Drukafname

Drukafname is a Dutch term used primarily in engineering and physics to describe a decrease in pressure within a system, or the measurement of that decrease. The concept is central to fluid dynamics and hydraulics, where pressure changes occur as fluid moves through pipes, fittings, valves, filters and other components.

In practice, drukafname is often expressed as a pressure difference between two points, Δp, and is a key factor in designing and operating equipment. For example, in a water distribution network the drukafname across a valve or a filter influences the required pump head and energy consumption. Mechanisms that cause drukafname include frictional losses in pipes, elevation changes, throttling by valves, and leaks. Devices such as pressure regulators and relief valves are used to achieve a controlled drukafname to a specified downstream pressure.

The term may also refer to the act of reducing pressure during maintenance or safety procedures. In some industries the concept is synonymous with pressure drop, while in others it is used more narrowly to describe the measured difference rather than the process itself. Because Dutch terminology can vary by sector, readers may encounter related terms such as drukval or drukdaling in technical texts.