Calculate the head loss in a pipe with fittings

Calculation will allow you to estimate the head loss (pressure drop) in a pipe with a nice clean internal surface. In general head loss is higher in small diameter pipes and long lengths of pipe. Diameter is the greater of the 2 impacts. Type in your variables and look for the answer below. There are two sections. In this first section you can easily convince your self of importance of pipe diameter. Just type in diffferent sizes for same flow rate and same pipe length

No Fittings section VARIABLES - TYPE IN YOURSELF. You must measure this flow using a bucket and watch or base your system upon a chosen volume flow rate. The add the pipe properties (diameter and length) required
Decide which units you want to work in volume of water flowing through the pipe internal diameter of pipe in millimetres length of the pipe in metres

US galls per Imperial gallons minute per minute 6 10 Inches Inches 2 6 Feet Feet 10 10

Litres per minute 8 mm 25 Metres 3

Part 1 Answer below here

Feet Feet Metres

head loss - no fittings in pipe system

1.2

0.3

0.6

This answer needs to be modified if there are valves, bends and other restrictions in the pipework. This is done by adding the relevant number of pipe diameters to the above answer using the table below However this top section is the most important in most cases Pipe Do NOT change any diameters/single information in this table restriction Open gate valve 9 90 degree elbow 30 45 degree elbow 20 swept 90 degree bend 8 For example if there are the following restrictions in the pipe system then you do following

Fittings section VARIABLES - TYPE IN YOURSELF

In this table ONLY enter date in YELLOW column
Open gate valve 90 degree elbow 45 degree elbow swept 90 degree bend

No. Of Restrictions
1 1 1 1

Equivalent diameters/restriction
9 30 20 8

Total diameters due to restriction

9 30 20 8

Part 2 Answer below here

Feet Feet Metres

Extra equivalent pipe length due to fittings

11.2

33.5

1.7

Having done this you would then go back to part 1 and change the length from 5 metres to (5 + 1.7) = 6.7 metres Total head loss for this system as defined here would then be

Final Answer below here

Feet Feet Metres

Total system head loss

2.5

1.4

0.9

Your choice of pump would then be based upon this number