Tools and standard reports for piping engineers
User developed Excel function, are included in each application
This version is for Excel 2003
I would welcome any feedback at the following email cjcruz[at]vtr.net
The spread sheets presented here, include all Excel functions required in each case.
To produce an Excel add-in from an Excel function, save the Excel function as a complement.
Prior to convert an Excel function to an Add-in, it is convenient to eliminate all sheets that
do not contain information required (to be read) by the function. At least one sheet needs to
be maintained, and it could be an empty one.
Examples of functions that read information from a sheet are the "Pipe dimensions functions"
and the "Air and water properties functions"
It has to be considered, that it is not convenient that the same function is available
twice. That could happen, for example, if two Excel books are opened and both contain the same
function. Also it could happen that an Excel book has a certain function and at the same time
this function has been installed and is available as an add-in function. In this case, the
add-in function should be disabled.
See Recommended Good Practice and Disclaimer, at the end of the page.
Available tool-files for download
Air receivers volume calculation.xls
(This file presents the calculation of an air receiver, and shows several references related to this theme.
Application example and derivation of equation to determine the receiver volume.
(This file presents the calculation of atmospheric temperature, pressure and density as a function
of the heigth above sea level, according 1976 U.S. Standard Atmosphere. It includes also an
approximate method that can be applied for a range of heights 0 km.a.s.l. < H < 6 km.a.s.l.
with an error less than 0.1% . Also, it is presented an equation to calculate the water vapor.
pressure as a function of temperature. References included.
Average_particle_size_determination_d50_from_gravimetric_analysis_Mesh.xls. Rev. 22.09.2013
(For a given granulometric analysis (mesh size vs. Retained percentage) a table of "Mesh vs. Particle
size (mesh opening)" is made. The plotted curve allows to find the particle size orresponding to
a 50% retained percentage: This is the average particle size or d50 value.
Evaluation of a filtrated sample propertiers.
Gravimetric composition of a flow resulting from the joint of two flows.
(This file presents some calculation examples of Bingham fluids, from "Slurry Systems Handbook", Abulanga.
In some cases the examples are solved using the function Slurry_Friction_Factor_Bingham_Re_He.
(This file presents a calculation sheet for an air line. The pressure drop in each fitting and pipe
is calculated and the parameters in a new line are calculated based in the resulting pressure of the precedent line.
(This application calculates the cooling time of water in a carbon steel pipe.
The theory needed is deducted. Calculation examples of pipes with and without
insulation are presented. A comparison with the results presented in the
Mechanical Insulation Design Guide (NMIC) is included.
Cooling tower. Application_ Treybal.xls
(This file is an applications of the Merkel theory for cooling towers.
Some correction have been made, nomenclature reviewed and some literature added.
Still some explanations to be included.
Coupled water tanks. Stabilization time, oscilation amplitud.xls
(This file presents the solution of the system of differential equations, resulting from the water
movement between two tanks. The problem is solved using a finite differences method.
This file will part of a future section on finite differences applications.
A mathematical criteria to define time acceptable some interval is required.
(The routine calculates the time interval "t", from the de-energization of the pump, until the system comes to rest.
It is considered the inertia of the pump, motor and fluid and the friction between fluid and pipe.
An ascending pipe with constant slope is assumed. The friction factor is considered constant and with the value of
the steady state condition. Rev. 01.06.2014)
Dryer with air impinging jets.xls
(Design of a strip dryer with air impinging jets. Air pressurized in a fan, heat in an heat exchanger and
impinged into a moving steel strip.
This document is a beta version and it is intended to have a final version at the end of April 2015.
Until this date any comment will be carefully considered with a quick answer to the checker.
Also general comments will be welcome. After the given date, comments could also be considered..
(This file presents a routine for the calculation of pressure drops due to friction and singularities.
Several functions are included for the calculation of fittings and valves.
(This file presents functions for the calculation of two slurry correction factors applied to the deposition velocity:
- Mc Elvain and Cave correction factor and Durand correction factor.
(This two function are a digitalization of the curves and therefore no equation is used).
- Also is presented a function for Weir - HR factor for estimating the head and the efficiency of slurries, based on the values for water
(Note. Weir, in later publications, is proposing a "HR-value" determination method that also requires the impeller diameter as input data.
(Flanches dimensions according ASME B16.5-2003.
Minimum distance between flanches and pipes 30 mm.
Valid for pipes without insulation.
Distances to be verified if lateral movements or expansions could occur and
also if orifice plates or other elements are present.
Verify that there is not an occurrence of two flanges face to face.
Pipes according ASME B36.10M-1996.
(A Pressure-Enthalpy, mollier type diagram, is being built by means of Steamdat functions.
(For 0 < Re < 2300
Laminar region. Hagen - Poiseuille equation.
For 2300 =< Re =< 4000
Critical region. Churchill equation.
For 4000 < Re
Transition and turbulent regions. Colebrook equation.
There is not a theory describing the critical region.
Churchill equation describes relatively well this region, for smooth pipes with Rrel <= 0.01, giving conservative values,
when compared with Nikuradse experimental data.
Although Churchill equation describes also the transition and turbulente regions in accordance with Colebrook, this last equation is
used in these regions because its use is often required in certain design criteria.
(This file presents routines to calculate orifices plates with applications for air and water.
Also, Cameron eqautions for water are presented.
(Pipe dimensions for carbon steel, stainless steel, HDPE PE100, HDPE PE80,
Fibre reinforced polyethylene, pipe friction factor for Darcy-Weisbach
equation and Manning's coefficient.
(Maximum allowable pressure and temperature ratings
for petroleum refinery piping and chemical plant piping systems
according ANSI/ASME B31.3 (2008) Process piping,
materials grade B: A53, A106, API 5L, pipes with plane ends.
(Allowable stresses from ASME B31.3, 2008, page 146)
Maximum pressure calculated according Ec. 3a.
(Psychrometric charts: Dry and wet bulb temperature, absolute humidity, relative humidity, enthalpy,
for heights above sea level of 0 m.a.s.l. and 5300 m.a.s.l.
(Psychrometric functions, only a resume: Dry and wet bulb temperature, absolute humidity, relative humidity, enthalpy,
dew point temperature, specific volume and density, for heights above sea level til 5300 m.a.s.l.
(Psychrometric functions: Dry and wet bulb temperature, absolute humidity, relative humidity, enthalpy,
dew point temperature, specific volume and density, for heights above sea level til 5300 m.a.s.l.
Psychrometry. Heat recovery air handling unit (Ahu). By Ömer Faruk D.xls
(This spreadsheet calculates air flow and battery capacity for Air Handling Units.
The data used corresponds to location in Turkey. In the example, data for the city of Bursa has been used.
You can change the data according to your city, in the Data page.
By Omer Faruk D., Makine Mühendisi , Mechanical Engineer
Pump. TDH , NPSH, Power_for water.xls
(Pumpinh system between two water tanks.
Results arecalculated in a spreadsheet and by means of "user defined Excel functions"
Pump selection using a free pump selection program).
(A type slurries, according Weir clasification:
Weight concentration 0 % <= Cw <= 40 % and
average particle size 50 microns < d50 < 300 microns
To calculate the pressure drop of a "Weir type A slurry", the system is to be calculated as if the fluid were water.
The file presents a usual input data sheet a water pressure drop calculation and finaly the calculation of the
pressure difference that in some cases has to be added to the calculated pressure.
(Settling velocity of spherical particles as function of particle diameter,
solids density, liquid density and liquid absolute viscosity.
Function Particle_Settling_velocity_d_rs_rL_mu(d, rs,rL,mu).
Function Particle drag coefficient CD as function of particle Reynolds number.
Tailings deposition_by Gordon McPhail_2008.pdf
(Prediction of the beach profile of high density thickened tailings from rheological
and small scale trial deposition data. By Gordon McPhail, from Metago Environmental
(The viscosity of oils can be shown as straight lines in a Log-Nat Diagram
This concept is applied to the case of Rimula 15W-40 oil, where a paire
of points "viscosity - temperature" are known.
( Water hammer examples:
Tyler. Water hammer in a carbon steel pipe
Pehmco: Water hammer in a HDPE pipe
Tsingua University: Slurry hammer in a HDPE PE80 pipe.
Water hammer. Method of characteristics. Theory .xls
( The Method of Characteristics transform the system of PDE in a system of Total Differential Equations (TDE).
The system of TDE can be solved numerically by different mathematical methods.
The application is based on a Streeter example.
The files are free of any virus.
As general good practice, it is recommended to check any type of file to be free of virus before using them.
The presented files contain Excel functions and it is known that Excel has some problems in recognizing
clean files. For this reason it is recommended that, once a file has been checked for viruses and has been
recognized as a clean file, to put it in a directory declared as a trusted directory.
To declare a directory or a file as a safe document, use the Excel trust Center.
This providence will avoid that under given circumstances Excel will erase the Visual Basic code.
The author shall not be responsible for losses of any kind resulting from use of this program or of any
documentation and can in no way provide compensation for any losses sustained including but not limited
to any obligation, liability, right or remedy for tort nor any business expense, machine downtime or
damage caused to the user by any deficiency, defect or error in the program or in any such documentation
or any malfunction of the program or for any incidental or consequential losses, damages, or costs,