Applied Pipeline Hydraulics
Applied Pipeline Hydraulics
Applied Pipeline Hydraulics
Chapter One
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS
Most chemical engineering processes involve fluids flow from one location to the other.
Finished products manufactured (in fluid form) are transported from plant sites to the
discharge points where end users have access to use such products. Raw materials,
intermediate and semi-finished products (in liquid/gaseous form) move either by gravity
and or are transported by expenditure of energy from one unit to the other for quality
control purposes and to maintain product specifications. This chapter considers basic
engineering principles required to handle fluid in plant operations. Detailed transfer
phenomena are not presented here, but could be obtained in literature cited and in Perry’s
Chemical Engineers Handbook. Pipeline hydraulic design procedures are presented. A
typical design module for pressure vessel with the application of ASME CODES and
PVELITE Software is presented in this chapter.
are related
is known as the absolute specific gravity (Licker, 2003).
The weight of a unit volume, γ and the density (the mass of a unit volume)
g
by:
γ= (1.1)
w
∆= = (1.2)
w
The density of a mixture of liquids whose mixing is not affected by any appreciable
physicochemical changes can be calculated approximately by assuming that the volume
of the mixture equals the sum of the volumes of its components:
...
mix 1 2
1 x1 x2 (1.3)
On the basis of Clapeyron+ equation, the density, of a gas at the temperature, T and
pressure P can be calculated by the equation:
O
T OP M 273P
O
(1.5)
TP 22.4 TP O
Where M/22.4 kg/m3 = density of the gas in standard conditions (denoted by the
superscript O), i.e at T = 273.15K and PO = 760 mmHg = 1.013 x 105 Pa; M = molar mass
of the gas, kg/kgmol, T = temperature, K.
Note: The pressures P and PO must be expressed in the same units.
The density of a mixture of gases is expressed as follows:
+
In the Clapeyron equation PV = RT for 1 kmol of a gas, the molar gas constant, R =
(POVO)/TO = 760 x 133.34 x 22.4/273 = 8310 J/Kmol.K
A type of stress which is exerted uniformly in all direction; its measure is the force
exerted per unit area is called pressure.
The pressure, P of a column of liquid having a height, h with a liquid of density can be
expressed as follows:
P gh (1.7)
Equation (1.7) gives us the following relationships between the various units of pressure:
1 atm = 760 mmHg = gh = 13600 x 9.81x0.76 = 1.013 x105 Pa
The force due to the pressure of a liquid on a flat wall, F (in N) is:
P = (PO + g hW) A (1.9)
in the S I System [ ] = N .s = Pa .S = kg
m2 m .s
The kinematic viscosity, (in m2/s) is related to the dynamic viscosity by the
expression:
(1.10)
Viscosity index (VI) is an arbitrary scale used to show the magnitude of viscosity
changes in lubricating oils with changes in temperature.
Fig 1.1: Nomogram for determining the dynamic viscosities of gases at p = 1atm (the
data may also be used with a permissible approximation for pressures of several
atmospheres) (Source: Pavlov et al., 1979 p 591)
1-O2; 2 – NO; 3 – CO2; 4 – HCl; 5 – Air; 6 –N2; 7- SO2; 8 – CH4; 9 – H2O; 10 – NH4; 11 – C2H6; 12 – H2;
13 – C6H6; 14 – 9H2 + N2; 15 – 3H2 + N2; 16 – CO; 17 – Cl2.
Where Mmix, M1, M2… = molar masses of the mixture and separate components
mix
The following empirical equation, which has been checked for a number of gas mixtures
(coke-oven gas, producer gas, etc.) at atmospheric pressure, is also used to calculate
for gases:
where Tcr1,Tcr2… are the critical temperatures of the components, k. 1 , 2 are the
volume fractions of the components in the mixture. The other symbols are the same as in
Equation (1.12)
When using Equation (1.13) all the values of the viscosities 1 2 ... must be taken for
the same temperature T, and the viscosity of the mixture, mix is obtained for this
M Tcr
temperature. Values of for selected gases can be obtained from tables.
The change in the dynamic viscosity of gases with the temperature is expressed by the
equation:
273 C T
T 0
1.5
(1.14)
T C 273
T = Temperature, K
C = Sutherland’s constant [0-26] Pavlov et al., 1979
In accordance with the additivity of the fluidities of the components, the dynamic
viscosity of a mixture of normal liquids is determined by the equation:
1 2
...
mix 1 2
1
(1.16)
Where 1 , 2 ... are the volume fractions of the components in the mixture.
The dynamic viscosity of dilute suspensions susp can be calculated by the following
equations:
When the volume concentration of the solid phase is less than 10 %
susp = ld
(0.77 )2
0.59
(1.18)
The mass rate of flow of a fluid, Qm (kg/s) is:
Qm = QV = vA (1.20)
4
8 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
1.4.2 Buoyancy
The same principles used above to compute hydrostatic forces can be used to calculate
the net pressure force acting on completely submerged or floating bodies. These laws of
buoyancy, the principles of Archimedes, are that:
The line of action of the buoyancy force in both (1) and (2) passes through the centroid of
the displaced volume of fluid; this point is called the center of buoyancy. (This point need
not correspond to the center of mass of the body, which could have non uniform density.
In the above it has been assumed that the displaced fluid has a constant g. If this is not the
case, such as in a layered fluid, the magnitude of the buoyant force is still equal to the
weight of the displaced fluid, but the line of action of this force passes through the center
of gravity of the displaced volume, not the centroid.)
If a body has a weight exactly equal to that of the volume of fluid it displaces, it is said to
be neutrally buoyant and will remain at rest at any point where it is immersed in a
(homogeneous) fluid.
10000
6000
Recr
Laminar flow
4000
2000
The hydraulic radius (hydraulic mean depth) rh is the ratio of the area of the flow cross
section A to the wetted perimeter P:
rh = A (1.24)
P
For a round pipe completely filled with a liquid we have the expression:
rh = d d
2
4 d
(1.25)
4
Consequently, the equivalent diameter deq can be used instead of the diameter for flows
through pipes whose cross section is not round.
deq = 4 rh = 4 A (1.26)
P
1.5.2 The Froude number, which is a measure of the ratio of the forces of inertia and
gravity in a flow, is given as:
Fr = v2 (1.27)
gd
Fr
gd 0.5
v (1.28)
1.5.3 The Euler number, which is a measure of the ratio of the forces of pressure and
inertia in a flow, is:
P
Eu
v 2
(1.29)
where ∆P is the pressure difference (loss of pressure) spent for overcoming the hydraulic
resistance, Pa
1.5.4 The Bernoulli equation for a non – viscous (ideal) incompressible liquid is
given as:
z1 z2 2 2
2 2
(1.30)
g 2g g 2g
P1 v1 P v
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 11
z1 z 2 2 2 h1
2 2
g 2 g g 2 g
P1 v1 P v (1.31)
g
P = piezometric (static) head, m
∆h + g ∆z + ½ ∆v2 = q + w
For adiabatic flow in a constant area duct, the governing equations can be formulated in a
more generalized dimensionless form that is useful for the solution of both subsonic and
supersonic flows. The resulting expressions and how to apply them are not shown here,
but can be obtained from the work of Darby, (2001).
1.5.5 The relationship between the mean velocity, vmax in a pipe is:
a) For laminar flow conditions, v = 0.5vmax
b) For turbulent flow conditions the ratio v/vmax depends on the value of the Reynolds
number Re vmaxd
12 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
v/vmax
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
103 104 105 106 107 108
Re
Fig. 1.3 Dependence of ratio v/vmax on Re
From Figure 1.3 one can assume for turbulent flow conditions that v approximately
equals from 0.8 vmax to 0.9vmax, although the ratio v/vmax may exceed 0.9 at high values of
Re.
quantity H1 = H + (Po – P)/ g, where is the density of the flowing out liquid, kg/m3,
space into which the stream is flowing out of the vessel (P, Pa) are different, then the
where Cd is a dimensionless discharge coefficient. It is the product of the velocity
and the coefficient of contraction
coefficient
Cd = (1.34)
do
d
I
man
C d Ao 2 g
2 AH 0.5 (1.35)
0 .5
P ( )
Cd kAo 2 Cd kAo 2gH man
0.5 0.5
Qv = (1.36)
where Cd = discharge coefficient of the normal measuring orifice plate in a smooth not
rough pipe (Table 1.1)
k = roughness coefficient allowing for the roughness of the pipe walls (the mean values
of k for pipes are given in Table 1.2. For hydraulically smooth pipes k = 1.
Ao = 0.785 do2 = cross –sectional area of the measuring plate orifice, m2
do = diameter of the orifice, m
14 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
H = difference between the levels of the liquid in the differential manometer connected to
the orifice plate, m
Since the discharge coefficient of the measuring orifice plate, Cd depends on Re vd and
the value of Re is not known beforehand then when measuring the rate of flow Qv it is
necessary to determine the mean value of Cd for the given (do/d)2 from Table 1.2. After
calculating Qv, the value of Re can be determined. The value, Cd can then be calculated.
1.8 Measuring the rate of flow of a fluid with the aid of a Pitot-Prandtl
tube
From the stagnation pressure equation for an incompressible fluid, velocity is expressed
as follows:
2 P PS
v Po Ps 2 g o
0 .5 0 .5
(1.37)
V2
2g
The basic tube, as shown in Figure 1.5 has two concentric tubes. The end of the center
tube is open and pointed into the flow. The other tube is closed at the end but has holes
in the side that are perpendicular to the flow, to sense static pressure. The flow is
calculated from the difference between the ram pressure in the center tube and the static
pressure in the outer tube.
An annubar is a more accurate device based on the pitot tube concept. It employs several
velocity sensing openings subjected to the fluid flow. The resulting ram and static
pressures are averaged to obtain an accurate indication of the flow rate (Durgaiah, 2004).
For a compressible fluid, the above incompressible fluid equation can be solved if the
Mach Number ≤ 0.3
C p
where K =
C v
Cp, Cv = heat capacity of gas at constant pressure and volume respectively, J/(mol·K)
This shows that the acoustic velocity in an ideal gas depends only on its temperature.
The Mach number, Ma is a ratio of the fluid velocity, v to the speed of sound, c.
Ma = v/c (1.39)
Fig 1.6: The critical dimensions of a typical venturi tube (Source: Spink (1975))
1.11 The power, P (in KW) consumed by the motor of a pump (or a fan) is
calculated by the equation:
Q v P Q v gH p
P
1000 1000
(1.40)
efficiencies of the pump, p, the transmission tr and the motor m, = p tr m.
For pump handling liquids, equation 1.40 holds for any values of P.
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 17
vdp
0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
When using Eq. 1.40 to calculate the power consumed by a pump or fan, the quantity
becomes:
where Pvel = expenditure of pressure for creating a velocity of the flow at the outlet on
the network (the velocity in the suction space equals zero).
Pfr = loss of pressure for overcoming the friction resistance in the pipes.
18 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Padd = P2-P1 = difference between pressures in the delivery space (P2) and in the
suction space (P2).
The drag force FD on objects immersed in a large body of flowing fluid or an object
moving through a stagnant fluid is given as:
C D V 2 A
FD (1.43)
2
CD = 1.33
10 4
Re 105 x 5 (1.44)
Re 0.5
106 Re 109
1.33
CD = (1.45)
Re1 / 7
The characteristic length in the Reynolds number (Re) is the length of the plate parallel
with flow. For bluff objects, the characteristic length is the larger linear dimension
(diameter of cylinder sphere, disk etc) which is perpendicular to the flow.
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 19
A. Isothermal Flow
L v2
Pfv (1.46)
d eq 2
Steel pipes and tubes, seamless and welded, with insignificant 0.2
corrosion
Pipes and tubes of roofing steel coated with varnish or drying oil 0.125
Finished seamless pipes and tubes of brass, copper and lead; glass 0.0015-0.01
pipes and tubes
Re = vd eq
S1 = L
d eq
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 21
Fig. 1.7: The Moody Diagram showing dependence of the pipe resistance coefficient λ on
the Reynolds number Re and the degree of roughness deq/e (Frank, 1999)
The dash line in Fig 1.7 shows the boundary of the so-called self-similar region in
which the pipe resistance coefficient λ does not depend on the Reynolds number Re and
is determined only by the value of the ratio deq/e.
22 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Fig. 1.8: Drag Coefficient versus Reynolds Number for a smooth flat plate parallel to the
flow. (Schlichting, 1979)
Table 1.4: Values of equivalent diameter deq and the coefficient A for selected sections with laminar flow
Fig. 1.9: Flow coefficients for concentric orifices with corner taps (Frank, 1999)
The following equations can also be used to determine resistance coefficient:
The pipe resistance coefficient does not depend on the roughness of the wall of
I. Laminar flow (Re < 2300)
A
Re
24 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Values of A for sections having various shapes are given in Table 1.4
For isothermal laminar flow of fluids through pipes the loss of pressure due to
friction can also be calculated according to the Hagen – Poiseuille law:
vL
Pfr 32 (1.49)
d2
e for dimensionless geometrical.
deq
B. Non-Isothermal Flow
In non-isothermal flow, when the liquid flowing through a pipe becomes heated or cooled
(the temperature of the pipe wall differs from that of the liquid), the right-hand sides of
Equations (1.45), (1.46) and (1.48) should be multiplied by the dimensionless correction
factor x.
For laminar conditions:
x = Pr w Gr Pr (1.51)
1 0 . 22 lq lq
1 0 .15
Re
3
Pr ld
lq
P
x rw
1
3
(1.52)
Pr ld
Where Reld, Prld, Grld = Reynolds, Prandtl, and Grashof numbers calculated for the
average temperature of the liquid.
Prw = Prandtl number calculated for the liquid at the temperature of the pipe wall.
For gases, the value of the Prandtl number Pv remains constant with a change in the
temperature, and the correction factor x for gases determined by Equation (1.52) equals
unity.
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 25
With elevation of the temperature, the values of the Prandtl number Pr decrease for
dropping liquids (Fig. 1.10). Hence the correction factor x determined by Eq. (1.52) is
greater than unity when a liquid becomes cooled (tw < tld) and is less than unity when a
liquid is heated (tw>tld).
Fig.1.10: Values of Prandtl number for liquids (Soo, 1970). Substances for the various
points are shown on the table below.
Chlorobenzene 35 Isoamyl 3
alcohol
Chloroform 34 Isopropyl 7
alcohol
1 3.54
d (1.54)
D
friction resistance Pfr in Equation (1.41) is the sum of these additional pressure losses.
flow. Since the entire length of the pipe is taken into account when calculating the pipe
V 2
Pfr (1.55)
2
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 27
where is a dimensionless local resistance coefficient (its values for selected local
obstacles are given in Tables ( Perry, 2008).
Another way of calculating the loss of pressure in a local obstacle is equated to the
hydraulic resistance of a straight pipe of an equivalent length:
Leq V 2 V 2
Pfr n (1.56)
d 2 2
resistance
Source: Perry,2008
1.15 For a network consisting of piping, having a constant cross section and
V2 L
Pn 1 ghlift P2 P1
2 deq
(1.57)
28 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
or using the second way of calculating the losses due to local obstacles:
V 2 L Leq
Pn 1 ghlift P2 P1
(1.58)
2 deq
1.16 The hydraulic resistance of a bank of pipes or tube with the lateral flow of a
stream around them (Fig. 1-11) is found as follows:
square pitch:
Eu = b(3+4.5m) S1
3.23
Re 0.28
d
(1.59)
m m
) S2 (b) S2
(a
S1 S1 S1
(a) (b)
Figure 1.11: Tube bank arrangements (a) square pitch; (b) triangular pitch
Triangular pitch:
at 2
S1 S
d d
2
at S1 S
d d
b = correction factor depending on the angle of attack (the angle between the
axis of the pipe and the direction of flow), determined from Table 1.6.
m = number of pipe rows in a bank in the direction of the flow
d = external diameter of a pipe
S1 and S2 = lateral and longitudinal pipe pitches.
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 29
The flow velocity is calculated for the narrowest section of a bank AB, the values
of the physicochemical constants are taken for the mean temperature of the flow.
The Re is calculated according to the external diameter of a pipe.
nL V 2 V 2
P
(1.62)
d eq 2 2
o
3m (1.63)
Re0.2
where m is the number of tube rows in the direction of the flow at the inlet to a
heat exchanger and at the outlet from it are calculated according to the velocities
in the connections.
H Vg
Pdry
2
(1.64)
d eg 2
The actual velocity of a gas Vg is found through the fictitious velocity, (related
to the total cross section of the apparatus) by the equation:
Vg (1.66)
V free
Soo (1970) had established that for a randomly dumped packing of rings:
at Re g 40 we have (1.67)
140
Re g
at Re g 40 we have 16 (1.68)
0.2
Re g
vg deq 4
where Reg
(1.69)
v h2 g
Pdry = (1.71)
2
32 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
where vh = velocity of the gas in the slots of the cap or the holes of a
plate, m/s
4
P (1.72)
d eq
4A
- for bubble-cap plates deq =
P
(A is the area of the clear cross-section of a slot, P is the perimeter of the
slot)
- for sieve and perforated plates and tray s deq equals the diameter of a hole,
for grid trays – the double width of a slot.
The resistance of the froth layer at the same velocities of the gas that are used in
plate mass-exchange columns is determined as follows: (a) on a bubble-up plate
Pg lg 1.3K lg L h g
e
(1.73)
2
The quantity h is determined by the formula for outflow over a weir with account taken
of the density of the froth:
Q v , lq
h
2
3
(1.75)
1 . 85 Pk
For a given pipe size, fluid properties and flow rate the hydraulic analysis should provide
pressure and temperature profiles along the pipeline for steady state and transient
conditions.
Liquid catching and slug control requirements at the downstream of the phase
lines.
P 2S 0.32
t
(D t)
(1.76)
1.20.2.1 Panhandle A
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 35
2 0.0375G(h2 h1 )(Pavg )2
( P1 ) ( P2 )2
0.5394
T 2.6182
Qb 435.87 b
1.0778 (1.77)
E
Tavg Zavg
Pb
D
G0.8539LTavg Zavg
T
Qb 737 b D 2.53 E
1.020 (1.78)
Tavg Z avg
b
0.961
P G LT Z
avg avg
Pb GLTZ
2.667
E (1.79)
2
Pavg P1 P2 P2
( P1P2 )
3
(1.80)
P1
Tb = base temperature, oR
Pb = base pressure, psia
G = gas specific gravity, (air = 1)
L = line length, miles
T = gas temperature, oR
Z = gas compressibility factor
D = pipe inside diameter, in
E = efficiency factor
P2
St
EF (1.81)
D
fLV2 X
2000):
V P2 P1 2 (1.82)
gD
V
1
P Pf
Or X (1.83)
has been developed which enables one to calculate the pressure drop between any two
points in a liquid system, the said section containing no device to add or remove work.
P = pressure
V = volume or specific volume
v = velocity in conduit
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 37
g = gravitational constant
f = frictional factor
= density
t u c
2S YP
PD (1.84)
Where t =
wall thickness, in
P =
allowable working pressure
D =
outside diameter, in
S =
allowable stress, psi
Y =
coefficient
u =
under thickness tolerance, in
c =
allowance for threading, mechanical strength, and corrosion, in
from tables, Y = 0.4
u = 0.125 x t (u 12.5 % of t)
c = 0.050-inch
S-Values are:
Spec API 5L GRADE A- 25,000 psi
Spec API 5L GRADE B – 29,750 psi
Spec API 5LX GRADE X – 42,000- 35,700 psi
S t 0.057
P 1.75
D 0.04 0.7t
(1.85)
P
0.0134fSLQ2 (1.86)
d5
1.20.8 Typical equations Used for Calculating Pressure Drop and Flow Rates for
Pipe Lines
0.241 f s Q
(a) For crude oil, Shell/MIT equation is used (Boyun and Ghalambor, 2005):
P
2
(1.89)
d5
For viscous flow; f = 0.00207 x (1/r) and for turbulent flow; f = 0.0018 + 0.00662
x(1/r)0.355
where r = 0.0119 x Q/dv
P = ((Bz0.104S0.448)/(0.871Kd2.656))1.812 (1.92)
(d) For water system hydraulics, Hazen- Williams is used (Crocker, 2000):
PD
1.20.10 Hoop Stress is defined mathematically as:
Sh
2t
(1.95)
Longitudinal Stress:
Fully restrained pipeline
Where,
P = pipe line internal pressure
D = pipe line internal diameter
t = wall thickness
µ = Poisson’s ratio
M = Modulus of elasticity
α = Linear coefficient of thermal expansion
T1 = Pipe line installation temperature
T2 = Pipe line operation temperature
Mb = bending moment applied to the pipe line
Z = pipe section modulus
T = Torque applied to the pipe line
Fs = Shear force applied to the pipe line
A = pipe wall cross section area
∆H = Q (1.99)
Where: U = overall heat transfer coefficient
= 3.1416
d = pipe diameter
L = pipe section length = L2-L1
T1 T2
T1
T
ln
∆Tm = log mean ∆T = 2
If phase changes occur in the line section, the following equation applies.
V
h mCpdT V T dP
P
T P
2
T2
(1.102)
P1
T1
Equation (1.102) relates enthalpy to specific heat (CP) and P, V and T. The second term is
zero, or essentially so, for an ideal gas and a liquid. For a gas the equation shows that the
enthalpy increases as the pressure declines.
If the pressure drop in line segment (dP) is small compared to the absolute pressure,
the second term of Equation (1.102) is small compared to the first term. For a gas line at a
pressure above 3.5 MPa (500 psi), ignoring this second term may not be important. There
are thus three basic solutions for the ∆h equation.
Use an enthalpy-PVT equation of state program
Approximate the second term by assuming a series of Joule-Thomson
expansions.
Ignore the second term completely.
One can approximate Method (2) by translating the change of enthalpy with pressure into
temperature change per unit length. Then one can obtain Equation (1.103):
J
(T1 JL1 ) Tg
a
ln aL
(1.103)
T JL T J
2 g
a
2
42 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Metric English
Where: Cp = heat capacity KJ/kg,oC Btu/lb,oF
a = du/B q ᵧ Cp
L1 = distance from initial point m ft
L2 = distance from final point m ft
L = L2 –L1 m ft
o o
T1 = temperature at L1 C F
o o
T2 = temperature at L2 C F
P = gas sp gr (air=1.0) - -
o o
Tg = ground or water temperature C F
o o
J = Joule-Thomson coefficient C/m F/ft
U = overall heat transfer coefficient, kJ/h.m2.oC Btu/hr.ft2,oF
q = gas flow rate, std volumes 103m3/h Mscf/h
B = constant 408 24.4
Considering the Joule-Thomson effect, it is possible for the gas temperature to be less
than that of the ground. This is likely to occur with long lines possessing a large pressure
drop or at regulator stations. For lean, pipeline-quality natural gases the cooling due to
Joule-Thomson expansion is approximately 0.004 to 0.005 oC/kPa at pipelines operating
near 70 bar.
T T
ln 1 g d U L (1.104)
T T B q C
2 g p
F L MSFD STZ
P
2
20000 d 5 Pav
(1.105)
20.14MSFDS
Re
d
(1.106)
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 43
In actual practice, empirical flow formulas are used by many to solve the gas problems of
field production operations.
The Weymouth formula is the one most frequently used since results obtained by its
use agree quite closely with actual values. Recent modification of the formula by
including Compressibility Factor, Z made the formula applicable for calculation of high
pressure flow problems.
P 2 P2 2
The modified equation is as follows (Campbell, 1992):
Qs 433.45 d 2.667 1
Ts (1.107)
Ps LSTZ
where Qs = rate of flow of gas in ft3/24 hrs measured at standard conditions
D = internal diameter of pipe, in
P1 = initial pressure, psi absolute
P2 = terminal pressure, psi absolute
L = length of lines in miles
S = specific gravity of flowing gas (air =1.0)
T = absolute temperature of flowing gas
Ts = standard absolute temperature
Ps = standard pressure, psia
Z = Compressibility factor
Values of depression d2.667 for different inside diameter of pipe are given in tables.
Flow efficiency is determined by:
f actual
v
(1.108)
vdesign
f
where = flow efficiency
Vactual = actual flow velocity
Vdesign = design flow velocity
NOTE: Presently, SOFTWARE is being used for simulation of flow efficiency in gas
and liquid flow systems.
44 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
EXAMPLES
Example 1.1: The flue gases from a typical furnace installation in process plant are
discharged to the atmosphere through a chimney 19 m high. The composition of the gases
is CO2 -12.7%, O2 -4.9%, N2 -77.5 %, H2O – 4.9% (by volume). The cross sectional area
of the chimney equals that of the horizontal flue. The average temperature of the gases in
the flue and the chimney is 250oC. Find the velocity of the gases if the sum of the
resistance coefficients of the flue and chimney is:
Lfl
27.3
H
deq d
H = height of chimney
Solution: We determine the density of the gas in standard conditions with the relation -
M 1
ρo = = (44 x0.127 + 32 x0.049 + 28 x 0.778 + 18 x 0.049)
22.4 22.4
= 1.328 kg/m3
The density of the gas at 250 oC is:
TO 273
273 250
ρfl = ρ T
o =
1.328 x = 0.693 kg/m3
Let us take the average temperature of the air in Port Harcourt to be 28o C.
The density of air at this temperature is
273
273 28
ρ air = 1.293 x = 1.173 kg/m3
54 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
Considering Bernoulli equation with the reference plane at the level of the flue
v2 v2
PbarI PbarII fl gH PI
2 2
2 2
whence
P
1 = g H( ρair – ρfl) (a)
P
The resistance of the flue and the chimney, 1 can be calculated by the equation:
v
P
L H
2
fl
1 d d 2
eq
v
2
P 27.3
fl
1 2 (b)
APPLIED/PIPELINE HYDRAULICS 55
2
27.3
v
fl
2 = g H( ρair – ρfl)
Introducing numerical values yields;
The maximum axial velocity of the air is determined from the relation:
V max d 15 . 07 x 0 . 147 x1 . 13
0 . 019 x10 3
Re = = = 132 000
The length of the straight section of flow stabilization before the Pitot tube should be at
least 40 diameters: 40 x 0.147 = 5.9 m
The condition is observed because there is a straight pipe section 7 m long. From the
graph or plot v/vmax against Re (Fig 1.2) for Re = 132000, the ratio of the average
velocity to the maximum one v/vmax ≈ 0.85.
Hence the average velocity is v =0.85 x 15.07 =12.8 m/s
56 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING UNIT OPERATIONS, SYNTHESIS AND BASIC DESIGN CALCULATIONS
2
v 2 L 2 P2
1
v1 L1 P1
i.e = (i)
2
v1
2
v2
Fr1 = Fr2 ; i.e = (ii)
gL 1
gL 2
In (i) and (ii) subscript ‘1’ relates to the industrial apparatus and subscript ‘2’ to the
model.
We have, v1 = 3 m/s; L2 = 0.1 L1
273
ρ1 = 1.29 x = 0.945 kg/m3
373
273
ρ2 = 1.29 x = 1.19 kg/m3
295
µ1 = 0.0215 c P; and µ2 = 0.0185 c P
Using these values in eqn (i) we obtain
3 0.945 0.0185
0.0215 0.1 1.19
V2 =
= 20.5 m/s
Substituting in eqn (ii) yields
2
2
32 v
L1 0 .1L1
The results show that the observance of complete hydro-dynamical similarity i.e the
simultaneous similarity of the resistance forces and the gravity forces in the model and
the industrial apparatus in the given conditions is impossible. We will have to limit
ourselves to approximate modeling of the process as is done in practice in the majority of
cases, i.e observe only one condition, (either Re = idem or Fr = idem) depending on
which of these conditions is more important.
If for example, the friction forces are more important, i.e the Reynolds number, Re then
the velocity of the air in the model should be taken equal to 20.5 m/s.
Let us find the conditions in which it is possible to obtain simultaneous similarity of the
friction forces and gravity forces in the model and the industrial apparatus.
1 2
v1 L1 v 2 L2
From the conditions;
2 L1
v1 v1L 2
2
v1 L1
v2 L2
v L v
1 2 = L 1 i.e 1
= 3
L 1
v 2 L 1 L 2
v 2 L 2
This last expression shows the required condition of the simultaneous similarity of the
friction forces and gravity forces.
1.8 References