Hydraulic Loss Coefficients in 1D Flows

Determination of hydraulic losses is a very important problem, both from the cognitive and practical points of view. For the uniform and steady fluid streams these losses are described by the well known algebraic expressions, containing some experimental coefficients. In technical practice it is commonly assumed, that these coefficients can be applied also for more complex kinds of flow (non-uniform and even unsteady). However, the problem analysis shows that the proper level of conformity between the results of calculations and measurements can be obtained only after a considerable enlargement of the loss coefficient. Investigation of available characteristics of non-uniform and unsteady 1D velocity fields, presented in this article, leads to the conclusion that this enlargement is physically justified and in some cases it is possible to determine correction factors, which enable recalculation of "basic" coefficients into their new values, suitable for more complex models of 1D flows.