💰 Economic Pipe Diameter Optimizer
Find the pipe diameter that minimizes total annual cost (capital + pumping energy) for a given flow system.
📝 Configuration
📊 Results
Configure and click Optimize.
📘 Methodology
Economic Optimization
Larger pipes reduce friction loss and pumping cost, but increase capital cost. The economic optimum minimizes Total = Energy_annual + Capital_annual over the pipe lifetime.
Capital Recovery Factor
CRF = i(1+i)^n / [(1+i)^n − 1] annualizes the pipe investment over its lifetime n at interest rate i. This converts a one-time capital cost into an equivalent annual payment.
Friction & Pumping
dP = f·L/D·ρV²/2 (Darcy-Weisbach). Power = Q·dP/η. The friction factor f is computed automatically using the Swamee-Jain approximation for smooth pipes.