Minor Loss in Pipe or Duct Components
Minor loss, pressure or head loss in pipe, tube and duct system components
Sponsored Links
Losses occur in straight pipes and ducts as major loss and in system components as minor loss. Components as valves, bends, tees add head loss common termed as minor loss to the fluid flow system.
The minor loss can be significant compared to the major loss - in fact when a valve is closed or nearly closed the minor loss is infinite. For an open valve the minor loss may often be neglected (a full bore ball valve).
Minor Loss
Pressure drops and minor loss in components correlates with the dynamic pressure and the minor loss can be expressed as
ploss = ξ 1/2 ρ v2 (1)
or
hloss = ξ v2/ 2 g (2)
where
ξ = minor loss coefficient
ploss = pressure loss (Pa (N/m2), psi (lb/ft2))
ρ = density (kg/m3, slugs/ft3)
v = flow velocity (m/s, ft/s)
hloss = head loss (m, ft)
g = acceleration of gravity (m/s2, ft/s2)
The minor loss coefficient - ξ - ranges values from 0 and upwards. For ξ = 0 the minor loss is zero and for ξ = 1 the minor loss is equal to the dynamic pressure or head. The minor loss coefficient can also be greater than 1 for some components.
Minor Loss Coefficient
The minor loss coefficient can be expressed as:
ξ = ploss / (1/2 ρ v2) (3)
or
ξ = hloss / (v2/ 2 g) (4)
The minor losses in components depends primarily on the geometrical construction of the component and the impact the construction has on the fluid flow due to change in velocity and cross flow fluid accelerations.
The fluid properties - in general expressed with the Reynolds number - also impact the minor loss.
The head loss information about components is given in dimensionless form and the information is based on experiments.
- Minor Loss Coefficient for Piping and Tube Components
- Minor Loss Coefficients for Air Duct Components
Equivalent Length
The minor loss can be converted to a length equivalent to the length of pipe or tube that would give the same pressure or head loss.
Head loss can be expressed as:
hloss = λ (leq / dh) (v2/ 2 g) (5)
leq = equivalent length of pipe or duct (m, ft)
dh = hydraulic diameter related to the pipe or tube with the component (m, ft)
Equivalent length can also be expressed as:
leq = ξ dh / λ (6)
The Total Head Loss of the pipe, tube or duct system, is the same as that produced in a straight pipe or duct whose length is equal to the pipes of the original systems - plus the sum of the equivalent lengths of all the components in the system.
Sponsored Links
Related Topics
- Fluid Flow and Pressure Drop - Pipe lines - fluid flow and pressure loss - water, sewer, steel pipes, pvc pipes, copper tubes and more
- Fluid Mechanics - The study of fluids - liquids and gases. Involves various properties of the fluid, such as velocity, pressure, density and temperature, as functions of space and time.
Sponsored Links
Related Documents
- Air Ducts Friction Loss Diagram - Major loss diagram air ducts - SI units
- Air Ducts Minor Loss Coefficient Diagrams - Minor loss coefficient diagrams for air ductwork, bends, expansions, inlets and outlets - SI units
- Air Flow and Velocities due to Natural Draft - Air flow - volume and velocity - due to stack or flue effect caused by indoor hot and outdoor cold temperature difference
- Hydraulic Diameter - Hydraulic diameter of ducts and tubes
- Minor Loss Coefficients for Air Duct Components - Minor loss - pressure or head loss - coefficients for air duct distribution systems components
- Minor Loss Coefficients in Pipes and Tubes Components - Minor loss coefficients for common used components in pipe and tube systems
- Total Pressure or Head Loss in Pipe or Duct Systems - Major and minor loss in pipe, tubes and duct systems
- Water Flow and Velocity Head in Schedule 40 Steel Pipes - Velocity head is used to calculate minor pressure or head loss in fluid flow systems
