Pipe fittings pressure loss

The flow resistance of pipe fittings (elbows, tees, etc) and valves is expressed in terms of either an equivalent length of straight pipe or velocity head loss (head loss = Kv /2g ). Most handbooks and manufacturers pubHcations dealing with fluid flow incorporate either tables of equivalent lengths for fittings and valves or K values for velocity head loss. Inasmuch as the velocity in the equipment is generally much lower than in the pipe, a pressure loss equal to at least one velocity head occurs when the fluid is accelerated to the pipe velocity. 

There are four fitting K factors in Eq. (6.11). Each of these factors represents a specific valve or pipe-fitting pressure head loss, fLID. Notice that this term is not a K term, but rather represents L, the actual straight length of pipe. The reason it is not a K term is that it represents a straight section of pipe. The/factor in Eq. (6.11), including the / factor in each of the K terms, is calculated using Eqs. (6.3), (6.4), or (6.5). Derivation of the K resistance coefficients is reviewed in the next section. 

Please observe that point B pressure has increased by approximately 2 psi above the starting point E pressure, 128 psia. Why The liquid static legLF, coupled with a low piping friction loss, has caused this pressure increase. Please note, also, that point B actually extends several feet below point C. This is a canceling static leg effect since the elevation distance of A to B is equal to the elevation distance of B to C. Point C is to be taken as the point at the tube bundle face entrance. Another factor that should be realized is that the tee-fitting pressure loss is included in the segment run from point A to point B. Thus, no tee pressure losses will be counted in the run from B to C. 

The total piping system pressure drop for a particular pipe installation is the sum of the friction drop in pipe valves and fittings, plus other pressure losses (drops) through control valves, plus drop through equipment in the system, plus static drop due to elevation or pressure level. For example, see Figure 2-2. 

The K coefficient values for each of the items of pipe, bends, valves, fittings, contractions, enlargements, entrance/exits into/from vessels are additive as long as they are on the same size basis (see Table 2-2 and Figures 2-12A through 2-16). Thus the resistance equation is applicable to calculate the head or pressure loss through the specific system when the combined Rvalue is used. 

The discharge head of a pump is the head measured at the discharge nozzle (gauge or absolute), and is composed of the same basic factors previously summarized 1. static head 2. friction losses through pipe, fittings, contractions, expansions, entrances and exits 3. terminal system pressure. 

A tabulated form as in Table 19.3. This shows flows versus pipe length and diameter for both copper and steel. Such tables are included in British Gas lM/16 and British Standard BS 6891. Note that Table 19.3 includes allowances for elbows, tees and bends. Allowances, equivalent to numbers of pipe diameters, must be made for all pipe fittings, which cause an additional pressure loss. Further details for allowances to be made for pipefittings, including valves and nonreturn valves, are given in Table 19.4. 

Table 35.3 Pressure loss through steel fittings - equivalent pipe lengths...

The table shows the length of pipe with equivalent pressure loss in a given size and type of fitting. ... 

Pressure drops on the high-pressure side will be small enough to have little effect on the performance of the complete system. Pressure losses in the suction pipe and its fittings, especially if this is long, should be checked, and a correction made for the actual compressor suction pressure. For low-temperature applications, pipe sizes may have to be increased to avoid excessive frictional losses at these low pressures. 

As a length of pipe that would cause the same pressure loss as the fitting or valve. As this will be a function of the pipe diameter, it is expressed as the number of equivalent pipe diameters. The length of pipe to add to the actual pipe length is found by multiplying the total number of equivalent pipe diameters by the diameter of the pipe being used. 

Table 5.3. Pressure loss in pipe fittings and valves (for turbulent flow)...

Miscellaneous friction losses due to the tanker outlet constriction and the pipe fittings in the inlet piping, are equivalent to 1000 equivalent pipe diameters. The vapour pressure of chlorine at the maximum temperature reached at the pump is 685 kN/m2 and its density and viscosity, 1286 kg/m3 and 0.364 mNm 2s. The pressure in the tanker is 7 bara. 

Pressure drop in the transmission pipes is a combination of pressure losses in the pipes and pipe fittings7. Pipe fittings include bends, isolation valves, control valves, orifice plates, expansions, reductions, and so on. If the fluid is assumed to be incompressible and the change in kinetic energy from inlet to outlet is neglected, then ... 

The terms represent, respectively, the effect of pressure gradient, acceleration, line friction, and potential energy (static head). The effect of fittings, bends, entrance effects, etc., is included in the term Ke correlated as a number of effective velocity heads. The inclination angle 0 is the angle to the horizontal from the elevation of the pipe connection to the vessel to the discharge point. The term bi is the two-phase multiplier that corrects the liquid-phase friction pressure loss to a two-phase pressure loss. Equation (23-39) is written in units of pressure/density. 

As the process model is made more accurate and complicated, you can lose the possibility of obtaining an analytical solution of the optimization problem. For example, if (1) the pressure losses through the pipe fittings and valves are included in the model, (2) the pump investment costs are included as a separate term with a cost exponent (n) that is not equal to 1.0, (3) elevation changes must be taken into account, (4) contained solids are present in the flow, or (5) significant changes in density occur, the optimum diameter will have to be calculated numerically. 

The sum of velocity head valves and fittings, and the frictional pipe run loss with the static head gain or loss, make up the entire pipe pressure loss ... 

Two-phase flow pressure loss due to pipe-fitting acceleration... 

---