Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
(OP)
Hi Everyone,
This is my first post in the forum, I´m Industrial Engineer, from Mexico. I work as a Project Engineer for a natural gas compression company. I´m now more often involved in compression infraestructures, I use to select the pipe diameters, valves, fittings and instrumentation required, but when it comes to pressure drop calculation along the pipeline I frequently come across with troubles to calculate it and resort to some basic software for this porpouse. The thing is that I'd like to know how to calculate it by myself, at least a rough estimate, since my position doesn´t require me to make detailed calculation and I only have the most basic inputs to it, i.e. inlet pressure, distance, pipe diameter, temperature, gas density, elevations, assumption of Z value, gas velocity (this one just if calculate the outlet pressure, in which case I wouldn´t need to recalculate the pressure drop). So, basically, the question is whether, with the mentioned inputs I can estimate the pressure drop. I want to get involved in fluids mechanics from now on, but I have to start from the basics, so I hope you can help me developing these skills.
Thank you guys in advance.
This is my first post in the forum, I´m Industrial Engineer, from Mexico. I work as a Project Engineer for a natural gas compression company. I´m now more often involved in compression infraestructures, I use to select the pipe diameters, valves, fittings and instrumentation required, but when it comes to pressure drop calculation along the pipeline I frequently come across with troubles to calculate it and resort to some basic software for this porpouse. The thing is that I'd like to know how to calculate it by myself, at least a rough estimate, since my position doesn´t require me to make detailed calculation and I only have the most basic inputs to it, i.e. inlet pressure, distance, pipe diameter, temperature, gas density, elevations, assumption of Z value, gas velocity (this one just if calculate the outlet pressure, in which case I wouldn´t need to recalculate the pressure drop). So, basically, the question is whether, with the mentioned inputs I can estimate the pressure drop. I want to get involved in fluids mechanics from now on, but I have to start from the basics, so I hope you can help me developing these skills.
Thank you guys in advance.





RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
I could tell you to use Darcy's formula and use the Moody Friction Factor Diagram, but then you might ask what those are, and if you know, you would be asking how to apply it.
The resource that I have found most helpful explaining all this is Crane Technical Paper No. 410. It is actually a booklet, but has explained (and shows examples) of how to solve about every fluid flow problem there is.
Get this resource and study it. It will be invaluable.
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
I'll check both API14E and Crane. Definitely I need to study more on this subject before trying to do anything.
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
Panhandle A and B equations
AGA Gas Flow Equation
can all be used to calculate pressure losses in natural gas pipelines (within their certain limitations), including allowance for the compressibile fluid that it is.
download this and scroll towards the end of the slides. You will see most of those formulas there.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?q=http://profsite.um....
I hate Windowz 8!!!!
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
Now that you mention it, I´ve used the Weymouth to calculate both the flow and diameter, since among the inputs of that formula it is the outlet pressure what I have to do is to solve for outlet pressure.
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
My motto: Learn something new every day
Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
Diego, The standard form of the equations are usually to calculate the outlet pressure. If not, you can do some algebra and reverse the equation to solve directly for outlet pressure, or do some iterative calculations.
I hate Windowz 8!!!!
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
I'll try some examples with Weymouth, reversing the equation, and then with Pipesim and see how close the results are.
RE: Estimation of Pressure Drop in Gas Pipelines
http://www.ewp.rpi.edu/hartford/~ernesto/S2009/EP/...
This, and other conference articles, used to be freely available from the Pipeline Simulation Interest Group but I see that they have given the job of handling all their artilces to OnePetro who now charge a small fee for any downloads. https://www.onepetro.org/
Katmar Software - AioFlo Pipe Hydraulics
http://katmarsoftware.com
"An undefined problem has an infinite number of solutions"