Pipeline Pressure Drop Calculator
Calculate pressure drop in pipelines using Darcy-Weisbach equation
Input Parameters
Enter pipeline and fluid properties
Typical Pipe Roughness Values
- Commercial Steel: 0.0018 in
- New Steel Pipe: 0.001 in
- Corroded Steel: 0.02-0.05 in
- HDPE/Plastic: 0.00006 in
- Fiberglass: 0.00008 in
Results
Enter parameters and click Calculate
Formula Reference
Darcy-Weisbach Equation
dP = f * (L/D) * (rho * V^2) / 2
Where:
dP = Pressure drop (Pa)
f = Darcy friction factor (dimensionless)
L = Pipe length (m)
D = Pipe inner diameter (m)
rho = Fluid density (kg/m3)
V = Flow velocity (m/s)
Reynolds Number
Re = (rho * V * D) / mu = (D * V) / nu
Where:
Re = Reynolds number (dimensionless)
mu = Dynamic viscosity (Pa.s)
nu = Kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
Flow Regimes:
Re < 2300: Laminar flow
2300 < Re < 4000: Transition
Re > 4000: Turbulent flow
Friction Factor Correlations
Laminar Flow (Re < 2300):
f = 64 / Re
Turbulent Flow - Colebrook-White (implicit):
1/sqrt(f) = -2*log10(e/(3.7*D) + 2.51/(Re*sqrt(f)))
Turbulent Flow - Swamee-Jain (explicit):
f = 0.25 / [log10(e/(3.7*D) + 5.74/Re^0.9)]^2
Common Pipeline Sizes
| Nominal Size | Schedule 40 ID | Schedule 80 ID | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4" | 4.026" | 3.826" | Gathering lines |
| 6" | 6.065" | 5.761" | Field pipelines |
| 8" | 7.981" | 7.625" | Trunk lines |
| 12" | 11.938" | 11.374" | Main lines |
| 16" | 15.000" | 14.312" | Major pipelines |