A corner restricts the flow, so there are charts of "equivalent added feet of straight pipe" for corners, with different values depending upon the angle/radius of the bend.
The pipe diameter also affects resistance-over-length.
So for a required flow rate (so that the instant-heater doesn't choke), there's a limit on overall length, taking into account all of the bends. Exceeding the limit, means moving up to a larger ($$) pipe diameter.
Or so the gas man said.
It's the same sort of flow calculations I had to do when sizing the dust collection tubing for the workshop.
Cheers
Edited by mlord (08/02/2010 19:27)