FLUID FLOW

Mechanical Energy Balance

dp ⎛V 2 ⎞
gΔZ + ∫ +Δ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = Wo − ∑ F
ρ ⎝ 2 ⎠
potential expansion kinetic work added/ sum of
energy work energy change subtracted by friction
change pumps or losses
compressors

Note that the balance is per unit mass. In differential

form:
dp = − ρ ( g ⋅ dZ − V ⋅ dV − δF + δWo )

ChE 4253 - Design I

 FLUID FLOW
Mechanical Energy Balance
Divide by dL, (L is the length of the pipe)

dp dZ dV δF δWo
= − ρg + ρV +ρ −ρ
dL Tot dL dL δL δL
or: dp ⎞ dp ⎞ dp ⎞ dp ⎞
⎟ = ⎟ + ⎟ + ⎟
dL ⎠Tot dL ⎠ elev dL ⎠ accel dL ⎠ frict
δWo
is usually ignored, as the equation applies to a pipe
δL section.
The above equation is an alternative way of writing the
mechanical energy balance. It is not a different equation

ChE 4253 - Design I

 Mechanical Energy Balance
Potential energy change:

dL
dZ
dZ g = g sin φ
φ dL

Friction Losses:
Fanning equation:
2V 2 f
dF = dL
D
This equation applies to single phase fluids.

The friction factor is obtained from the “Moody Diagram”

(see PT page 487).

ChE 4253 - Design I

 Mechanical Energy Balance

Friction factor equations. (Useful for computers and Excel)

16
f = Laminar Flow
Re
0.046 Smooth pipes: a = 0.2
f = Iron or steel pipes: a = 0.16
Re a

1 ⎛ ε 2.51 ⎞ Colebrook equation for

= −2 log10 ⎜ + ⎟ turbulent flow.
⎜ ⎟
f ⎝ 3.7 D Re f ⎠

Equivalent length of valves and fittings.

Pressure drop for valves and fittings is accounted for as
equivalent length of pipe.
See PT&W for a table containing these values (page 490).
ChE 4253 - Design I
 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow
Scenario I
Need pressure drop in known pipes (pump or compressor is
not present.)
Incompressible Flow
a) Isothermal (ρ is constant)
dp ⎛ dZ dV δF ⎞
= −ρ⎜ g ⋅ +V ⋅ + ⎟
dL Tot ⎝ dL dL δL ⎠
for a fixed ρ ⇒ V constant ⇒ dV = 0

Integral form: ⎡ L + Le ⎤
Δp = − ρ ⎢ g ⋅ ΔZ + 2V ⋅ f ⋅
2
+ ∑ F⎥
⎣ D ⎦
b) Nonisothermal
It will not have a big error if you use ρ(Taverage)

ChE 4253 - Design I

 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow
a) Relatively small change in T (known)
For small pressure drop (something you can check after you
are done) can use Bernoulli and fanning equation as follows
⎛V 2 ⎞
g ⋅ dz + v ⋅ dp + d ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = −δF
⎝ 2 ⎠
g 1 V δF
⋅ dz + ⋅ dp + ⋅ dV = −
v2 v v2 v2
V = Velocity v = Specific volume (m3/Kg)=1/ρ
G = Mass flow (Kg/hr) A = Cross sectional area
G
Note: V = v⋅
A

ChE 4253 - Design I

 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)

δF
2
g 1 ⎛ G ⎞ dV ⎛ G ⎞ dL
⋅ dz + ⋅ dp + ⎜ ⎟ ⋅ = − 2 = −2 ⋅ f ⋅ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ A⎠ v ⎝ A⎠ D
2
v v v

Now put in integral form

2 2
dz dp ⎛ G ⎞ dV ⎛G⎞ 1
g∫ 2 + ∫ +⎜ ⎟ ∫ V = −2 ⋅ ⎜⎝ A ⎟⎠ ⋅ D ⋅ ∫ f dL
v v ⎝ A⎠

Tin + Tout f in + f out

Assume: Tav = f av =
2 2

ρ (Tin , Pin ) + ρ (Tout , Pout ) f (Tin , Pin ) + f (Tout , Pout )

ρ av = f av =
2 2
ChE 4253 - Design I
 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)

The integral form will be:
dp ⎛ G ⎞ ⎛ Vout ⎞
2 2

⎟⎟ = −2⎛⎜ ⎞⎟ f av
out G L
ρ av2 gΔz + ∫ + ⎜ ⎟ ln⎜⎜
in v ⎝ A ⎠ ⎝ Vin ⎠ ⎝ A⎠ D

Z RT
Recall: pv= M: Molecular weight
M
RTav
Then: v ≅ Z av
pM
and dp M
∫ v = Z av RTav ∫ p ⋅ dp =
M
2 ⋅ Z av RTav
(p 2
out − p 2
in )
ChE 4253 - Design I
 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)

Substitute in the integral form:
⎛ G ⎞ ⎛⎜ Vout ⎞⎟
2 2

ρ av2 g ⋅ Δz +
M
2 ⋅ Z av RTav
( 2
pout 2
)
− pin + ⎜ ⎟ ln⎜ ⎟ = − 2
⎛G⎞
⎜ ⎟ av
f
L
⎝ A ⎠ ⎝ Vin ⎠ ⎝ A⎠ D

Vout ⎛ Z out ⋅ Tout ⎞ pin

Since: = ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⋅
Vin ⎝ Z in ⋅ Tin ⎠ pout
we get
1
⎡ 2 Z RT ⎧⎪ ⎛ G ⎞ 2 L ⎛ G ⎞ ⎛ Z outTout pin ⎞
2
⎫⎪⎤ 2
= ⎢ pin − 2 av av ⎨2⎜ ⎟ ⋅ f av ⋅ + ⎜ ⎟ ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + ρ av ⋅ g ⋅ Δz ⎬⎥
2
pout
⎢⎣ M ⎪⎩ ⎝ A ⎠ D ⎝ A ⎠ ⎝ Z inTin pout ⎠ ⎪⎭⎥⎦

ChE 4253 - Design I

 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)

This is an equation of the form: pout = F ( pout )

Algorithm:
a) Assume out
(1)
p
b) Use formula to get a new value ( 2)
pout ( )
= F pout
(1)

p ( i +1)
c) Continue using out = F p( )
(i )
out
( i +1)
until p − p (i )
out
(i )
out
≤ε
pout
OR BETTER: Use Solver in EXCEL, or even use PRO II,
or any other fluid flow simulator.

ChE 4253 - Design I

 Mechanical Energy Balance - Fluid Flow

Compressible Flow. Relatively small change in T (known)

The above algorithm can be applied for cases where

pout − pin
≤ 0 .2 − 0 .3
pin

For longer pipes, break the pipe into smaller sections

ChE 4253 - Design I

 PIPING STRENGTH
Bursting pressure of a pipe
tm
Pb = 2 ST
Dm
Dm= Mean Diameter
tm= Wall Thickness
St= Tensile Strength (properties of material and
fabricate)
Pb= Bursting pressure

Pin Pb = Pin - Pout

Pout

ChE 4253 - Design I

 PIPING STRENGTH
Safe Working Pressure
tm
PS = 2 S S
Dm
We substitute with a safe working stress, Ss < ST

Range of Ss = 6500-9000 psi (T < 250 oF)

(Low end) butt-welded

lap-welded (High end)

Schedule of a Pipe (American Standard Association)

There are 10 Sch numbers:

10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160

ChE 4253 - Design I

 PIPING STRENGTH
Schedule of a Pipe (American Standard Association)

You specify a pipe by giving the diameter and the Schedule

• Get pressure inside , Pin (psia)

• PS = Pin - 14.696
PS
• α = 1000 ; SS ==> Characteristic of pipe (6500 –
SS 9000 psi)

•Pick lower possible Sch standard.

Sch > a

ChE 4253 - Design I