Single-Phase Pipe Hydraulics and Pipe Sizing

p is inversely proportional to the pipe diameter. This means that as the diameter increases, the pressure drop decreases. The constant of proportionality is the friction factor. This concept behind pipe hydraulics is brought up very well in this course. The friction factor for turbulent flow is different from laminar flow. The former is a function of the Reynolds number and relative roughness of the pipe whereas the latter is the function of only Reynolds number. Various friction factor correlations for turbulent flow along with their applicability are available and presented in this course. The pressure drop in pipes is considered as the skin frictional pressure drop. However, the pressure drop in pipe fittings is mostly due to the eddies formation in the zones where the fluid separates from the pipe wall and fluid mixing at locations downstream of the pipe. These head losses are considered minor losses, however, in some cases, they are significant when compared with the major head losses offered by the straight pipes. Minor losses can be determined by considering either the loss coefficients or equivalent lengths of various pipe fittings. The detailed discussion and demonstration of pressure drop predictions are well covered in this course. This course is not limited to single-path single-phase pipe hydraulics. Multiple-path piping systems popularly known as piping networks are also considered and the prediction of pressure drop in these networks is demonstrated by using well-accepted methodologies. Pressure drop calculation in the header and branching pipelines, when they are connected to various fluid sources, is discussed in this course.

Though piping systems are operated at a steady state most of the time, they are also subjected to transients during startup and shutdown operations. Piping systems are also subjected to transients due to oscillatory fluid flow, water hammer, and steam hammer. These transients and the pressure rise due to the water hammer are well covered in this course. Finally, the hydraulics of liquid flow in inclined pipes under gravity is also covered in this particular course.