Problem 4.8.2

 

Water flows through a 0.5-in diameter smooth-pipe at 2 feet per second.   The pipe is 1000 feet long.  Piping arrangement contains one fully-open, one ¾-open, one ½-open and one ¼-open gate valves.  Estimate total pressure drop in the system, when pressure drop of valves is expressed as, Le equivalent pipe.

 

Solution:

 

Reynolds number is calculated as 6.906 times 103.  Friction factor is read as 0.0086.  Frictional loss through fittings and valves is given in Figure 4-11 (Equivalent length of pipe fittings and valves).  Le values are 0.35, 2, 10, and 40 for gate valves that are fully-open, ¾-open, ½-open, and ¼-open, respectively.  Equivalent length for the valves in the piping network is 52.35 feet.  Combined length is 1000 feet plus 52.35 feet or 1052.35 feet.  Frictional head loss is 54.01 foot pound-force per pound-mass.   Pressure drop is 23.4 psi.