Pipe hydraulics · Darcy–Weisbach

Pipe velocity & pressure-loss calculator

Use the actual internal diameter—not nominal pipe size—to see velocity, Reynolds number, friction factor and the pressure the pump must spend on pipe and fittings.

Pump and transparent pipeline showing velocity and pressure loss
1 · Pipe and flow
2 · Fluid and pipe

Pipe duty

Turbulent flow

Darcy–Weisbach
Water velocity0.63m/s2.06 ft/s · Re 25,839
Pipe + fitting head loss1.32 mf = .0242
Friction pressure loss.129 bar12.9 kPa
Total pump head contribution1.32 mfriction + entered static elevation

Interpretation:

Why internal diameter matters

A small bore change has a large energy consequence.

Velocity rises with inverse area, and friction rises roughly with velocity squared. Pipe schedule, liner and scale can therefore matter more than the nominal size printed on the pipe. Turbulent friction uses the Haaland approximation.

v = Q ÷ (πD²/4)Re = vD ÷ kinematic viscosityh = [f(L/D) + ΣK] × v² ÷ 2gΔP = ρgh

Pump-curve handoff

This is one part of total dynamic head.

  1. Add equipment losses at their actual flows.
  2. Add required terminal pressure and elevation.
  3. Plot the system curve against the pump curve.
  4. Check minimum/maximum flow, NPSH and valve states.

Check the assumptions

Method and primary references

The equations are shown so the result can be checked. Product data and site conditions still govern final selection.

From answer to equipment

Bring the duty point, not just a product name.

Watermart can check the calculation against the actual water analysis, pressure, valve, pump and installation constraints.

Discuss this calculation

Educational preliminary calculation—not a stamped design, quotation, or treatment-performance guarantee.

WhatsApp