Hydraulic Calculator
This is a simplified demonstration. The full platform will include comprehensive hydraulic modeling capabilities including slurry transport calculations.
Overview
Hydraulic grade lines are a helpful visual tool for designing pipelines. They represent the energy available within the pipeline system, specifically focusing on pressure and elevation. These lines are similar to those used for water pipelines, but they account for the specific properties of the transported material, such as slurry. Unlike a full energy line that includes velocity head, hydraulic grade lines typically omit this component because it's usually insignificant compared to pressure and elevation. This simplification makes the visualization and analysis easier.
Key Points
The hydraulic grade line provides several important insights into the pipeline's behaviour. The difference in the hydraulic grade line at the pump indicates the total head added by the pump, approximating the actual energy input. The slope of the line directly corresponds to the energy lost due to friction within the pipeline. This loss is expressed as the head loss per unit length of the pipeline. Furthermore, the vertical distance between the hydraulic grade line and the physical pipeline elevation represents the pressure head available at that point.
Here is a summary of the key points:
- Total Pump Head: The difference between the hydraulic grade line levels at the pump approximates the total pump head
- Hydraulic Grade Line Slope: This slope equals the pipeline friction losses (meters of slurry per meter of pipeline).
- Pressure Calculation: Pressure is calculated by multiplying the hydraulic head by the slurry density and gravity
- Negative Pressure and Cavitation: If the hydraulic grade line is below the pipeline, it indicates negative pressure, potentially leading to cavitation and damage.
- Terrain Clearance: The vertical distance between the hydraulic grade line and the pipeline is the terrain clearance.
- Pipe Pressure Rating: The pipe's pressure capacity is indicated by the Maximum Allowable Operating Head (MAOH). This is measured in meters of head of the fluid being conveyed, accounting for the fluid's density, and is relative to the pipeline's elevation. Therefore, the MAOH line follows the pipeline's profile. The vertical distance between the Hydraulic Grade Line (HGL) and the MAOH line represents the safety margin for the pipe's pressure. Note: The MAOH line is not shown in the diagram above, but will be included once HLM Hydraulics is offically launched.