threaded 1.5
Gate, fully open 0.15 Long radius 90°, flanged 0.2
Gate 1/4 closed 0.26 Long radius 90°, threaded 0.7
Gate, 1/2 closed 2.1 Long radius 45°, threaded 0.2
Gate, 3/4 closed 17 Regular 45°, threaded 0.4
Swing check, forward flow 2    
Swing check, backward flow infinity Tees:  
    Line flow, flanged 0.2
180° return bends:   Line flow, threaded 0.9
Flanged 0.2 Branch flow, flanged 1.0
Threaded 1.5 Branch flow, threaded 2.0
       
Pipe Entrance (Reservoir to Pipe):   Pipe Exit (Pipe to Reservoir)  
Square Connection 0.5 Square Connection 1.0
Rounded Connection 0.2 Rounded Connection 1.0
Re-entrant (pipe juts into tank) 1.0 Re-entrant (pipe juts into tank) 1.0

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