Monthly Archives: January 2015

Flow Through Non Circular Ducts Spreadsheet

Posted on by
Reply

Where to Find a Spreadsheet for Flow Through Non Circular Ducts

To obtain a spreadsheet for  flow through non circular ducts, click here to visit our spreadsheet store.  Intended for use in calculating flow rate or frictional head loss and frictional pressure drop, you can buy a convenient spreadsheet for  flow through non circular ducts calculations for a very reasonable price.  This spreadsheet makes calculations with the Hagen Poiseuille equation for laminar flow and with the Moody friction factor and the Darcy Weisbach equation for turbulent flow for flow through an annulus and for flow through a rectangular duct.  Turbulent flow calculations can be made for a general non-circular duct with known cross-sectional area and wetted perimeter.  It is available in either U.S. or S.I. units.  Read on for information about a spreadsheet for flow through a non circular duct calculations.

Turbulent Flow Through Non Circular Ducts

The Moody friction factor is used in the Darcy Weisbach equation for turbulent flow through non circular ducts.  The Darcy Weisbach equation is:

Flow Through Non Circular Ducts Equation

Where the hydraulic diameter is used for D in the Darcy Weisbach equation for flow through non circular ducts.  For further discussion of the Moody friction factor and its use in the Darcy Weisbach equation for pipe flow calculations, see the post, “Pipe Flow-Friction Factor Calculations with Excel Spreadsheets.”

Laminar Flow Through Non Circular Ducts

For laminar flow in an annulus or laminar flow in a rectangular duct, the Hagen Poiseuille equation should be used.  For flow through an annulus, it is:

Flow Through Non Circular Ducts Laminar Equations

Hagen Poiseiulle equations for laminar flow through an annulus

 

 Example Spreadsheet for Flow Through Non Circular Ducts

A spreadsheet for flow through non circular ducts calculations is partially shown in the image below.  This Excel spreadsheet can be used to calculate the frictional pressure drop and head loss or flow rate for flow through an annulus (laminar or turbulent flow), flow through a rectangular duct (laminar or turbulent flow) or flow through a general non circular duct (turbulent flow only).  This Excel spreadsheet, as well as others for pipe flow calculations, is available in either U.S. or S.I. units for a very reasonable price in our spreadsheet store.

Flow Through Non Circular Ducts - Annulus

 Reference:

1. Bengtson, Harlan, “Pressure Drop in a Non Circular Duct”, an online blog article

Hydraulic Grade Line – Energy Grade Line Calculator Spreadsheet

Posted on by
Reply

Where to Find a Hydraulic Grade Line – Energy Grade Line Calculator Spreadsheet

To obtain a  hydraulic grade line – energy grade line calculator spreadsheet for calculating and plotting HGL and EGL, click here to visit our spreadsheet store.  Intended for use in calculating and plotting HGL and EGL for up to 10 points of stormwater flow along a storm sewer line, you can buy a convenient spreadsheet to make HGL and EGL calculations and plots for a very reasonable price.  This spreadsheet is available in either U.S. or S.I. units.  Read on for information about a storm sewer hydraulic grade line – energy grade line calculator spreadsheet.

Equations for Hydraulic Grade Line and Energy Grade Line

The equations for the Hydraulic Grade Line and Energy Grade Line (EGL) are:

Hydraulic Grade Line - Energy Grade Line Calculator equationsWhere:    HGL

HGL = hydraulic grade line in ft                EGL = energy grade line in ft

P = pressure in psf                                        γ = specific weight in lb/ft3

h = elevation in ft                                         V = velocity in ft/sec

g = acceleration of gravity in ft/sec2

Example Spreadsheet for Hydraulic Grade Line – Energy Grade Line Calculator Plots

A screenshot for a Hydraulic Grade Line – Energy Grade Line calculator  spreadsheet is partially shown in the image below.  This Excel spreadsheet can be used to calculate and plot the energy grade line and hydraulic grade line.  This Excel spreadsheet, as well as others for stormwater management calculations, is available in either U.S. or S.I. units for a very reasonable price in our spreadsheet store.

hydraulic grade line - energy grade line calculator plot

Reference:

Bengtson, Harlan H., Hydraulic Grade Line Calculation Spreadsheet, an informational blog article

Trilateration Surveying Data Processing

Posted on by
Reply

Where to Find a Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program

To obtain a  trilateration surveying data processing program click here to visit our download store.  Look for “WinTri – A Computer Program for Trilateration” in the “Surveying” category to find it.  This standalone program can be used for data reduction in connection with trilateration surveys.  You can buy this convenient data reduction program for trilateration surveys for a very reasonable price (only $79.95).

Introduction to WinTri – A Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program

WinTri is a standalone computer program (not a spreadsheet) for trilateration surveying data processing.  It can be used for reduction of data from trilateration surveys; in particular WinTri calculates the coordinates of stations.  The program is general in that it will handle any surveying control figure that a user might specify.  Data validation is a key feature of the program.  Input data from surveys are extensively checked for errors, and warning messages are displayed on the screen when an error is encountered.  In calculating results, WinTri employs least-squares adjustment.

Win-Tri Help screens provide complete, annotated examples of all required input files.  Sufficient explanation is given so that someone who has never used the program before can prepare all input data solely by studying the Help screens.

How to Use WinTri – A Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program

This trilateration surveying data processing program is simple to use.  Aside from Help screens, the program displays only three screens.  The first screen is the title screen, and the second is a screen with a single message directing the first-time user to the appropriate help screen designed for beginners.  The third screen displays seven command buttons: (1) Read master file, (2) Enter elevations, (3) Save elevations, (4) Read raw data, (5) Calculate coordinates (of stations), (6) Save results, and (7) Re-start.  The buttons are enabled and disabled automatically as the program user proceeds through the various steps of the analysis.  The “Save elevations” button allows the user to interrupt hand entry of elevation data, stop the program and subsequently start the program at a later time without having to re-enter those elevations that had already been entered.

Besides the command buttons, the third screen contains a textbox labeled “Program Log.”  If a step in the operation of the program is successfully completed, the program log displays a message to that effect.  If an error occurs, then the log displays a message describing the error.

A Screenshot of WinTri – A Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program

The image below shows a screenshot of the introductory screen of WinTri a trilateration surveying data processing program.

WinTri Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program Screenshot

Figure 1. Screenshot of WinTri, a Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program

The Source Code for WinTri – A Trilateration Surveying Data Processing Program

In addition to an executable module that can be installed and run, the source code, consisting of about 5000 Visual Basic 6.0 statements is provided in case the user wants to revise the program to meet specialized needs.  The program is thoroughly documented with commen” are used throughout so that much of the code reads like ordinary English.

Anyone involved in trilateration surveys should find the program helpful.  It is easy to learn, it can be used for any control network that the user specifies, and – most important of all – it greatly lessens the tedious and time-consuming task of locating and identifying errors in the survey data.

Reference

Rossow, Mark, Trilateration Surveying Data Processing, An informational blog article.