Equivalent Length (Piping)
Equivalent Length (Piping)
(OP)
I am not a Mechanical guy. However, I was wondering if someone can explain the concept of equivalent length in piping for an outsider. Thanks.
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Equivalent Length (Piping)
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RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
You did not give us anything as background to go on so I am just taking a shot in the dark.
a. Straight pipe will cause a flowing fluid or gas to have a pressure drop per lineal measure (feet or meter) due to friction.
b. A fitting such as an elbow (of the same material, size and wall schedule as the pipe) will have a pressure drop greater than the pipe due to the shape. This pressure drop is expressed in "Equivalent Lengths of pipe"
c. A valve will also have a pressure drop greater than the pipe due to the configuration of the valve internals. This pressure drop is also expressed in "Equivalent Lengths of pipe"
d. Google "Pressure drop in piping systems" and spend some time studying what you find there.
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
The reason to express the pressure drop in "equivalent feet of pipe" is so that the piping system designer can ensure that all components will work together and you can get the fluid moved from Point A to Point B.
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
http://www.cheresources.com/eqlength.shtml
and also to this thread (particular care to respectful member Katmar's comments).
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=173164
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
in addition careful thought must be applied as tables etc tend to oversize pipework, useage must be researched as infrequenbt use can lead to Legionella as hot and cold water systems are the main causes as air conditioning systems have this issue controlled due to maintenance regimes.
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
I'll leave those reasons for the OP to determine.
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
Equivalent lengths makes it easier to determine system pressure changes in those cases where, for instance, viscosity changes as temperatures rise. You could simply redo one calculation using an equivalent length of the system, rather than determine a new viscosity, recalculate pressure drops in each flow element and sum all the individual drops.
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)
RE: Equivalent Length (Piping)