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Table of Contents

Hydraulic System Applications

What is Pressure Head or Static Head

In hydraulic systems, pressure head describes the total energy of a system by relating it to the height of a liquid column that would be produced if the system was static [1].

To further explain, this means all the energy was transferred into static pressure that goes into creating the liquid column.



Pressure head depicted using the power levels of different pumps [2]



Losses in Pipes

Major vs Minor Head Loss

Imperfections in pipe systems lead to an energy loss called head loss. There are two main types:

  1. Minor Losses: occur due to interruptions in the pipe’s flow such as:
    1. bends and other fittings
    2. expansions or contractions
    3. pipe entrances or exits
    4. valves [3]
  2. Major Losses: occur due to friction between the fluid and the wall of the pipe [4]


Illustration of lost potential due to head loss [5]



References

[1]

N. Connor, "What is Pressure Head – Definition," Thermal Engineering , 22 May 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.thermal-engineering.org/what-is-pressure-head-definition/. [Accessed 30 July 2021].

[2]

Tec Science, "Pressure Head and Head Loss," 17 July 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.tec-science.com/mechanics/gases-and-liquids/pressure-head-and-head-loss/. [Accessed 30 July 2021].

[3]

F. M. White, "6.9: Minor or Local Losses in Pipe Systems," in Fluid Mechanics Eight Edition, New York, McGraw-Hill Education, 2016, p. 380.

[4]N. Connor, "What is Classification of Head Loss – Definition," Thermal Engineering , 22 May 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.thermal-engineering.org/what-is-classification-of-head-loss-definition/. [Accessed 30 July 2021].

[5]

J. Fuchs, "Pumps - Pump Performance Curves," Cleaning Technologies Group, 5 March 2012. [Online]. Available: https://techblog.ctgclean.com/2012/03/pumps-pump-performance-curves/. [Accessed 30 July 2021].

Contributors

Contributors Summary
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Faculty advisors: Jean-Pierre Hickey