70 ft 15 gpm Water 60 psig main
The compressed air requirements of a textile factory are met by a large compressor that draws in 0.6 m3/s air at atmospheric conditions of 20°C and 1 bar (100 kPa) and consumes 300 kW electric power when operating. Air is compressed to a gage pressure of 8 bar (absolute pressure of 900 kPa), and compressed air is transported to the production area through a 15-cm-internal-diameter, 83-m-long, plastic (smooth) pipes with a surface roughness of 0.15 mm. The average temperature of compressed air in the pipe is 60°C. The compressed air line has 8 elbows with a loss coefficient of 0.6 each. In order to reduce the head losses in the piping and thus the power wasted, someone suggests doubling the diameter of the 83-m-long compressed air pipes. Calculating the reduction in wasted power, and determine if this is a worthwhile idea. Considering the cost of replacement, does this proposal make sense to you?
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