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Engineering ToolBox > Minor Loss in Pipe or Duct Components

Minor loss, pressure or head loss in pipe, tube and duct system components

Losses occur in straight pipes and ducts as major loss and in system components as minor loss. Components as valves, bends, tees add head loss common termed as minor loss to the fluid flow system.

The minor loss can be significant compared to the major loss - in fact when a valve is closed or nearly closed the minor loss is infinite. For an open valve the minor loss may often be neglected (a full bore ball valve).

Minor Loss

Pressure drops and minor loss in components correlates with the dynamic pressure and the minor loss can be expressed as

p_loss = ξ 1/2 ρ v² (1)

or

h_loss = ξ v²/ 2 g (2)

where

ξ = minor loss coefficient

p_loss = pressure loss (Pa (N/m²), psi (lb/ft²))

ρ = density (kg/m³, slugs/ft³)

v = flow velocity (m/s, ft/s)

h_loss = head loss (m, ft)

g = acceleration of gravity (m/s², ft/s²)

The minor loss coefficient - ξ - has values between 0 and 1. For ξ = 0 the minor loss is zero and for ξ = 1 the minor loss is equal to the dynamic pressure or head.

Minor Loss Coefficient

The minor loss coefficient can be expressed as:

ξ = p_loss / (1/2 ρ v²) (3)

or

ξ = h_loss / (v²/ 2 g) (4)

The minor losses in components depends primarily on the geometrical construction of the component and the impact the construction has on the fluid flow due to change in velocity and cross flow fluid accelerations.

The fluid properties - in general expressed with the Reynolds number - also impact the minor loss.

The head loss information about components is given in dimensionless form and the information is based on experiments.

• Minor Loss Coefficient for Piping and Tube Components
• Minor Loss Coefficients for Air Duct Components

Equivalent Length

The minor loss can be converted to a length equivalent to the length of pipe or tube that would give the same pressure or head loss.

Head loss can be expressed as:

h_loss = λ (l_eq / d_h) (v²/ 2 g) (5)

λ = friction coefficient

l_eq = equivalent length of pipe or duct (m, ft)

d_h = hydraulic diameter related to the pipe or tube with the component (m, ft)

Equivalent length can also be expressed as:

l_eq = ξ d_h / λ (6)

The Total Head Loss of the pipe, tube or duct system, is the same as that produced in a straight pipe or duct whose length is equal to the pipes of the original systems - plus the sum of the equivalent lengths of all the components in the system.