Question

5. The water in an 8-m-diameter, 3-m-high above-ground swimming pool is to be emptied by unplugging a 3-cm-diameter, 25-m-long horizontal pipe attached to the bottom of the pool. Determine the maximum discharge rate of water through the pipe. Also, explain why the actual flow rate will be less.

Answer 1

Answer:

The maximum discharge rate of water through the pipe is 0.00545 m³/s or 5.45 L/s.

Friction head and pressure head will cause the actual flow rate to be less.

Explanation:

Considering point 1 at the free surface of the pool, and point 2 at the exit of

pipe.

Using Bernoulli equation between

these two points simplifies to

P1/(p*g) + V1²/2g + z1 = P2/(p*g) + V2²/2g + z2

Let the reference level at the pipe exit (z2 = 0). Noting that the fluid at both points is open to the atmosphere (and thus P1 = P2 = Patm) and that the fluid velocity at the free surface is very low (V1 ≅ 0),

P/(p*g) + z1 = P/(p*g) + V2²/2g

z1 = V2²/2g

Note; z1 = h

V2max = √2gh

h = 3 m

V2max = √2 * 9.81 * 3

V2max = √58.86 = 7.67 m/s

maximum discharge rate of water through the pipe Qmax = Area A * Velocity of discharge V2max

Qmax = A * V2max

Diameter d = 3 cm = 0.03 m

A = Πd²/4 = (Π * 0.03²)/4 = 0.00071m³

Qmax = 0.00071 * 7.67 = 0.00545 m³/s

Qmax = 5.45 L/s

The maximum discharge rate of water through the pipe is 0.00545 m³/s or 5.45 L/s.

Actual flow rate will be less because of heads such as friction head and pressure head.