Calculating flow rate from air to water

[miked_27]

Hi,

Im currently looking at a symstem where air is pumped down a pipe and up through a bigger pipe which lifts water from above. Just wondering if there is anyway of calculating what the flow rate would be through the water if i know what the air flow rate it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers.

[jboggs]

I've read your question four times and have no idea what you're asking. A diagram would help.
The air is "lifting" the water? From above? Huh?

[miked_27]

Oops I meant lifting water from below.

[Kelly_Bramble]

Hi,

Im currently looking at a symstem where air is pumped down a pipe and up through a bigger pipe which lifts water from above. Just wondering if there is anyway of calculating what the flow rate would be through the water if i know what the air flow rate it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Flow rate will be derived from differential pressure, size of pipes, etc..

And, yes there is a way to calculate flow in defined fluid systems - - but you have not provided any usable information on what that system is.

[miked_27]

Sorry it's a dredging system. Air is pumped down the annulus pipe and flows into the main bore at the bottom and this main bore is filled with water.

[jboggs]

Upon encountering the water the air forms bubbles and rises to the top surface of the water. How is the air "pushing" the water anywhere? Unless there's enough airflow to overwhelm the water with unmanageable bubble sizes.

"Just wondering if there is anyway of calculating what the flow rate would be through the water if i know what the air flow rate it." That makes no sense. First you ask us how to calculate the flow rate through the water, then you tell us you know what the air flow rate is. Sorry. Just confused.

[jessicaherron9]

I just done the calculation using Bernoulli's Equation as shown:
2" stainless steel pipe diameter = 0.05m
length of the pipe = 20m
roughness = 0.002
relative roughness = 0.04
friction factor,f = 0.50506
ΔP = 2 bar
Δx/D = 400
By substituting all the value into this formula, i got V= 22m/s
V=square root of [(2ΔP)/p(4f(Δx/D)−1)] A=pie*r^2 = 0.00196349541 m^2
Q=VA= 22x0.00196349541= 0.043 m^3/s = 43 l/s

It seems impossible for the 2" stainless steel pipe with water pressure of 2 bar to have a water flow rate of 43 l/s. So wan to ask where i got wrong ?

Thank you

[Hudson]

Search for a thread titled "Simple Airlift Pump Equations?? "

and see my answer.