November / December, 2003
Technical Note
Calculating Pressure Losses in Equipment
Handling
Non-Newtonian Fluids from Manufactures' Data for Water
Determining the pressure loss that occurs over pipeline components (heat
exchangers, strainers, pneumatic vales, etc.) is required to size pumps
and evaluate process performance. Flow patterns are complex so pressure
drop cannot be predicted from fundamental equations B an empirical approach
is needed.
Fortunately, equipment manufactures provide some information describing
the pressure loss for their products. Data are usually given for water,
and plotted as pressure loss (psi or inches of water) versus volumetric
flow rate (gpm). Considering the friction factors for each fluid, one
can make an approximation of the pressure loss that occurs with other
Newtonian fluids (more or less viscous than water), as well as non-Newtonian
fluids.
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