Major Losses in Pipes and Ducts — Lesson 3

Industrial plants can require the movement of fluids for extremely long distances through pipes. This can be seen, for example, in salt water reverse osmosis plants, oil refineries and the long piping systems that transport gas through states or continents (even underwater).

In all these cases, the frictional effects generated by the interaction of fluids and solid walls leads to pressure losses. Hence, pumping systems are needed to keep the fluid moving. In this lesson we will analyze how to estimate the pressure loss in straight pipes due to major losses, so that we can properly design our piping system to deliver the fluid with the expected mass flow rate.

Alternate video link.

Here are the accompanying handout slides for this lesson.