Hydraulic Diameter of a Tube within a Tube

on . Posted in Fluid Dynamics

hydraulic diameter of a pipe in pipeThe hydraulic diameter, abbreviated dh, is used to calculate the Reynolds Number, friction factor or for calculating pressure drop across two points.  For most geometries, the hydraulic diameter, or characteristic length, is not equal to the diameter of the shape.  The calculation below is an example of the hydraulic diameter when the shape is a circular shape with a circular, tube running through the flowing area.  This equation can be used for a tube if the inside radius is set to zero.

 

Hydraulic Diameter of a Tube within a Tube formulas

\( d_h =   4\; ( \pi\; r_{o}{^2} - \pi \;r_{i}{^2} )  \;/\;  2 \;\pi \;r_o +  2\; \pi\; r_i  \) 

\( d_h =   4\; \pi  \; ( r_{o}{^2}  -  r_{i}{^2} )  \;/\;  2\; \pi  \; ( r_o +  r_i )  \) 

Symbol English Metric
\( d_h \) = hydraulic diameter \(in\) \(mm\)
\( r_i \) = pipe outside radius of the inside tube \(in\) \(mm\)
\( r_o \) = pipe inside radius of the outside tube \(in\) \(mm\)

 

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Tags: Hydraulic