Table of Contents
What is the meaning of friction loss?
The head, pressure, or energy (they are the same) lost by water flowing in a pipe or channel as a result of turbulence caused by the velocity of the flowing water and the roughness of the pipe, channel walls, or restrictions caused by fittings.
Why is friction loss in pipes important?
Frictional loss in pipe per 100′ is a key determinant in properly sizing a piping system. In order to compensate, engineers will compensate for friction that can decrease pipe pressure and disrupt fluid flow by upsizing the piping systems or increasing the flow velocities in design.
How does friction loss affect a water supply?
The pressure of water flowing through a pipe is reduced due to the friction of the sidewall. This pressure reduction can affect the operation of a sprinkler system. Friction loss is also affected by the roughness of the inner surface of the pipe. This roughness causes more turbulence.
What is the friction loss formula?
Consider the equation: FL = c × (gpm/100)2 × L/100. The “c” term is the so-called friction loss factor and measures the pressure loss per 100 feet. This is multiplied by the square of the volume flow (gpm) and hose length (L) to get total friction loss.
What is frictional loss in fluid dynamics?
The term friction loss (or frictional loss) has a number of different meanings, depending on its context. In fluid flow it is the head loss that occurs in a containment such as a pipe or duct due to the effect of the fluid’s viscosity near the surface of the containment.
How does friction loss affect pressure?
Friction loss is the energy lost due to friction when two objects move in relationship to one another. As water travels through the pipes of a water system, friction causes the pressure to drop so that the pressure at the outlet is always lower than the pressure at the inlet (if the pipe system is level).
How can friction loss be overcome?
Solutions for Friction Loss
- Reduce interior surface roughness of the piping system.
- Increase pipe diameter of the piping system.
- Minimize length of piping system.
- Minimize the number of elbows, tees, valves, fittings, and other obstructions in the piping system; replace 90 degree turns with gentle bends.
How does pipe friction affect water flow?
When a liquid or gas flows along a pipe, friction between the pipe wall and the liquid or gas causes a pressure or head loss. This pressure or head loss is an irreversible loss of the fluids potential energy. For a standard circular pipe the hydraulic diameter is the same as the actual pipe diameter.