Pipelines are normally designed to deliver fluid at the required head and flow rate in a cost effective manner. The selection of an optimum pipe size for pumping plants and pipelines in pressurized flow pipe network should be based on careful economic analysis. Increase in conduit diameter leads to increase in annual capital costs, and decrease in operating costs. The study presents an optimized pipe diameter selection for the farm located at Hamelmalo Agricultural College (HAC). Relationships were formulated connecting theories and principles of hydraulic and economic analysis of the pipe selection process. These were developed into a computer program, written in Java language, for a high- level precision estimate of the optimum pipe diameter. The optimum pipe diameter design primarily includes three major methods available in literature namely Pipe sizing design using Jack’s Cube method, design based on Head Loss Gradient method and design based on Smit’s method.

Pressurized flow networks, Optimized Pipe diameter, Hydraulic aspects of pipe sizing, Economic aspects of pipe sizing, Java Programming Language

[1] Arunjyoti Sonowal, Sirisha Adamala, S.C.Senapati, “A mathematical model for the selection of an economical pipe size in pressurized irrigation systems”, African Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol 11(8), pp. 683-692, 25 February, 2016.
[2] Merle C.Potter, David C.Wiggert, Schaum`s Outline of Fluid Mechanics (Schaum`s Outline Series), McGraw-Hill Education, pp.40, 16 January, 2008
[3] Randall W.Whitesides, P.E., “Selecting the Optimum Pipe Size”, PDH online Course M270 (12 PDH), pp. 10-12, 2008, 2015.
[4] Swamee, P., and Jain, A., “Explicit Equations for Pipe-Flow Problems”, Journal of the Hydraulics Division-American Society Civil Engineers, pp. 657-664, 1976.
[5] Adams J.N., “Quickly Estimate Pipe Sizing with ‘Jack’s Cube’”, Chemical Engineering Progress pp. 55-58, December, 1997.
[6] Andreas P.Savva , Karen Frenken, “Irrigation Equipment for Pressurized Systems”, Irrigation manual module 10, FAO sub-regional office for East and Southern Africa, pp.5, 2002.
[7] V.E.M.G.Diniz & P.A.Souza, “ Four explicit formulae for friction factor calculations in pipe flow”, WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 125, 2009.
[8] Nekrasov.B, “Hidraulica”, 2 edition, Editorial Mir: Moscu, pp. 95, 1966.
[9] Souza P.A., “Nova Formulacao Explicita para o Calculo do Fator de Atrito (f) de Escoamento Forcado”, Anais do XII Congresso Latinoamericano de Hidraulica, Sao Paulo, pp. 75-85, 1986.
[10] G.P.Merkley and R.G.Allen, “ Sprinkle& Trickle Irrigation Lecture Notes”, Biological and Irrigation department, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, BIE 5110/6110, Fall semester, pp.69, 2004.
[11] Jack Keller, Ron D.Bliesner, “ Sprinkle And Trickle Irrigation”, Springer Science + Business Media, LLC, pp. 160, 1990.
[12] Richard C.Thompson, Charles J.Moore, Frederick S.Vom Saal,Shanna H.Swan, “Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends”, Philosophical Transactions B , The Royal Society Publishing pp. 364(1526): 2153-2166, July 27 2009.
[13] R.G. Allen, “Relating the Hazen-Williams and Darcy- Weisbach Friction Loss Equations for Pressurized Irrigation”, Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Vol. 12(6): pp.685-693, 1996.