Pipe friction & head loss worksheet with answers

Free printable Pipe friction & head loss worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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1.Easy
V = 2.5 m/sD = 25 mmρ = 850 kg/m³, μ = 0.005 Pa·s

Light fuel oil (ρ = 850 kg/m³, μ = 0.005 Pa·s) flows at 2.5 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 25 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 850 kg/m³μ = 0.005 Pa·sV = 2.5 m/sD = 25 mm
Re =
2.Easy
V = 0.5 m/sD = 75 mmρ = 850 kg/m³, μ = 0.005 Pa·s

Light fuel oil (ρ = 850 kg/m³, μ = 0.005 Pa·s) flows at 0.5 m/s through a pipe with an inside diameter of 75 mm. Find the Reynolds number Re.

ρ = 850 kg/m³μ = 0.005 Pa·sV = 0.5 m/sD = 75 mm
Re =
3.Medium
V = 2.3 m/sD = 250 mmL = 800 mf = 0.03

Water (ρ = 1000 kg/m³) flows at 2.3 m/s through a horizontal pipe, 800 m long, with an inside diameter of 250 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.03 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the pressure drop Δp over the pipe in kPa.

V = 2.3 m/sL = 800 mD = 250 mmf = 0.03ρ = 1000 kg/m³
Δp = kPa
4.Medium
V = 1.6 m/sD = 300 mmL = 500 mf = 0.028

Water flows at a mean velocity of 1.6 m/s through a pipe 500 m long with an inside diameter of 300 mm. Use the Darcy friction factor f = 0.028 and g = 9.81 m/s². Find the friction head loss hf.

V = 1.6 m/sL = 500 mD = 300 mmf = 0.028g = 9.81 m/s²
hf = m
5.Hard
K = 10Δz = 5 mL = 300 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.0183× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 300 m long with an inside diameter of 250 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.018. The water surface of the upper reservoir is 5 m above that of the lower one. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 3 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 10) and the exit into the lower reservoir (K = 1.0). Use g = 9.81 m/s². Find the flow rate Q in L/s.

Δz = 5 mL = 300 mD = 250 mmf = 0.018Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×3)Kvalve = 10Kexit = 1.0
Q = L/s
6.Hard
K = 0.2Δz = ?L = 100 m, D = 250 mm, f = 0.0222× bend (K = 0.3)

Two open reservoirs are joined by a pipe 100 m long with an inside diameter of 250 mm and a Darcy friction factor f = 0.022. The minor losses are a square-edged entrance (K = 0.5), 2 bends (K = 0.3 each), a valve (K = 0.2) and the exit into the lower reservoir (K = 1.0). Use g = 9.81 m/s². What difference in water level Δz between the reservoirs gives a flow rate of 150 L/s?

Q = 150 L/sL = 100 mD = 250 mmf = 0.022Kentrance = 0.5Kbend = 0.3 (×2)Kvalve = 0.2Kexit = 1.0
Δz = m

Answer key

  1. 1. Re = 10625
  2. 2. Re = 6375
  3. 3. Δp = 253.9 kPa
  4. 4. hf = 6.089 m
  5. 5. Q = 83.38 L/s
  6. 6. Δz = 5.283 m

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