Plastic Pipes - Friction Head Loss vs. Water Flow
The friction head loss (feet H2O per 100 feet pipe) in straight plastic pipes made of PVC, PP, PE, PEH or similar - can be estimated from the table below.
Head losses are calculated for PVC pipe Schedule 40 by using the Hazen-Williams equation and the Hazen-Williams roughness constant c = 145. Note that minor loss in fittings must be added when calculating total head loss in a pipe line.
For full table with larger dimensions - rotate the screen!
| Friction Head Loss (ft H2O/100 ft pipe) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume Flow | Nominal Pipe Diameter (inches) | |||||||||||
| (GPM)1) | (GPH)2) | |||||||||||
| 3/8 | 1/2 | 3/4 | 1 | 1 1/4 | 1 1/2 | 2 | 2 1/2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| Nominal Inside Diameter (inches) | ||||||||||||
| 0.493 | 0.622 | 0.824 | 1.049 | 1.380 | 1.610 | 2.067 | 2.469 | 3.068 | 4.026 | 6.065 | ||
| 1 | 60 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 120 | 11.8 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | ||||||
| 4 | 240 | 42.5 | 13.7 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | |||||
| 5 | 300 | 64.2 | 20.7 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | |||||
| 6 | 360 | 29.0 | 7.4 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | ||||||
| 8 | 480 | 49.5 | 12.6 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | |||||
| 10 | 600 | 74.7 | 19.0 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | ||||
| 20 | 1200 | 68.6 | 21.2 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | ||||
| 30 | 1800 | 11.8 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | ||||||
| 40 | 2400 | 20.1 | 9.5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | |||||
| 50 | 3000 | 14.4 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | ||||||
| 60 | 3600 | 20.1 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | ||||||
| 70 | 4200 | 7.9 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | |||||||
| 80 | 4800 | 10.2 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | |||||||
| 90 | 5400 | 12.6 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.5 | |||||||
| 100 | 6000 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | |||||||
| 125 | 7500 | 9.8 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | |||||||
| 150 | 9000 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | ||||||||
1) GPM = US gallons per minute
2) GPH = US gallons per hour
- 1 US gallon/min = 6.30888x10-5 m3/s = 0.227 m3/h = 0.0631 dm3(liter)/s = 2.228x10-3 ft3/s = 0.1337 ft3/min = 0.8327 Imperial gal (UK)/min
- 1 ft H2O = 0.3048 m H2O = 0.4335 psi = 62.43 lbs/ft2
Example - Friction Head Loss in a Plastic Pipe
A flow of 10 GPM in a 2" pipe gives a head loss of 0.2 feet water column per 100 feet of pipe.
Related Topics
• Fluid Flow and Pressure Loss
Pipe lines - fluid flow and pressure loss - water, sewer, steel pipes, pvc pipes, copper tubes and more.
Related Documents
ASTM D1785 and ASTM F441 - PVC and CPVC Pipes Schedule 40 & 80
Standard dimensions and weight of PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride - and CPVC - Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride.
ASTM D2241 - Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Pressure-Rated Pipe (SDR Series) - Dimensions
Dimensions of PVC pipe SDR series.
ASTM D2846 - CPVC Plastic Hot and Cold Water Distribution Tubes - Dimensions
Dimensions of CTS - Copper Tube Sized CPVC (Chlorinated Poly Vinyl Chloride) tubes.
ASTM F2389 Pressure-rated Polypropylene (PP) - Dimensions
Dimensions of pressure rated PP pipes according ASTM F2389.
ASTM F876 - PEX Tube - Dimensions
Dimensions of PEX tubes.
BS 7291 - Thermoplastics Pipes for Hot and Cold Water - Dimensions
Dimensions of thermoplastic pipes - PEX and PB according BS 7291.
CPVC Pipes - Operating and Collapsing Pressures vs. Schedule and Size
Maximum operating and bursting pressures of CPVC - Chlorinated Poly (Vinyl Chloride) - piping systems.
Fluid Flow Friction Loss - Hazen-Williams Coefficients
Hazen-Williams friction loss coefficients for commonly used piping materials.
Hazen-Williams Friction Loss Equation - calculating Head Loss in Water Pipes
Friction head loss (ftH2O per 100 ft pipe) in water pipes can be estimated with the empirical Hazen-Williams equation.
Hot Water Systems - Equivalent Length vs. Fittings Resistance
Equivalent length of fittings like bends, returns, tees and valves in hot water heating systems - equivalent length in feet and meter.
ISO 11922 - Thermoplastics Pipes for the Conveyance of Fluids - Dimensions
Dimensions of plastic pipes according ISO 11922 - metric and imperial units.
Lined Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow
Pressure drop diagrams for PTFE, PP, PFA and PVDF lined pipes.
PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow
Water flow in SDR pressure rated PE-pipes - pressure loss and velocities - Imperial and SI units.
PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Ratings vs. Size
Water pressure ratings for schedule 40 and schedule 80 Polyethylene plastic pipes
PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure vs. Temperature Ratings
Polyethylene pipe temperature and maximum operating pressure.
Plastic Pipes - Maximum Operating Temperatures
Piping materials like ABS, PE, PVC, CPVC, PB, PP and SR and pressure and operating temperature limits.
Plastics - Recycling Codes and Labeling
Symbol codes and labeling used for recycling plastic products like bottles, containers and packagin.
PP - PolyPropylene Pipes - Support Spacing
Maximum distance between PolyPropylene pipes supports.
PP Polypropylene - Chemical Resistance
Chemical resistance of Polypropylene - PP - to acids, bases, organic substances and solvents.
PVC Pipes - Equivalent Length and Pressure Loss in Fittings
Minor loss in PVC and CPVC fittings expressed as equivalent length of straight pipe.
PVC Pipes Schedule 40 - Friction Loss vs. Water Flow
Water flow in thermoplastic PVC and CPVC pipes Schedule 40 - friction loss (ft/100 ft, psi/100 ft) and flow velocities at dimensions ranging 1/2 to 16 inches.
PVC Pipes Schedule 40 - Friction Loss vs. Water Flow Diagrams
Friction loss (psi/100 ft) and velocity for water flow in plastic PVC pipe schedule 40.
SDR (Standard Dimension Ratio) and S Pipe Series
The Standard Dimension Ratio - SDR - is used to rate pressure pipes.
Thermoplastic Pipes - Supporting Distances vs. Temperature
Maximum space between supports for PVC, CPVC, PVDF and PP pipes vs. temperature.