Parallel Pipeline: Pressure Flow Direction?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Domagoj
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Parallel
Click For Summary
In a parallel pipeline system, water will flow from the main pipe at 100 psi toward the three branching pipes, each at 50 psi. The pressure difference indicates that water will accelerate from the higher pressure in the main pipe to the lower pressure in the branches. Since the three pipes do not reconnect, the flow direction remains consistent toward the branches. The principle of fluid dynamics confirms that water moves from high to low pressure in horizontal pipes. Therefore, the water will flow into the three additional pipes.
Domagoj
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
If we have a main pipe and it branches to 3 new pipes, but those 3 pipes don't connect back. Let's say that the pressure in the main pipe is 100psi (water wants to move to the right through 3 additional pipes) and the pressure at the end of each of three other pipes is 50 psi (water wants to go to the left toward the main pipe). Can we know which way the water will flow?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In horizontal pipes (i.e. ignoring gravity), water will accelerate from a high pressure region toward a low pressure region.
 

Thread 'Does acceleration affect impact energy vs constant velocity?'

I do not have a good working knowledge of physics yet. I tried to piece this together but after researching this, I couldn’t figure out the correct laws of physics to combine to develop a formula to answer this question. Ex. 1 - A moving object impacts a static object at a constant velocity. Ex. 2 - A moving object impacts a static object at the same velocity but is accelerating at the moment of impact. Assuming the mass of the objects is the same and the velocity at the moment of impact...
View full post »

Similar threads

Fluid Mechanics - Need Help on a Water Pipeline Project
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Bernoulli equation and parallel pipe branch
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
4K
Undergrad Compressed air Pushing a Column of Water
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
How do we model water flow problems?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Question about fluid flowing into branching pipes
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
I am grappling with a gravity fed water system and have questions
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
8K
Pressure in a 2" pipe branching into four 1" pipes
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Solar Still: Factors to Consider
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Underground pump vault airflow considerations
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
As much steam as possible from engine exhaust gas + warm water?
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
4K