A 2inch diameter pipe has been chosen to pass 65 GPM. Can this diameter be used for the suction line? If not , what line diameter should be specified?
To determine if a 2-inch diameter pipe can be used for the suction line, we need to check if it can accommodate the desired flow rate of 65 gallons per minute (GPM). Here's how you can calculate it:
1. Convert the flow rate from gallons per minute (GPM) to cubic feet per second (cfs). One cubic foot is equal to 7.48052 gallons.
Flow Rate (cfs) = Flow Rate (GPM) / (7.48052 gallons/cubic foot / 60 seconds/minute)
For the given flow rate of 65 GPM:
Flow Rate (cfs) = 65 GPM / (7.48052 gallons/cubic foot / 60 seconds/minute)
Flow Rate (cfs) = 0.1374 cfs
2. Calculate the velocity of the fluid in the pipe using the flow rate and pipe diameter. The velocity can be determined using the formula:
Velocity (ft/s) = Flow Rate (cfs) / (Area of the Pipe (square feet))
The area of a pipe can be calculated using the formula:
Area (square feet) = (π * (Diameter/2)^2) / 144
For the 2-inch diameter pipe:
Diameter (inches) = 2 inches = 2/12 feet
Area (square feet) = (π * ((2/12)/2)^2) / 144
Area (square feet) ≈ 0.0219 square feet
Velocity (ft/s) = 0.1374 cfs / 0.0219 square feet
Velocity (ft/s) ≈ 6.28 ft/s
3. Check if the velocity is within the recommended range for a suction line. Generally, the recommended range for a suction line velocity is around 2 to 6 feet per second. In this case, the calculated velocity of 6.28 ft/s is within the recommended range.
Therefore, a 2-inch diameter pipe can be used for the suction line in this scenario.