Understanding Pressure Drop in Pipes: Causes and Solutions

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the phenomenon of pressure drop in pipes, specifically in the context of hydraulic oil flow. It is established that the pressure at any point in the pipe is influenced by the resistances encountered by the fluid, primarily due to friction with the pipe walls. As the fluid travels further down the pipe, the pressure decreases due to the cumulative effect of viscous friction and shear stress at the wall. This understanding is crucial for effectively managing fluid dynamics in piping systems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Fluid dynamics principles
  • Viscous behavior of fluids
  • Shear stress concepts
  • Pipe flow resistance factors
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the Darcy-Weisbach equation for calculating pressure loss in pipes
  • Learn about Reynolds number and its impact on flow regimes
  • Explore the effects of pipe diameter and length on pressure drop
  • Investigate methods for reducing friction losses in piping systems
USEFUL FOR

Engineers, fluid mechanics students, and professionals involved in the design and analysis of piping systems will benefit from this discussion.

Marts12
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Hi There,

I have constantly come across the fact that as fluid (hydraulic oil say) travels along a pipe you will see a continual drop in pressure the further you travel down the pipe. Am I right in saying that the pressure at any point is simply the result of the resistances (friction with pipe walls etc.) the fluid sees ahead of itself and hence the further down the pipe you go there is less resistance ahead and hence the pressure is less.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Marts12 said:
Hi There,

I have constantly come across the fact that as fluid (hydraulic oil say) travels along a pipe you will see a continual drop in pressure the further you travel down the pipe. Am I right in saying that the pressure at any point is simply the result of the resistances (friction with pipe walls etc.) the fluid sees ahead of itself and hence the further down the pipe you go there is less resistance ahead and hence the pressure is less.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Basically, yes. The pressure gradient along the flow direction is the result of the viscous behavior of the fluid, which is sometimes referred to as viscous friction, and is related to the shear stress at the wall.
 
Thank you very much for your quick response
 

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