Comparing Friction Loss in Steel, Copper and Plastic Pipes
Comparing friction head loss (ft/100 ft) for water flow in steel, copper and PVC plastic pipes
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Due to difference in inside cross sectional area, wet surface and roughness of the surface, there is significant difference in friction head loss in steel, copper and plastic PVC pipes. The difference will vary with the size of pipe and the flow rate.
- The difference will increase with decreased dimensions and increased flow rates
The friction loss in feet of head per 100 feet of Steel pipes Schedule 40, Copper pipes Type L and thermoplastic PVC pipes Schedule 40 are compared below.
- 1 ftH2O/100 ft = 0.44 psi/100ft = 9.8 kPa/100 m = 1000 mmH2O/100 m
| 3 in. | |||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | ||
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
Copper Pipe Type L |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 50 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| 60 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| 70 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| 80 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
| 90 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
| 100 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| 150 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 4.8 |
| 200 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 8.1 |
| 250 | 13.6 | 14.2 | 12.8 |
| 300 | 19.8 | 19.8 | 17.1 |
| 400 | 34.2 | 33.4 | 29.0 |
| 4 in. | |||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | ||
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
Copper Pipe Type L |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 100 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 150 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| 200 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.2 |
| 250 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| 300 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| 400 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 7.8 |
| 5 in. | |||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | ||
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
Copper Pipe Type L |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 150 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
| 200 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| 250 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| 300 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
| 400 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| 500 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 3.9 |
| 6 in. | |||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | ||
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
Copper Pipe Type L |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 150 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| 200 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 250 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| 300 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 400 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| 500 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.6 |
| 750 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| 1000 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| 8 in. | ||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | |
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 150 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| 200 | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| 250 | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| 300 | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| 400 | 0.3 | 0.28 |
| 500 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 750 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| 1000 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| 1250 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| 1500 | 3.5 | 3.2 |
| 2000 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| 10 in. | ||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | |
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 200 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| 250 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| 300 | 0.06 | 0.05 |
| 400 | 0.1 | 0.09 |
| 500 | 0.15 | 0.14 |
| 750 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 1000 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 1250 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 1500 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| 2000 | 1.9 | 1.8 |
| 12 in. | ||
| Flow Rate (gal/min) |
Friction Loss (ft/100 ft) | |
| Steel Pipe Schedule 40 |
PVC Pipe Schedule 40 |
|
| 400 | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| 500 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| 750 | 0.13 | 0.13 |
| 1000 | 0.2 | 0.21 |
| 1250 | 0.3 | 0.32 |
| 1500 | 0.5 | 0.45 |
| 2000 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 3000 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
- The steel and copper calculations are made with the Online Fluid Flow Calculator.
- The PVC pipe calculation are made with the Online Hazens-Williams Calculator with a roughness coefficient c = 145.
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