Pipe Pressure Formula:
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Definition: This calculator determines the pressure drop in a pipe based on fluid viscosity, pipe dimensions, and flow rate using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation.
Purpose: It helps engineers and fluid system designers analyze pressure requirements in piping systems.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula relates pressure drop to flow characteristics in laminar flow through cylindrical pipes.
Details: Accurate pressure drop calculations ensure proper pump sizing, system efficiency, and prevent flow-related issues in piping systems.
Tips: Enter viscosity in Pa·s (water at 20°C ≈ 0.001 Pa·s), pipe length in meters, flow rate in m³/s, and pipe radius in meters. All values must be > 0.
Q1: What flow regime does this formula apply to?
A: The Hagen-Poiseuille equation applies only to laminar flow (Re < 2100).
Q2: How does pipe radius affect pressure?
A: Pressure drop is inversely proportional to the fourth power of radius - small radius changes have large effects.
Q3: What's a typical viscosity value for water?
A: Water at 20°C has viscosity of about 0.001 Pa·s (1 centipoise).
Q4: Can I use diameter instead of radius?
A: Yes, but remember to use radius = diameter/2 in the calculation.
Q5: What about turbulent flow?
A: For turbulent flow, you would need to use the Darcy-Weisbach equation instead.