TOPIC 3.

FRICTIONAL PRESSURE LOSS and FLOW MEASUREMENT

Pipe length or
fittings contributes
higher pressure
drop? Why?

3.5 Tutorial Topic 3

1.

A pipeline is 50 mm in diameter, has absolute roughness 0.045 mm and

has an inlet at 1 and an outlet at 2. Between these two points there
are 70 m of straight pipe, two 90o elbows and one half open gate valve.
The diameter of the pipe is constant but point 2 is 10 m above point 1.
If the liquid flowrate is 0.005 m3/s and if its density and viscosity are 880
kg/m3 and 1.1 x 10-3 N s/m2 respectively, then determine the following:
a)
Calculate the total pressure drop from point 1 to point 2.
b)
Calculate the total pressure drop when the flowrate falls to a much
lower value of 0.00005 m3/s.

2.

Explain why there

is difference
between 1a) & 1b)

Show that for an orifice plate meter,

u1

Where, A2

Ao

Cd

2P1  P2 

A2

U 12  1
A2

Please derive the

orifice equation
from Bernoulli's.

Cross sectional area of the orifice opening (m2)

An orifice plate meter, diameter 0.025 m, is placed in a pipe which is

0.05 m in diameter. The fluid density is 1000 kg/m3. If the upstream
tapping pressure is 200 kN/m2 and the downstream tapping pressure is
150 kN/m2 and if the discharge coefficient is 0.7, determine the following:
a)
The upstream velocity, volumetric flow rate and mass flow rate in
the pipe.
b)
Show how an orifice plate equation might be derived if it were to
tilted upwards at a 30 angle.

3.

A fluid with viscosity 0.04 N s/m2 and density 890 kg/m3 flows under
laminar flow conditions in a pipe of 1 inch diameter. The length of the
pipe is 60m. If the volumetric flowrate is 90 l/min, determine the following
a)
Calculate the frictional pressure loss
b)
Determine the minimum flow rate (l/min) needed for turbulent flow.

HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY

B48BB

April 2016 v3

TOPIC 3. FRICTIONAL PRESSURE LOSS and FLOW MEASUREMENT

4.

5.

A Venturi meter is fitted into a 2 line. Its throat diameter is 1. Fluid of

density 1100 kg/m3 IORZV LQ WKH OLQH DQG WKH 3 LV  N/m2. If the
discharge coefficient of the meter is 0.95, calculate the volumetric flow
rate in the pipeline.

Liquid flows along a frictionless horizontal pipe. The flowrate is metered

using both a venturi and an orifice meter, arranged in parallel, as shown
below.

Please derive the

Venturi meter
equation from
Bernoulli's.

Assuming energy losses due to fittings can be neglected, calculate the

percentage of the overall flow that passes through each meter.

Hint:
Pressure drop
between inlet and
outlet is constant.

Additional data:
x Pipe diameter is 50.8 mm.
x Orifice plate Cd is 0.65 and the orifice throat diameter is 38.1 mm.
x Venturi Cd is 0.95 and the venturi throat diameter is 38.1 mm .

6.

Calculate the pressure difference between the two ends of the pipeline
shown in the diagram below:

Additional data:
Pipeline diameter 3 in.
Fluid flow rate is 0.01 m3/s.
Fluid density is 1100 kg/m3.
Fluid viscosity is 0.6 x 10-3N s/m2.
Pipe absolute roughness is 0.035 mm.
HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY

B48BB

April 2016 v3

TOPIC 3. FRICTIONAL PRESSURE LOSS and FLOW MEASUREMENT

Additional data:
x Pipeline diameter 3 in.
x Fluid flow rate is 0.01 m3/s.
x Fluid density is 1100 kg/m3.
x Fluid viscosity is 0.6 x 10-3 N s/m2.
x Pipe absolute roughness is 0.035 mm.

7.

A fluid of density 60 lb m /ft3 flows along a 6 diameter pipe, with a delivery

pressure of 10 psi. The flow is to be measured by a venturi meter with a
throat diameter of 3 and a discharge coefficient of 0.96.
If the pressure along the pipe must not fall below 8 psi, calculate the
maximum volumetric flow rate (m3/s) the venturi meter can measure.

8.

A rotameter has a diameter of 20 mm when reading zero (base) and 25

mm when reading maximum flow (top). The tube is 0.3 m in length and
increases uniformly in diameter from base to top.
The float has a diameter of 20 mm, a density of 5000 kg/m3 and a
volume of 4.5 cm3. If the rotameter has a coefficient of discharge of 0.65
and if the fluid is saline water, density 1050 kg/m3, calculate the
maximum mass flow rate of saline water that the rotameter can measure.

Hint:
Saline water is not the
same as water (900 kg/
m3) that is used to
calibrate the rotameter.

HERIOT-W ATT UNIVERSITY

B48BB

April 2016 v3