Tutorial Sheet No 1: Viscous flow in pipes

Problem 1
Water with density 𝜌 = 1.94 𝑠lugs/ft 3 and kinematic viscosity 𝜐 = 0.000011ft 2 /s , is pumped
between two reservoirs at 0.2 ft3/s through 400 ft of 2-in-diameter pipe and several minor losses,
as shown in. The roughness ratio is 𝜀/𝑑 = 0.001. Compute the pump horsepower required

(a) Determine the flowrate and the Reynold’s number of the flow
(b) Use the Moody chart to determine the friction factor of the pipe
(c) Write the steady flow energy equation between sections surface 1 and surface 2 of the
two reservoirs, and determine the head increase across the pump.
(d) Determine the useful power of the pump in hp (1 hp = 550 ft.lbf/s
(e) If the pump efficiency is 70 to 80 percent, what will be the power input of the pump.

Problem 1
Given a three-pipe system connect three reservoirs at these surface elevations 𝑧1 = 20.0 𝑚, 𝑧2 =
100.0 𝑚, 𝑧3 = 40.0 𝑚. Find the resulting flow rates in each pipe, neglecting minor losses., take
water density 𝜌 = 1000 𝑘𝑔/m3 and kinematic viscosity 𝜈 = 1.02 × 10−6 m2 /s.

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Tutorial Sheet No 1: Viscous flow in pipes

Problem 3
Water at 20°C is to be pumped from a
reservoir (𝑧𝐴 = 2 𝑚) to another reservoir at a
higher elevation 𝑧𝐵 = 9 𝑚 through two 25-
m-long plastic pipes connected in parallel.
The diameters of the two pipes are 3 cm and
5 cm. Water is to be pumped by a 68 percent
efficient motor–pump unit that draws 7 kW
of electric power during operation. The
minor losses and the head loss in the pipes
that connect the parallel pipes to the two
reservoirs are considered to be negligible.
Determine the total flow rate between the reservoirs and the flow rates through each of the
parallel pipes.
Problem 4
In the figure shown there are
125 ft of 2-in pipe, 75 ft of 6-
in pipe, and 150 ft of 3-in
pipe, all cast iron. There are
three 90° elbows and an open
globe valve, all flanged. If the
exit elevation is zero, what
horsepower is extracted by
the turbine when the flow rate
is 0.16 ft3/s of water at 20°C?

Problem 5

A 3-m-diameter tank is initially filled with water

2 m above the center of a sharp-edged 10-cm-
diameter orifice. The tank water surface is open
to the atmosphere, and the orifice drains to the
atmosphere through a 100-m-long pipe. The
friction coefficient of the pipe is taken to be 0.015
and the effect of the kinetic energy correction
factor can be neglected.
Determine (a) the initial velocity from the tank
and (b) the time required to empty the tank.

In order to drain the tank faster, a pump is installed near the tank exit as shown. (c) Determine
how much pump power input is necessary to establish an average water velocity of 4 m/s when

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Tutorial Sheet No 1: Viscous flow in pipes

the tank is full at z=2 m. (d) Also, assuming the discharge velocity to remain constant, estimate
the time required to drain the tank.
Someone suggests that it makes no difference whether the pump is located at the beginning or at
the end of the pipe, and that the performance will be the same in either case, but another person
argues that placing the pump near the end of the pipe may cause cavitation. The water
temperature is 30°C, so the water vapor pressure is Pv = 4.246 kPa = 0.43 m-H2O, and the
system is located at sea level. Investigate if there is the possibility of cavitation and if we should
be concerned about the location of the pump.

Problem 6

Water at 15°C is to be discharged from

a reservoir at a rate of 18 L/s using two
horizontal cast iron pipes connected in
series and a pump between them. The
first pipe is 20 m long and has a 6-cm
diameter, while the second pipe is 35 m
long and has a 4-cm diameter. The
water level in the reservoir is 30 m
above the centerline of the pipe. The
pipe entrance is sharp-edged, and losses
associated with the connection of the
pump are negligible. Neglecting the effect of the kinetic energy correction factor,
a) determine the required pumping head and the minimum pumping power to maintain the
indicated flow rate.
b) investigate the effect of the second pipe diameter on the required pumping head to
maintain the indicated flow rate. Let the diameter vary from 1 to 10 cm in increments of 1
cm. Tabulate and plot the results.

Problem 7

Water at 20°C is to be pumped through

2000 ft of pipe from reservoir 1 to 2 at a
rate of 3 ft3/s, as shown. If the pipe is cast
iron of diameter 6 in and the pump is 75
percent efficient, what horsepower pump is
needed?

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Tutorial Sheet No 1: Viscous flow in pipes

A 70 percent efficient pump delivers water at

20°C from one reservoir to another 20 ft
higher, as in shown. The piping system
consists of 60 ft of galvanized iron 2- in pipe,
a reentrant entrance, two screwed 90° long-
radius elbows, a screwed-open gate valve,
and a sharp exit. What is the input power
required in horsepower with and without a 6°
well-designed conical expansion added to the

A small water slide is to be installed inside a swimming pool. The slide manufacturer
recommends a continuous water flow rate Q = 1.39x10-3 m3/s (about 22 gal/min) down the slide,
to ensure that the customers do not burn their bottoms. A pump is to be installed under the slide,
with a 5.00-m-long, 4.00-cm-diameter hose supplying swimming pool water for the slide. The
pump is 80 percent efficient and will rest fully submerged 1.00 m below the water surface. The
roughness inside the hose is about 0.0080 cm. The hose discharges the water at the top of the slide
as a free jet open to the atmosphere. The hose outlet is 4.00 m above the water surface. For fully
developed turbulent pipe flow, the kinetic energy flux correction factor is about 1.06. Ignore any
minor losses here. Assume that 𝜌 = 998 kg/m3 and 𝜈 =1.00 x10-6 m2/s for this water. Find the
brake horsepower (that is, the actual shaft power in watts) required to drive the pump.

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