Impact of Pipe Length on Discharge and Headloss in PVC Water Pipe Installations

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the implications of pipe length on water discharge and headloss in clean water pipe installations in Klampok hamlet, Indonesia. Three residential houses were selected as research sites, each equipped with a 2-inch diameter PVC type pipe and a water pump with a power of 3.6 housepower. The goal was to measure the water discharge, major and minor headloss, and the flow pattern within these pipe installations. Results revealed a water pump discharge to the reservoir of 0.004 m3/s, while the reservoir water discharge designated to supply residents’ houses was 0.0026 m3/s. Further, the study uncovered that headloss value was inversely proportional to pipe length, with a maximum major headloss value of 1.764 m at 17 m and a minimum of 1.038 m at 10 m, similarly mirrored in minor headloss values. Finally, the flow pattern within the pipe, irrespective of its length, was found to be turbulent, as deduced from the Reynolds number (Re=165,780 > 4,000). These findings underscore the role of pipe length in dictating energy loss and water discharge rates, offering key insights for the design and installation of efficient water supply systems.