Hazen Williams Eq'n

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tymr

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The Hazen-Williams Eq'n to calculate head loss as presented in CERM 10 is stated:

hf = (10.44*L*Q^1.85)/(C^1.85*d^4.87), for US units.

However, in the Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers the Hazen-Williams Eq'n to calculate head loss is stated:

hf = (4.727/d^4.87)L(Q/C)^1.85, for US units. NCEES seems to support this eq'n instead of the Lindberg eq'n but I cannot figure out why there is such a significant difference between the value of the constant between the eq'ns. What am I missing?

 
The Hazen-Williams Eq'n to calculate head loss as presented in CERM 10 is stated:hf = (10.44*L*Q^1.85)/(C^1.85*d^4.87), for US units.

However, in the Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers the Hazen-Williams Eq'n to calculate head loss is stated:

hf = (4.727/d^4.87)L(Q/C)^1.85, for US units. NCEES seems to support this eq'n instead of the Lindberg eq'n but I cannot figure out why there is such a significant difference between the value of the constant between the eq'ns. What am I missing?

I have always used 10.44 but as always it depends on how you derive the equation and what units you are using. If Q is in gpm, L is in feet, and d is in inches then use 10.44. My guess is the 4.727 comes from using a different unit for one of those variables.

 
Thanks. I figured it was a conversion. Units is what took care of it. The 4.727 is when Q is ft^3/sec and d is in ft. Life, as I know it, can go on.

 
Thanks. I figured it was a conversion. Units is what took care of it. The 4.727 is when Q is ft^3/sec and d is in ft. Life, as I know it, can go on.

I had a fluid mechanics professor in grad school that really hated Hazen Williams and Mannings equations because they weren't dimensionally homogenious. However, he knew there was nothing better. He preferred for us to use Reynold's numbers to solve for headloss.

 
Just want to mention to anyone seeing this years later as I had the same question and the conclusion of the OP above is not correct.

the equation in CERM with 10.44 gives answer in ft (feet of water head loss)

the equation using 4.727 is giving pressure drop in psi when Q is in cfs, d is in inches.

you could also use 4.52 for pressure drop in psi when Q is in gpm.

note that 1ft  h20 = 2.31psi

pressure head = hp = pressure/density h20

hp = psf/62.4 = 144 psi/62.4 = 2.31 psi

just wasted 2 precious hours of study time figuring that out, don’t be like me.

 
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