Increasing pipe size and then decreasing

In summary, increasing pipe size followed by a decrease can lead to changes in fluid dynamics, affecting flow rates, pressure drops, and overall system efficiency. This approach may be utilized in engineering designs to manage varying flow conditions and optimize performance in piping systems. Proper analysis is essential to ensure that the transitions are smooth and do not cause turbulence or flow disruptions.
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dadthedestroyer
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Seen many videos on YouTube of a guy who increases the size of a pipe and then he decreases it back to the original. It seems like the water is flowing faster or he’s getting increased pressure per se. How does this work does the pipe is a tank and explanation would be nice.
Seen a lot of videos of a guy increasing and decreasing the pipe size on YouTube and changing the flow of water or the pressure. It seems an explanation of how this works would be nice. I understand a little bit about flowing pressure. Is there any other things that involved in this?
 
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A link to an example video would be helpful.

Pressure and cross-sectional area are factors, as well as the viscocity of the liquid and the inner surface of the pipe.
 
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dadthedestroyer said:
Seen a lot of videos of a guy increasing and decreasing the pipe size on YouTube and changing the flow of water or the pressure. It seems an explanation of how this works would be nice. I understand a little bit about flowing pressure. Is there any other things that involved in this?
Welcome! :smile:

Pumps increase the internal energy of a mass of water, while friction decreases it.
That internal energy of the moving mass of water manifests itself in three forms: flow velocity, internal pressure or height.

For a short run of pipe, we can consider that the energy inside the flow remains constant along the pipe.
Because of that, the summation of those three forms of energy must remain the same.

For smaller diameters of a horizontal pipe, the velocity increases, but the internal pressure decreases, and vice-verse.

Please, see:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-osuniversityphysics/chapter/14-6-bernoullis-equation/
 

FAQ: Increasing pipe size and then decreasing

Why would you increase the pipe size and then decrease it?

Increasing and then decreasing pipe size is often done to manage pressure, flow rate, and velocity within a fluid system. This can be necessary to accommodate various design constraints, optimize system performance, or to ensure compatibility with different sections of a pipeline network.

How does changing pipe size affect fluid pressure?

When the pipe size increases, the fluid pressure typically decreases due to a reduction in velocity, as described by the Bernoulli principle. Conversely, when the pipe size decreases, the fluid pressure can increase if the velocity of the fluid increases. However, this is also influenced by factors such as friction, turbulence, and pipe length.

What are the potential risks associated with increasing and then decreasing pipe size?

Potential risks include pressure surges, flow disturbances, and increased wear and tear on the pipe and fittings. These changes can also lead to cavitation, noise, and vibration, which may damage the system or reduce its efficiency. Proper design and analysis are crucial to mitigate these risks.

How does pipe size change impact flow rate?

The flow rate is governed by the continuity equation, which states that the mass flow rate must remain constant. Increasing the pipe size decreases the velocity, and decreasing the pipe size increases the velocity, assuming constant flow rate. However, significant changes in pipe diameter can also introduce head losses due to friction and turbulence, which can affect the overall flow rate.

What considerations should be made when designing a system with varying pipe sizes?

Several factors should be considered, including the type of fluid, flow rate, pressure requirements, and the physical properties of the pipe material. Engineers also need to account for potential pressure drops, thermal expansion, and contraction, as well as ensuring that fittings and joints are compatible with the varying pipe sizes. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and other analytical tools are often used to optimize such designs.

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