Problem 1.
Design a water transport system that discharges hot water from a storage
tank by gravity at a rate of 0.007 m 3/s. Assume that total straight pipe length needed is 60
meters (there are vertical and horizontal pipe portions in the system) and there is a need
to for 3 units 90° elbow and 2 gate valves fully opened during the draining operation.
Specify the minimum vertical distance between the discharge point (end of the drain pipe)
and the water surface level in the storage tank.
REQUIRED:
1. Minimum vertical distance between discharge point (point 2) and water surface
level in storage tank (point 1), z=?
ASSUMPTIONS:
1. The temperature of the water is 60˚C.
2. The water is discharged below since it is only discharged by gravity and there
is no pump
3. The storage tank is open to the atmosphere thus the pressure at point 1 is at 1
atm and it is also discharged in the air so the pressure at point 2 is also 1 atm.
SOLUTION:
From Appendix A.2 of Geankoplis, we interpolate values to acquire the density and
viscosity of water in the tank at the given temperature of 60ºC.
ρ = 983.24kg/m3
μ = 0.4688 cp
To determine the optimum pipe diameter, figure 12-3 in Timmerhaus was used since there is no
pipe diameter given to estimate optimum economic pipe diameters.
Using the interpolated density and viscosity,
Di,optimum = 0.086m
Calculating Reynold’s number,
1280 Q̇ ρ 1280 ( 0.007 )( 983.24 )
N ℜ= = =218,515.12
Di , optimum μ ( 0.086 ) ( 0.4688 )
Since NRe >2100, flow is turbulent.
Since the calculated optimum inside diameter is 3.4 in but we will be using the standard
size closest higher inner diameter which is 3.548 in. (90.12 mm) of a 3 ½ in. schedule 40
steel pipe to calculate v2.
In A.5-1 Geankoplis,
the inside cross-sectional area of this pipe is 63.79 x 10-4m2.
Q̇ 0.007 m
v 2= = −4 2
=1.097
A 63.79 x 10 m s
To calculate friction losses, contraction loss, valves and elbows, and along straight pipe are all
considered.
In contraction losses (tank to pipe), α is equal to 1 for turbulent flow, and 20% more of the
average flow is also considered.
For turbulent flow, equation will be used is,
( v 1−v 2)2 (0−1.097)
2
J
h c =0.55 ( 1.2 )2=0.55 ( 1.2 )2=0. 48
2α 2(1) kg
In fitting losses due to gate valves and elbows, Kf = 0.17 and Kf = 0.75 will be used in the
equations as K-values for fully opened gate vales and 90⁰ elbows, respectively and 20% more
of the average flow is also considered
The equation will be used are,
v 22 2 ( 1.097 )
2
J
For 2 fully opened gate valves , hf =2 K f ( 1.2 ) =2 ( 0 , .17 ) ( 1.2 )2=0.30
2 2 kg
2 2
v2 ( 1.097 ) J
For 3 fully opened gate valves , h f =3 K f ( 1.2 )2=3 ( 0. 75 ) ( 1.2 )2=1. 94
2 2 kg
In friction losses along straight pipe, ϵ = 4.6x10 - 5 (from Fig 2-10.3) will be used as
equivalent roughness for steel pipes.
The relative roughness is then calculated,
−5
ϵ 4.6 x 10 −4
= =5.104 x 10
D 1
90.12( )
1000
Recalculating the Reynolds number using the standard inside diameter,
D v 2 ρ ( 0.09012 )( 1.097 ) ( 983.24 )
N ℜ= = =207,347.95
μ 0.4688 x 10−3
Using the recalculated Reynolds number and the calculated relative roughness, the fanning
friction factor will be then estimated from Fig. 2.10-3.
f = 0.0042
Thus, using equation 2.10-6,
∆ L v 22 ( 60 ) ( 1.097 )
2
J
F f =4 f =4 ( 0.0042 ) =6.73
2D 2 ( 0.09012 ) kg
Accounting 20% more of the average flow,
J J
F f =6.73 ( 1.2 )2 =9.69
kg kg
Total Frictional losses will be,
J J J J J
∑ F=0.48 kg +0.30 kg +1.94 kg +9.69 kg =12.41 kg
To calculate the distance between discharge point and water surface level in storage tank,
mechanical energy balance equation 2.7-28 will be used,
1
¿
2α
There is no shaft work since it is only discharged by gravity, hence no pump needed. There are
no pressure difference as well. The modified equation will be used is,
1
( z 2−z 1 )= 2 α ¿ ¿
