Flow Loss Coefficient - Round Pipe With Two Grooves
- \( D_0\) - Diameter
Star-shaped channels are niche geometries sometimes used in microfluidic devices, special research apparatuses, or decorative water features. These channels exhibit complex velocity distributions, making pressure loss estimation challenging.
This page provides available flow loss coefficient data for star-shaped cross-sections and assists with hydraulic diameter approximation. Compared to traditional round pipes, data is limited, but essential for uncommon designs and prototyping.
For pipes of non-round cross section, the flow loss coefficient is defined as:
$$ \lambda = \frac{\Delta p}{(\rho w_0^2 /2)(\ell/D_0)} = k_\mathrm{star}\lambda_\mathrm{round}$$
where \( \lambda_\mathrm{round}\) is the flow loss coefficient of an equivalent channel of round cross section. See associated calculators for a round channel that is smooth, has uniform sand grain roughness, or has non-uniform roughness.
In turbulent flows, a channel with a cross section of a star has flow loss coefficient correction coefficient \( k_\mathrm{star} \approx 1 \). That is, flow loss coefficient is approximatelly the same as for a round channel.