Head loss is the reduction in the total head or pressure (sum of elevation head, velocity head and

pressure head) of the fluid as it moves through a fluid system. Head loss is unavoidable in real
fluids. It is present because of: the friction between the fluid and the walls of the pipe; the
friction between adjacent fluid particles as they move relative to one another; and the turbulence
caused whenever the flow is redirected or affected in any way by such components as piping
entrances and exits, pumps, valves, flow reducers, and fittings. Frictional loss is that part of the
total head loss that occurs as the fluid flows through straight pipes.
The head loss for fluid flow is directly proportional to the length of pipe, the square of the fluid
velocity, and a term accounting for fluid friction called the friction factor. The head loss is
inversely proportional to the diameter of the pipe.
Head loss General Equation:
h L = f L v2 / D
Where:
hL = Head Loss (Change of pressure)
L = Length of pipe
v = Average fluid velocity
f = Fluid friction factor
D = Diameter of pipe
Head loss in a Pipe (Darcy - Weisback Equation):

Open: Head loss in a Pipe (Darcy - Weisback Equation) Calculator

hL = Head Loss (Change of pressure)
L = Length of the pipe;
D = Hydraulic diameter of the pipe (for a pipe of circular section, this equals the internal
diameter of the pipe);
V = Average velocity of the fluid flow, equal to the volumetric flow rate per unit cross-sectional
wetted area;
g = Local acceleration due to gravity;
f = Dimensionless coefficient called the Darcy friction factor. It can be found from a Moody
diagram or more precisely by solving Colebrook equation.

The friction factor has been determined to depend on the Reynolds number for the flow and the
degree of roughness of the pipes inner surface.
The quantity used to measure the roughness of the pipe is called the relative roughness, which
equals the average height of surface irregularities () divided by the pipe diameter (D).

The value of the friction factor is usually obtained from the Moody Chart (Figure B-1 of
Appendix B). The Moody Chart can be used to determine the friction factor based on the
Reynolds number and the relative roughness.
Example:
Determine the friction factor (f) for fluid flow in a pipe that has a Reynolds number of 40,000
and a relative roughness of 0.01.
Solution:
Using the Moody Chart, a Reynolds number of 40,000 intersects the curve corresponding to a
relative roughness of 0.01 at a friction factor of 0.04.
Darcys Equation Fluids Flow Equation - also called DarcyWeisbach equation.
In fluid dynamics , the DarcyWeisbach equation is a phenomenological equation, which
relates the head loss or pressure loss due to friction along a given length of pipe to the
average velocity of the fluid flow.
The DarcyWeisbach equation contains a dimensionless friction factor, known as the Darcy
friction factor . This is also called the DarcyWeisbach friction factor or Moody friction
factor . The Darcy friction factor is four times the Fanning friction factor , with which it should
not be confused.

The frictional head loss can be calculated using a mathematical relationship that is known as
Darcys equation for head loss. The equation takes two distinct forms. The first form of Darcys
equation determines the losses in the system associated with the length of the pipe.

where:
f = friction factor (unitless)
L = length of pipe (ft)
D = diameter of pipe (ft)
v = fluid velocity (ft/sec)
g = gravitational acceleration (ft/sec2)
Example: Darcys Head Loss Equation
A pipe 100 feet long and 20 inches in diameter contains water at 200F flowing at a mass flow
rate of 700 lbm/sec. The water has a density of 60 lbm/ft3 and a viscosity of 1.978 x 10-7 lbfsec/ft2. The relative roughness of the pipe is 0.00008. Calculate the head loss for the pipe.
Solution:
The sequence of steps necessary to solve this problem is first to determine the flow velocity.
Second, using the flow velocity and the fluid properties given, calculate the Reynolds number.
Third, determine the friction factor from the Reynolds number and the relative roughness.
Finally, use Darcys equation to determine the head loss.

Use the Moody Chart for a Reynolds number of 8.4 x 107 and a relative roughness of 0.00008.

Minor Losses Fluid Flow Equation | Minor Loss in Pipe or Duct Components
The losses that occur in pipelines due to bends, elbows, joints, valves, etc. are sometimes called
minor losses. This is a misnomer because in many cases these losses are more important than the
losses due to pipe friction, considered in the preceding section. For all minor losses in turbulent
flow, the head loss varies as the square of the velocity. Thus a convenient method of expressing
the minor losses in flow is by means of a loss coefficient (K).
Values of the loss coefficient (K) for typical situations and fittings is found in standard
handbooks. The form of Darcys equation used to calculate minor losses of individual fluid
system components is expressed by Equation 3-15.

Where:
g = acceleration due to gravity = 32.174 ft/s 2 = 9.806 m/s 2.
hm = head loss due to a fitting and has units of ft or m of fluid. It is the energy loss due to a
fitting per unit weight of fluid.
K = minor loss coefficient for valves, bends, tees, and other fittings - table of minor loss
coefficients.
The minor loss calculation is valid for open channels (including partially full culverts) as well as
closed conduits (circular or non-circular) flowing full. The minor loss calculation does not check
for unreasonable inputs such as negative values. All values should be entered as positive.
Equivalent Piping Length Head Loss Equation Fluids
Minor losses may be expressed in terms of the equivalent length (Leq) of pipe that would have the
same head loss for the same discharge flow rate. This relationship can be found by setting the
two forms of Darcys equation equal to each other.

This yields two relationships that are useful.

Typical values of Leq/D for common piping system components are listed in Table 1. The
equivalent length of piping that will cause the same head loss as a particular component can be
determined by multiplying the value of Leq/D for that component by the diameter of the pipe. The
higher the value of Leq/D, the longer the equivalent length of pipe.

Example:
A fully-open gate valve is in a pipe with a diameter of 10 inches. What equivalent length of pipe
would cause the same head loss as the gate valve?
Solution:
From Table 1, we find that the value of Leq/D for a fully-open gate valve is 10.

By adding the equivalent lengths of all components to the actual length of pipe in a system we
can obtain the Leq value for the entire piping system