Pipe Flow Calculator

Using the Pipe Flow Calculator

This guide provides you with clear, step-by-step instructions on how to use the Pipe Flow Calculator. This tool is designed to help you calculate key parameters in fluid dynamics such as flow velocity, Reynolds number, and pressure drop. Here’s a guide to get the most accurate results:

Step 1: Enter Input Values

Start by providing the necessary input data required by the calculator. These inputs are crucial for accurate calculations:

• Pipe Inner Diameter (mm): Enter the diameter of the pipe in millimeters. This value must be between 1 and 10000 mm and is crucial as it affects all subsequent calculations.
• Flow Rate (m³/h): Input the flow rate of the fluid in cubic meters per hour. Valid values range from 0.1 to 10000 m³/h.
• Fluid Viscosity (cP): Specify the viscosity of the fluid in centipoise. Acceptable entries are between 0.1 and 10000 cP.
• Fluid Density (kg/m³): Enter the fluid density in kilograms per cubic meter. This value should be between 1 and 20000 kg/m³.
• Pipe Material Roughness: Select the type of pipe material from the provided options. Each option corresponds to a specific roughness value impacting the calculations, such as drawn tubing, commercial steel, concrete, or riveted steel.

Step 2: Calculate Results

Once all input values are entered, the calculator will automatically compute the results based on the inputs provided. Here are the results you can expect:

• Flow Velocity: This parameter is calculated using the formula:

  (flowRate / 3600) / (3.14159 * pow(pipeInnerDiameter/2000, 2))

  The result will be displayed in meters per second with two decimal places.

• Reynolds Number: Represents the flow regime and is calculated using:

  (flowVelocity * (pipeInnerDiameter/1000) * fluidDensity) / (fluidViscosity/1000)

  This number indicates whether the flow is laminar or turbulent and is displayed without decimals.

• Friction Factor: This factor, necessary for calculating pressure drop, uses the formula:

  0.25 / pow(log10((pipeRoughness/1000)/(3.7*(pipeInnerDiameter/1000)) + 5.74/pow(reynoldsNumber, 0.9)), 2)

  It will be shown with four decimal places.

• Pressure Drop per 100m (Pa): Calculated using:

  frictionFactor * (100/(pipeInnerDiameter/1000)) * (fluidDensity * pow(flowVelocity, 2))/2

  Expressed in Pascals with two decimal places, this indicates how much pressure is lost per 100 meters of pipe.

• Pressure Drop per 100m (bar): Simply converts the pressure drop from Pascals to bars:

  pressureDrop / 100000

  This value is displayed with three decimal places.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively use the Pipe Flow Calculator to analyze and understand the fluid flow characteristics in a given pipe system. Ensure the accuracy of your input data for reliable calculations and review the values of each resultant parameter to make informed decisions.