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Farm Pipeline Design Check

Hazen-Williams friction loss, net head and velocity check — farm transfer line.

Sump-to-field transfer lines get built from whatever pipe is lying around — then the friction bill arrives monthly. Run the lengths and sizes here; the velocity line flags the sections worth replacing.

4.3 m (14% of head)
Friction head loss
Net head remaining25.7 m
Flow velocity0.91 m/s (target 1–3)
Hazen-Williams C150 (HDPE / PVC (smooth))
Design rulekeep penstock loss ≤ 10% of gross head

Farm transfer line: friction loss scales with the 4.87th power of diameter — one pipe size up typically cuts the loss by 60%. For hydro, lost head is lost power forever; for pumping, it's a permanently bigger electricity bill. Buy diameter once instead.

Sources: Hazen-Williams head-loss formula (SI form)

Engineering estimate from published standards and typical equipment data. Site conditions, equipment datasheets and measured data govern the real result — confirm with a qualified engineer.

Use the free Farm Pipeline Design Check online — Hazen-Williams friction loss, net head and velocity check — farm transfer line. Runs instantly in your browser: no signup, no upload, mobile-friendly.

About Farm Pipeline Design Check

Sump-to-field transfer lines get built from whatever pipe is lying around — then the friction bill arrives monthly. Run the lengths and sizes here; the velocity line flags the sections worth replacing.

How to use Farm Pipeline Design Check

  1. 1Enter pipe length, inner diameter and flow.
  2. 2Pick the pipe material.
  3. 3Read friction loss, remaining head and the velocity verdict.

Why use Farm Pipeline Design Check?

  • Hazen-Williams with material-correct roughness coefficients
  • Velocity check warns against erosion and hammer territory
  • Net-head output feeds straight into hydro/pump decisions
  • The diameter lesson: one size up cuts loss ~60%

Frequently asked questions

How much head do I lose to pipe friction?+

Hazen-Williams: loss scales with length, flow^1.85, and — brutally — diameter^−4.87. 200 m of 110 mm HDPE at 8 L/s loses ~3 m; the same flow in 90 mm loses ~7.5 m. For hydro that's power gone forever; for pumping it's a permanently fatter bill. The tool runs your exact case.

What pipe velocity is acceptable?+

Design comfort: 1–3 m/s. Below 1, you've overspent on diameter (and sediment may settle); above 3, friction soars, erosion accelerates, and water hammer on valve closure becomes violent. The velocity readout here flags both ends.

Is bigger pipe worth the extra cost?+

Almost always over the system's life: the next standard diameter typically cuts friction loss ~60%, repaying its premium in saved pumping energy within a few years — or in permanently higher hydro output. Buy diameter once; buy losses forever.

Which C value should I use?+

Material and age: new HDPE/PVC ≈150, new steel ≈130, old rusted steel ≈100, concrete ≈120. Aging matters — a 20-year-old steel line at C=100 loses nearly twice what its installation calculations promised. When relining or replacing, this delta IS the business case.

Embed Farm Pipeline Design Check on your website

Want Farm Pipeline Design Checkon your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.

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