Does Pipe Diameter Affect Water Flow Rate?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of pipe diameter on water flow rate in a closed circuit system. It establishes that, given two identical circuits with one having a larger diameter pipe, the flow of water will be greater in the circuit with the larger pipe. The critical factor influencing flow rate is not velocity but rather the diameter of the pipe, which affects the overall resistance and pressure dynamics within the system.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of fluid dynamics principles
  • Knowledge of pressure differentials in closed systems
  • Familiarity with the concept of flow rate
  • Basic physics of pumps and hydraulic systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Bernoulli's principle in fluid dynamics
  • Learn about the Darcy-Weisbach equation for calculating pressure loss
  • Explore the effects of pipe diameter on flow rate in various fluids
  • Investigate the role of pump specifications in hydraulic systems
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Engineers, fluid dynamics students, and professionals involved in hydraulic system design and optimization will benefit from this discussion.

vachan
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Consider the following water circuit: water is continually pumped to high pressure by a pump, and then funnelled into a pipe that has lower pressure at its far end (else the water would not flow through the pipe) and back to the pump. Two such circuits are identical, except for one difference: the pipes in one circuit have a larger diameter than the pipes in the other circuit. Through which circuit is the flow of water greater?


Small pipe
Large pipe

If they didnt tell me about the velocity, how am i going to know about this??
 
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I suppose this is homework? They do give you enough information to answer it. Hint: Velocity itself is not the critical issue.
 

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