LECTURE 2: Review of pipe flow: Minor Losses

2. MINOR LOSS
Losses caused by fittings, bends, valves etc.
Each type of loss can be quantified using a loss coefficient (K). Losses are proportional to
velocity of flow and geometry of device.
H  K .

V

(2.1)

Minor loss coefficient

The value of K is typically provided for various devices.

Minor Losses due to changes in flow area

Changes c/s area

Sudden
contraction

Contraction

Expansion

Gradual
contraction

Sudden
expansion

Gradual
expansion

2.1. Minor Loss at Sudden Contraction

A sudden contraction (Figure 2.1) in pipe usually causes a marked drop in pressure in the pipe
because of both the increase in velocity and the loss of energy of turbulence.

Figure 2.1 Head Loss and Pressure variation resulting from sudden contraction.



   

(2.2)

V2= Velocity in smaller pipe

Note that the loss is related to the velocity in the second (smaller) pipe!
K C  varies with D /D ratio and velocity in smaller pipe V  (Table 2.1)
Table 2.1 Values of the Coefficient Kc for Sudden Contraction

2.2. Minor Loss at Gradual Contraction

Head loss from pipe contraction may be greatly reduced by introducing a gradual pipe transition
known as a confusor as shown Figure 2.2. Head loss is calculated by using the formula given
below.

Figure 2.2. Pipe Confusor




    

(2.2)

The value of Kc vary with transition angle and the area ratio A2/A1 as shown in Figure 2.3

Figure 2.3 Coefficient Kc for pipe confusor.

The loss of head at the entrance of a pipe from a large reservoir is a special case of loss of head
resulting from contraction. Because the water cross sectional area in the reservoir is very large
compared with that of pipe, a ratio of contraction of zero may be taken. The general equation for
an entrance head loss is also expressed in terms of velocity head of the pipe:


    

(2.3)

The approximate values fort he entrance loss coefficient (Ke) for different entrance conditions are
shown in Figure 2.4(a-d).

Figure 2.4. Coefficient K efor pipe entrances

2.3. Minor Loss in Sudden Expansions
The behaviour of the energy grade line and the hydraulic grade line in the vicinity of a sudden
pipe expansion is shown in Figure 2.5.

Figure 2.5. Head Loss from sudden expansion

The magnitude of the head loss may be expressed as

V V 

HL 

(2.4)

2.4. Minor Loss in Sudden Expansions

The head loss resulting from pipe expansions may be greatly reduced by introducing a gradual
pipe transition known as a diffusor (Figure 2.6). The head loss in this pipe transition case may be
expressed as

HL 

 K" .

#V  V  $

(2.5)

Figure 2.6. Pipe Diffusor

The values of KE vary with the diffusor angle ().

KE

100
0.08

200
0.31

300
0.49

400
0.60

500
0.67

600
0.72

750
0.72

A submerged pipe discharging into a large reservoir (Figure 2.7) is a special case of head loss
from expansion. The flow velocity (V) in the pipe discharged from the end of a pipe into a
reservoir that is so large that the velocity within it is negligible. Exit (discharge) head loss is
expressed as
H%  K %

V

(2.6)

where the exit (discharge) loss coefficient Kd=1.0.

Figure 2.7. Exit (discharge) head loss

2.5. Minor Loss in Pipe Valves

Valves are installed in pipelines to control flow by imposing high head losses. As with other
losses in pipes, the head loss through valves may also be expressed in terms of velocity head in
the pipe:


&  & 
The values of Kv for common valves are listed in Table 2.2.

(2.7)

Table 2.2 Values of Kv for common Hydraulic Valves

2.6. Minor Loss in Pipe Bends

The head loss produced at a bend was found to be dependent of the ratio the radius of curvature
of the bend (R) to the diameter of the pipe (D) (Figure 2.8). The loss of head due to a bend may
be expressed in terms of the velocity head as
&  &




(2.8)

For smooth pipe bend of 900, the values of Kb for various values of R/D are listed in following
table.

R/D
Kb

1
0.35

2
0.19

4
0.17

6
0.22

10
0.32

16
0.38

20
0.42