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I have given a project to load out 52000 lb corn syrup in 20 mins. I have given the task to design pipe system. Can someone please guide me how to do this..or what data do I need to figure this out with any formulas. I would appreciate any help. Thank You

[Art Montemayor]

Garry:

We’ll help you along, but you have to furnish accurate data and information.

You say “I have given a project to load out” and “I have given the task to design pipe system”. This is horrible English; just exactly what do you mean to say? Do you mean that you have issued the project and design to another person to execute? Or do you mean that YOU have been given the task? It makes a big difference.

If you are trying to design a pumping problem involving corn syrup and you have to ensure you can load at a rate of 2,600 lbs/min (= 52,000/20), then you are going to have to do some fluid flow calculations involving Fluid Mechanics. I presume that you have taken the academic engineering courses that apply (please acknowledge that you have; if you haven’t we are all wasting a lot of time).

Designing just the pipe system is far easier than including the required pump and motor as well. So you have a relatively easy project. If you have taken fluid flow (Fluid Mechanics) then you know that the first step is identifying the fluid in question according to its flow characteristics. You must furnish the flowing temperature, density, and viscosity. You must also know the pipe material of construction, the distances, elevations involved, and draw an isometric sketch of the piping run, showing all pipe fittings and valves employed. Make sure you know if your fluid is Newtonian or non-Newtonian. It would be very smart on your part to already have read a lot of the fluid flow queries and threads in this Student Forum. If you have, then you already know how to go about the problem and have downloaded some valuable spreadsheets and other help. If you are too lazy to do that, let us know.

Having done your homework, you know you are looking at using the Darcy equation and for that purpose, a copy of the Crane Technical Paper #410 would be just what you need. When you reply, give us all the required basic data and full information, including your profile (what year in engineering you're in and what fluid flow courses you've taken up to now - successfully). We'll analyze what you furnish and see where we can go from there. There are a lot good people who can help you in this Forum - but you have to help yourself by helping us with the necessary data (which you should already know about if you are to resolve the problem). If you don't know what data is required as basic data for this type of problem, then you are going to have a very rough time trying to resolve the problem. Engineering isn't about just applying equations and calculating out the right answer. You have to know WHICH equations apply - and WHY.