Pressure drop calculation - theory

In this calculator well known equations have been used. Here you can find all of them for your review. First of all, pressure drop through the pipe due to friction and local losses can be calculated as follows:

where is:

Dp - pressure drop rho - fluid density view table Q - volumetric flow rate D - pipe diameter lambda - friction coefficient L - pipe length sum ksi - the sum of minor losses coefficient

To calculate mass flow rate following equation has been used: where is:

G - mass flow rate

For pressure drop calculation because of friction, viscosity of fluid has to be known. dynamic and kinematic viscosity is as follows: where is:

elation between

mi - dynamic viscosity view table ni - kinematic viscosity view table

!elocity of flowing fluid is calculated based on the continuity equation:

where the cross section of round pipe is:

To find out if the flow is laminar or turbulent,

eynolds number must be calculated:

Friction coefficient for laminar flow is:

for flow in hydraulically smooth pipe "#lasius equation$:

for turbulent flow with

e%&'' ''' "(randtl equation$:

for turbulent flow with

e)&'' ''' "*arman equation$:

The boundary layer thickness "delta$ can be calculated based on the (randtl equation as:

and when the boundary layer thickness is bigger than pipe roughness and if the flow is turbulent, than it can be considered as flow in hydraulically smooth pipe and #lasius equation is used.

Pipe diameter calculation - theory

(ipe diameter can be calculated when volumetric flow rate and velocity is known as:

where is:

D - pipe diameter Q - volumetric flow rate V - velocity

If mass flow rate is known than diameter can be calculated as:

where is: G - mass flow rate rho - fluid density view table
If the flowing fluid is gas than the density can be calculated if pressure, temperature and gas constant is known as:

where is:

p - pressure T - temperature - gas constant view table

It is important to say that the flow rate is depending on the pressure difference between two points. This calculator is for the calculation if you already know the flow rate. If the flow rate is to be calculated also, than you should use pressure drop calculator.

Control valve sizing calculation

It is well known that for the completely turbulent flow relationship between fluid flow rate and pressure drop follows the power low. Flow coefficient is the proportional constant between pressure drop and flow rate and it is determined e+perimentally by valve manufactures. It is e+pressed as the flow rate of water in gpm u.s. "m,-h$ for a pressure drop of & psi "& bar$ across

a flow passage. note: "flow coefficient: .v/imperial, *v/metric$ For correct control valve si0ing it is important to calculate flow coefficient using this calculator. 1hen flow coefficient is calculated for required flow rate and known pressure drop, selection of proper control valve can be done by selecting control valve with first bigger flow coefficient. 2lso using this calculator you can calculate ma+imum flow rate through control valve for given pressure drop and known flow coefficient or valve si0e. This version of calculator can be used for turbulent flow of water or other incompressible fluid, as viscosity and e+pansion effect is not included. It means that for steam and gas control valve you will need to use other calculation methods. 2lso, possible flashing and cavitation may reduce the control valve capacity, as it is not treated in this version calculator. ead about used theory for control valve si0ing calculation

Control valve sizing calculation - theory

.ontrol valve si0ing is based on the calculation of flow coefficient for given pressure drop and fluid flow rate. 3ain equation that gives relation between flow rate and pressure drop is:

for imperial units, and:

for metric units, where is:

Flow coefficient is defined as the proportional constant between pressure drop and flow rate and it is determined e+perimentally by valve manufactures. It is e+pressed as the flow rate of water in gpm u.s. "m,-h$ for a pressure drop of & psi "& bar$ across a flow passage. note: "flow coefficient: .v/imperial, *v/metric$ elation between volumetric and mass flow rate is calculated using well known equation: 2lso, velocity or pipe diameter can be calculated using following equations:

!v - flow coefficient in imperial units "v - flow coefficient in metric units Dp - pressure drop through control valve Q - fluid flow rate G - specific gravity view table ro - relative density view table

Venturi tube flow calculation

#ased on the energy conservation low, !enturi tube is one of the easiest to use, not e+pensive and very accurate instrument for flow rate measuring of water, air, gas or any other fluid in pipe systems. 3easure pressure drop from the inlet to the throat and calculate flow rate using this free calculator. Flow through !enturi tube calculator can be used for both liquids and gases. Fluid is considered as incompressible, so density "rho$ and temperature "T$ are constant through tube. 2lso, gas is considered as ideal. ead about used theory in flow through !enturi tube calculation

Venturi tube flow calculation - theory

.alculation of flow through the !enturi tube is for incompressible flow, based on the Bernoulli principle:

where is: p / pressure rho / density view table ! / velocity g / gravitational constant "4.5& m-s6$ 0 / geodetic height 2ssumption that pressure lost is negligible:

and:

and if velocities substituted with flow rate:

where is: 7 / volumetric flow rate 8 / diameter (ressure drop through the !enturi tube because of velocity increase can be calculated as follows:

or:

9+pressing flow rate from the previous equation leads to:

:ubstituting:

flow rate can be determined as:

where . is coefficient of discharge. The above equation is main one used for flow calculation in calculator. ;ther values are calculated using following equations: mass flow:

velocities:

If the calculator is used for gas flow, then gas is considered as incompressible and ideal. 9quation for ideal gas:

can be used for calculation of temperature T:

as well as density rho:

where

is gas constant " <65= >-kg* for air$

Coefficient of discharge C 2s fluid e+its a reservoir through a small hole and enters another one, or flows out to the open air, stream lines tend to contract itself, mostly because of inertia. Coefficient of discharge . is used to include this effect. For the !enturi tubes with diameters in range of 8 < "6'' / &6'' mm$, 8 6-8& < "'.? / '.=$ and e8 < "6 @&'A / 6 @&'B$ the coefficient of discharge is . < '.45A. In this calculator for coefficient off discharge . following equation has been used:

where a, b, and c depend on the type of !enturi tube. For welded tube, these coefficients are: a<'.=','?4=' b<'.''?4''&A c</'.'''6?A?= For casted tube are: a<'.B'546,=' b<'.''BA45?? c</'.''',,&6, 2nd for machined are: a<'.?4B='&=4 b<'.''5=,,,4 c</'.'''??,B= eynolds number on inlet e8 is calculated using well known equation:

Orifice plate flow calculation

;rifice plate is used for flow rate measuring in pipe systems. 1ith orifice plate, pressure drop is created. #ased on the value of pressure drop, flow rate can be calculated. This instrument is very practical for large tube diameters and for dirty fluid when turbines are not applicable. 3easure pressure drop from position & to position 6 and calculate flow rate and more with this easy to use calculator

;rifice plate calculator can be used for both liquids and gases. Fluid is considered as incompressible, so density "rho$ and temperature "T$ are constant through tube. 2lso, gas is considered as ideal. ead about used theory for flow through orifice calculation.

Orifice plate flow calculation - theory

.alculation of flow rate using orifice plate calculator is for incompressible flow, based on the Bernoulli principle:

where is: p / pressure rho / density view table ! / velocity g / gravitational constant "4.5& m-s6$ 0 / geodetic height 2ssumption that pressure lost is negligible "pressure drop is obvious and included with coefficient of discharge which is introduced bellow$:

and:

and if velocities substituted with flow rate:

where is: 7 / volumetric flow rate 8 / diameter (ressure drop through the orifice because of velocity increase can be calculated as follows:

or:

9+pressing flow rate from the previous equation leads to:

:ubstituting:

flow rate can be determined as:

where is: . / coefficient of discharge e / e+pansion coefficient .oefficient of discharge can be calculated using following equation "I:;$:

where is: beta / diameter relation 86-8& e8 / eynolds number which can be calculated as follows:

where is: ni / kinematic viscosity view table mi / dynamic viscosity view table C& and C6 are functions on tap type and it is: C&<C6<' for corner taps C&<& C6<'.?= for 8 D 8-6 taps C&<C6<'.'6A?-8 8EmF for &G taps 9+pansion coefficient e can be calculated "for gases only$:

where is: kappa / isentropic coefficientH kappa < &.? for air and other two atom gas molecules view table ;ther values are calculated using following equations: mass flow:

velocities:

If flowing fluid is gas, then it is considered as incompressible and ideal. 9quation for ideal gas:

can be used for calculation of temperature T:

as well as density rho:

Tables of fluid physical propetries

Here you can find the list of available fluid properties tables which can be used in calculators on this site: 8ry air This table gives values of some dry air physical properties in relation to temperature and pressure. Iases This table gives values of some physical properties of some gases Flue gases This table is for flue gases. It gives values of some physical properties in relation to the

temperature of gases. 1ater This table gives values of some water physical properties in realtion to temperature. For temperatures higher than &'' ;., it is for water boiling conditions. :team This table gives values of some saturated steam physical properties in realtion to temperature.

Physical properties of dry air

2vailable tables: dry air gases flue gases water steam This table gives values of some dry air physical properties in relation to temperature and pressure.
t E;.F 8ensity rho Ekg-m,F & bar A' bar &'' bar 6'' bar ,'' bar &.AB, 5,.=4? &.6=A &.'=5 '.4,6 '.566B '.=,AB '.B'=6 '.A&= ,B.&5 ='.46 &,A.B &4,.? 64.5 A5.,= &&&.5 &B'., 6A.,= ?4.=& 4A.?& &,=.? /A' ' A' &'' &A' 6'' ,'' ?''

BA.&45 A,.4B? ?B.6A ?'.A=

&=A.B?5 &,&.,B &'=.'= 4&.&, =4.BB ,?'.,? ??4., 6A,.= ,A'.5 6'A.? 655.B &=?., &A6.6 6?B.= 6&B.?

:pecific heat cp Ek>-kg*F & bar A' bar &'' bar 6'' bar ,'' bar &.''= &.6&6 &.?, &.B6, &.B'? &.''B &.&&6 &.6&B &.,B& &.?'4 &.''5 &.'5A &.&,, &.664 &.656 &.'&6 &.'&5 &.'=A &.'AA &.'4B &.'=5 &.&B& &.&6B &.6'? &.&B &.'6B &.'?4 &.'=6 &.&'5 &.&,A &.'?B &.'B& &.'=A &.'44 &.&&= &.B4 &.'5 &.'4 &.&'= &.&6

8ynamic viscosity miJ&'B E(asF & bar A' bar &'' bar 6'' bar ,'' bar &?.BA &B.= &5., 66.5 65.= &=.6 &4.?6 6'.6 6,.B 6=.5 &4.B& 6'.A= 6&.= 6?.? 6=.A 6&.56 6,.46 66.A4 6?.? 6,.? 6A.B 65.& 6A.& 6B.5 65.5 6A.5A 6B.? 6B.4 65.A ,'.& 64.?= 64.4 ,'.? ,&.A ,,.& ,6.=B ,,.& ,,.A ,?.= ,B.&

Physical propetries of gases

2vailable tables: dry air gases flue gases water steam This table gives values of some physical properties of some gases.
Ias density I2: rho Ekg-m,F 3olar weight 3J&', Ekg-molF E>-kgJ*F Ias constant :pec. heat at 6';. and & bar .p .v 8ynamic viscosity

kapa<.p-.v miJ&'B E(aJsF / ';. and & bar

E>-kgJ*F E>-kgJ*F E/F

2cethylene 2mmonia 2rgon Kitrogen Kitrogen ;+ide #utane i/#utane 9thane 9thylene 9thyl 9ther 9thyl .hloride Helium .hlor Hydrogen .hloride ;+ygen *rypton Lenon 3ethane 3ethyl .hloride Keon ;0one (entane (ropane (ropene :ulphur 8io+ide :ulphur Hydrogen .arbon 8io+ide

.6H6 KH, 2r K6 K; .?H&' .?H&' .6HB .6H?

&.&=& '.==& &.=56 &.6A& &.,? 6.B=, 6.BB5 &.,A= &.6B&

6B.'? &=.', ,4.4? 65.'6 ,'.'& A5.&6 A5.&6 ,'.'B 65.'A =?.&6 B?.A ?.''6 ='.4& ,B.?= ,6 5,.= &,&., &B.', A'.?5 6'.&5 ?5 =6.& ??.'B ?6.'A B?.'B ,?.'4 ??.'& 65.'&

,&4.B ?55., 6'5.A 64B.= 6==.& &?,.6 &?,.6 6=B.= 64B.B &&6.6 &64 6'=4 &&=., 665 6A4.4 &''., B,.5? A&5.5 &B?.5 ?&&.= &=,.? &&A.6 &55.5 &45.5 &64.5 6??.6 &54 64=

&B5, 66&4 A,6 &'?= 4=A &4&= &B,6 &=64 &A65 6,'6 &,?' A6=? ?5& 5&6 4&, 6A& &A4 666A =?& &',5 / &=&= &5B, &B,A B,, &'A4 5,= &'?=

&,A6 &B5' ,66 =?B B4B &=,, / &??A &666 / / ,&5& ,AA A5, BA, &A& 4B., &='' A56 B6' / &A=A &BA' &?,= A', 5'? BA, =A?

&.6A &.,= &.BA &.? &.,5 &.&'5 / &.6 &.6A / / &.BB &.,B &.? &.? &.B= &.= &.,& &.65 &.B5 &.64 &.'4 &.&, &.&= &.6A &., &., &.?

4.,A 4.&5 6'.4 &= &=.5 5.& =.?= 5.A 4.5A 65B 4.? &5.5 &6 / 6'., 6,.6 6& &'., 4.54 64.= / 5.=? =.4A 5.,A &&.= &&.BB &,.= &B.B

.?H&'; / .6HA.l / He .l6 H.l ;6 *r Le .H? .H,.l Ke ;, .AH&6 .,H5 .,HB :;6 H6: .;6 '.&=5 ,.6&= &.B,4 &.?64 ,.='5 A.5A& '.=&= 6.,'5 '.4''6 6.66 / 6.'6 &.4&? 6.46= &.A,4 &.4=B &.6A

.arbon 3ono+ide .;

2ir Hydrogen H6

&.64, '.'545A

65.4A 6.'&B

65= ?&6A

&'&' &?6BB

=6' &'&,'

&.? &.?'=

&=., 5.?6

This table gives values of some physical properties in relation to the temperature of gases.
I2: t E;.F ' &'' 6'' ,'' ?'' A'' B'' ='' 5''

Kitrogen

K6

cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF

&.',4 &B.B

&.'?6 6'.5 ,&.A6 '.A6& 6=.& 6&.&= 6.'6B 4.6B 6,.A 6.'B= &&.A ,&.= &.=,= &6.= 64.A? A.6'? 66.4B &=4.& '.4,? 6?.? ,6.4& 6.??5 &,., ?&.64 6.'&= &'.'B 6=.? &.5 &'.=, 6A.B

&.'A6 6?.B ,5.A '.A6& ,6.& 6A.A4 6.?A, &&.B= ,B.A6 6.?4 &?.& ?=.= 6.'B? &A.B ??.&4 A.6'? 6B.45 6&6.5 '.4B, 64 ?'.= 6.5'= &B.& A&.5= 6.?A5 &6.?5 ?&.= 6.&B &,.? ,5.4

&.'B4 65 ??.54 '.A6& ,B.= 64.54 6.5&, &?.', A&.5= 6.5= &B.? BA.4 6.,4? &5.6 A4.?, A.6'? ,'.5 6??.6 '.44A ,,.& ?5.', ,.&=A &5.A B6.,? 6.5,? &?.=A A=.4 6.?=B &A.46 A,.=

&.'4& ,&.& A'.=& '.A6& ?& ,,.4B ,.&6= &B.,5 64.=5 ,.6&? &4

&.&&A ,,.4 AA.56 '.A6 ?A.66 ,=.4& ,.?', &5.=? 4'.6A ,.A&4 6&.?

&.&,4 ,B.B B'.,B '.A6 ?5.= ,4.?, ,.B?6 6&.'4 &&, ,.=5= 6,.5

&.&B& &.&5& ,4 B?.6 '.A6 ?&., B=.?A '.A6

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F 6?.,& 2rgon 2r cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF '.A66 6&.6

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &B.A& #utane .?H&' cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF &.A4& B.5?

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &,.6B 9thane .6HB cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&' E(asF

B

&.B?= 5.AA

?.'66 ?.6&B

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &5 9thylene .6H? cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF

,

&.?'B 4.B

6.=6& 6'.B =A.=& A.6'? ,?.,, 6=A.B &.'6? 6B.4 AA.'& ,.A64 6'.5 =6.66 ,.&B& &=.&A =B 6.=A,

,.'A6 66.5 46.,? A.6'? ,=.A= ,'?.= &.'?5 ?'., B&.A6 ,.5AB 66.= 5&.55 ,.??4 &4.? 4A.5 6.44&

,.,56 6?.4

,.='4 ?.',4 6B.5 65.=

lambdaJ&' E1-m*F &B.? Helium He cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&' E(asF

B

&'5.,4 &6,., &,?.4 A.6'? ?'.,6 ,,6.B &.'B4 ?,.A B=.?A ?.&A, 6?.B 4&., ,.B4= 6&.5 &.'5B &.& ?B.A =6.5 ?4., ==.B4 A.6'? A.6'?

A.6'? &5.=?

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &?, ;+ygen ;6 cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF '.4&A &4.6

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F 6?.BB 3ethane .H? cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF 6.&BA &'.?

?.?6& ?.BA4 6B.A 65.6

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F ,'.6? (ropane .,H5 cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF &.A?4 =.A

&''.A &'4., ,.4&B ?.'4,

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &A (ropene .,HB cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF

,

&.?6B =.5?

,.6

,.,55 ,.A?

lambdaJ&' E1-m*F &?

:ulfur dio+ide

:;6

cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF

'.B'= &6.&

'.BB6 &B.& &6.,, '.4&? &5.? 66.=4 &.'?A 6'.4 ,'.&6

'.=&6 6' &B.B, '.44, 66.B ,'.4? &.'A5 6?.B ,B.A6

'.=A? 6,.5 6&.&= &.'A= 6B.? ,4.'5 &.'5 6=.5 ?6.A=

'.=5, 6=.A 6A.56 &.&& 64.4 ?=.66 &.&'B ,4 ?5.A

'.5'5 ,&., ,'.= &.&AA ,,.6 A?.54 &.&,6 ,,.5 A?.'5

'.56A ,A ,A.56 &.&46 ,B.6 B6.& &.&A= ,B., A4.BB

'.5,= '.5A ,5.B ?6.&

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F 5.,= .arbon dio+ide .;6 cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF '.5&A &,.5

?&.'A ?B.64 &.66, &.6?4 ,5.& ?&.5

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &?.BA .arbon mono+ide .; cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&'B E(asF

,

B5.5A =A.&, &.&=4 &.444 ,5.= ?&

&.&'? &B.B

lambdaJ&' E1-m*F 6,.6B Hydrogen H6 cp Ek>-kg*F miJ&' E(asF

B

BA.'& ='.&,

&?.&4A &?.??5 &?.A'? &?.A,, &?.A5& &?.BB6 &?.==4 &?.4, &A.&&A 5.? &'., 6&B., &6.& 6A5.6 &,.4 ,''.& &A.? ,?&.4 &B.4 ,5,.5 &5., ?A6.= &4.B 6&

lambdaJ&', E1-m*F &=?.?

?B=.A A'4.?

where is for flue gas: t / temperature cp / specific heat mi / dynamic viscosity

lambda / thermal conductivity