Force Calculations acting on a 90 degree elbow

Question

Force Calculations acting on a 90 degree elbow

visitor (Aeronautics)

(OP)

11 Mar 00 11:11

Will somebody help me how to calculate the amount of force and internal pressure acting on a 90 degree elbow located 2 ft. from a ball valve? The piping system is a by pass line of a high pressure loop. The line before the ball valve is @ 1,000 psi, 40 ft. total distance,4" dia. 316 SS sch 80 pipe conveying water at 80 deg. F at velocity of 15 ft./sec. and discharges to atmospheric pressure. The elbow as stated is located 2 ft. downstream of the ball valve. Any help on formula to be used or reference on the subject is highly appreciated.

ghillis (Mechanical) · Answer 1 · 2000-03-20 19:02:38

This sounds like a classic water cannon problem (as used by fire departments). you must first determine what your flow really is, if you have 1000 psi, before the valve and it is not throttling the flow, then your velocity will be much higher than 15 fps. If the velocity is constant at 15 fps this is an impulse (mass rate*velocity) problem that you can look up in any engineering handbook.

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Force Calculations acting on a 90 degree elbow