PLUMBING ENGINEERING DESIGN

FOR HOT AND COLD WATER

SUPPLY FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION

The water distribution system must always be designed on the basis of the minimum
pressure.

Generally, the minimum pressure to be provided at most fixtures is 8 psi and from 15 to 25 psi
for water closets.

Remember that these pressures are flow pressures and not statistic pressures.

1. Friction Head loss. Water piping must be sized to limit the friction head losses in the
piping system so that the highest and most remote water outlet will have the required
minimum pressure for adequate flow during periods of peak demand. Remember that
friction head loss is directly proportional to the length of run.
2. The equivalent length of piping – is its developed lengths plus the equivalent lengths of
pipe corresponding to friction head losses for fittings, valves, strainers, etc. When the
system is sized, the sizes of fittings and valves are not known and the added friction head
losses imposed must be approximated. A general rule of thumb that has proven to be
surprisingly accurate is to add 50% of the developed lengths to allow for all fittings and
valves.

(ELR) equivalent length of run = developed length (DL) x 1.5

ELR = DL x 1.5
3. Uniform fraction head loss = total fraction head loss x 100 ÷ equivalent length of run.

Having established the uniform loss all that is needed now is to employ hydraulic Tables to
obtain the corresponding rates flow that will produce that loss for various sizes of pipes of
various materials.

For your example refer to this Table for 6”ф pipes and tubes. Similar Table for ½” diameter
other sizing tables maybe found in

 Cameron Hydraulic Data, 19th edition ( Published by Flowserve, Edited by C.C.

Herald)
 Hydraulic Institute Engineering Data Book ( author : Maynard Neal)
 Various catalogues
 American Society of Plumbing Engineers Data Books and Magazines Published
For those who would prefer to perform their own calculation,

the following formulas may be used:

For: Brass and Copper Tubings:

q = 60.8 d 2½ ( )½

For: Galvanized iron an d steel piping

 q = 43.0 d 2½ ( )½

Where:

q = quantity of flow, g pm

d = internal diameter of pipe in inches

p = total permissible friction head loss, psi

L = equivalent length of longest run, ft.

Note: That the maximum velocity for our design purpose is 8 ft/sec in piping (10ft/sec. becomes
noisy & approaching & problem)

For Friction Head loss Tables, these are based upon the Hazen and Williams Formula

100 q1.85
f = .2083 ( )1.85×( )
C d 4.8655

Where:

f = friction head in ft. of liquid per 100 ft. of pipe

(if psi is desired, multiply by .433)

d = inside diameter of pipe in inches

q = flow, gpm

c = constant, reflecting roughness of pip

C = 100 for steel pipe

= 130 for brass and copper

Problem Application Example

Investigate a 16 storey building where a street water pressure reported as 45 psi. The
highest fixture out let is 180 ft. above the levels of the pump, and the pumps are at the same level
as the street main. The building has flush valves water closets and the pressure required at the
highest fixture is 20 psi. The total combined cold and hot water fixture counts for the building is
4840 FU. The length of run from the pumps to the farthest and highest fixture is 350 ft. material
for the water service into the building will be Type K Copper tubing, and the water distribution
within the building will be Type L Copper tubing fixture unit load will be found as tabulated.

TABLE OF LOADS
 COLD WATER TABULATION

Add 110 between street main pumps

4840 FU

HOT WATER TABULATION

 ONVERSION OF FIXTURE UNITS TO
EQUIVALENT GPM DR. HUNTERS

DEMA DEMAN DEMAN DEMA DEMAN DEMAN

ND D D ND D D
(LOAD) (LOAD) (LOAD) (LOAD) (LOAD) (LOAD)
FIXTU GPM GMP FIXTUR GPM GMP
RE
1 FLUSH
0 FLUSH
- E 160
UNIT FLUSH
57 FLUSH
83
UNIT TANK VALUE TANK VALUE
2 1 - 180 61 87
3 3 - 200 65 92
4 4 - 225 70 97
5 5 - 250 75 101
6 6 - 275 80 106
8 6.5 - 300 85 110
10 8 27 400 105 126
12 9 29 500 125 142
14 11 30 750 170 178
16 12 32 1000 208 208
18 13 33 1250 240 240
 DEMAND DEMAN DEMAND DEMAND DEMAN DEMAND
(LOAD) D (LOAD) (LOAD) D (LOAD)
FIXTURE (LOAD) GMP FIXTURE (LOAD) GMP
UNIT GPM FLUSH UNIT GPM FLUSH
20 FLUSH
14 VALUE
35 1500 FLUSH
267 VALUE
267
TANK TANK
25 17 38 1750 294 294
30 20 41 2000 321 321
35 23 44 2250 348 348
40 25 47 2500 375 375
45 27 49 2750 402 402
50 29 52 3000 432 432
60 32 55 4000 525 525
70 35 59 5000 593 593
80 38 62 6000 643 643
90 41 65 7000 685 685
100 44 68 8000 718 718
CALCULATION:

1. Static pressure for highest outlet = 180 x .433 = 77.94psi

10
2. Friction Head loss ( Ass. 10 psi / 100) = 1.5 x 350 = 525 ft. ELF ( ×525 ) = 52.50 psi
100
3. Required outlet press = 20 psi
4. Head loss through PRU at pump = 5 psi
Total Required Press = 155.44 psi
5. Total fixture (FU) Load = 4840 Fu = 582 GPM
6. Pump Head = 155.44 psi
7. Suction press: Since street press = 45 psi allowing for lower pres. during heavy demand:
use 35 psi
Then 155.44- 35 psi = 120.44 psi Head
8. Select pumps for 582 GPM at 120 psi Head

FOR HOT WATER CALCULATION

A. Basic Relationship and Units

1. q = rwc Δt – Formula 1

Where: q = time rate of heat transfer BTU/ hr (kj/ hr.)

 r = Flow rate in gpm (L/ hr)

w = Weight of a heated water, lb. (kg.)

c = Specific Heat of water,

BTU / lb / °F (KJ/ kg / °K)

Δt = change in heated temperature

(Temperature leaving – temperature of incoming water

Tu – tc, °F (°K)

For purposes of our discussion the specific heat of water is constant.

c = 1 BTU/ 1b/ °F (4.19 kJ / kg/ K)

and the weight of the water is constant.

w = 8.33 lbs/ gal (999.6 kg/ m 3 )

Therefore:
Δt
gal 1 BTU 8.33 lbs
q= Hr
([ )(
1b
°F
gal )
]
m3 4.19 kgJ 999.6 kg
= Hr
([ )(
kg
k
m3 Δt ) ]
Ex. Calculate the heat output rate required to heat 600 gph from 50 °F to 140 °F from Eq.1

Q = 600 (g ph) ( 8.33galBTU

°F )
×(140−50)

BTU
=449,820
hr

And for Thermal efficiency of Heater

ET = ( q−B
q )
x 100, B = internal heat loss of water heater

Heat Recovery of Electric Water Heaters

1 kilowatt of electric water heater power will raise 410 gal of water 1 °F.
These can be express in a series of formulas:

410 gal
Formula 2: =gal. of water kilowatt Δt
Δt

gph × Δt
Formula 3: =kw required
410 gal

Where :

Δt = Temperature p rise (temperature ) °F

gph = gal. per hour of hot water required

TABLE FOR TEMPERATURE RISE BASE ON FORMULA 2

Example: An electric water heater must be sized based on the following information.
40 gph hot water at a temperature of 140 °F.
The incoming water supply (normal in the Philippines) is 60 °F.

Using formula # 3

1. = 7.797 kw required 2.
= 799.4/ kw
 HOT WATER CALCULATION

1. WATER HEATER – 91 GPM HW

GPH = 91 X 60 – 5460 GPH

2. HOT WATER TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT 120°F

3. Thus: BTU/ hr = 91 x 500 x (120 – 60) x .5

= 1,365,000 BTU / hr

Kw = BTU/ hr ÷ 3413 BTU/kw – hr

= 400 kw

Where:

.5 = usage factor

500 = 60 min x 8.33 / 92l

HOT WATER – CIRCULATING SYSTEM

A. The objective of the design of hot water circulation system is to have hot water of
required temperature readily available at any fixture as needed.
 HEAT LOSS OF
INSULATED
COPPER TUBES

COMPUTATION ON
RECIRCULATING
COPPER TUBING

2 ½ “ Φ – 12 X 90 = 1080

2” Φ – 16 X 90 = 1440

1 ½” Φ – 13 X 45 = 585

1 ¼” Φ – 13 X 45 = 585

Assume:

1 “Φ - 200 x 10 = 2000

¾ - 200 x 10 = 2000

½ - 2000 x 8 = 1600

9290 BTU / hr

10 % Add 929

Total 10, 119 BTU/ hr

10,119 BTU /hr

GPM R Φd = =4.04 gpm say 5gpm
5° F Temp dif . X 500

Head=120psi