Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Temperature Drop Calculation

ISSN 1925-542X [Print]
ISSN 1925-5438 [Online]

www.cscanada.net
www.cscanada.org
Advances in Petroleum Exploration and Development

Vol. 7, No. 2, 2014, pp. 127-131
DOI:10.3968/5178
Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Temperature Drop Calculation
ZHAO Guangda[a,b]; SUN Qiji[a,b]; WANG Xiaohu[b]; WANG Xu[b],*
INTRODUCTION
[a]
PetroChina Daqing Oilfield Co., Ltd., Daqing, China.

The Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, HeiLongjiang Province, China.
*Corresponding author.
[b]
Received 30 April 2014; accepted 22 June 2014

Published online 26 June 2014
Abstract
The numerical computation of natural gas pipeline

temperature drop will provide the reference data for
the design of gas pipeline, the judgement of hydrate
formation, the normal production and operation. On the
basis of SuHuoFu formula, considering the effect of the
Joule-Thomson, according to the natural gas flowing
through a pipe heat conduction basic theory, combined
with engineering thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid
mechanics knowledge, establishing gas transmission
pipeline temperature drop model, adopt iterative method,
the natural gas temperature along the pipe is calculated,
comparing some kind of factors such as gas composition,
the pipeline operational factor, the heat preservation
situation, and analysis how the factors influent the
temperature drop, providing the theory basis for how to
reduce the temperature drop in the gas line, the heating
power and the heating furnace heating temperature
calculation, and energy conservation and optimization.
Key words: Natural gas; Temperature drop
calculation; Gas line
Zhao, G. D., Sun, Q. J., Wang, X. H., & Wang, X. (2014). Natural
gas transmission pipeline temperature drop calculation. Advances in
Petroleum Exploration and Development, 7(2), 127-131. Available from:
URL: http://www.cscanada.net/index.php/aped/article/view/5178
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/5178
127
In the process of natural gas transmission pipeline, the

pipeline may generate hydrate with the decrease of
temperature. This caused the pipeline section becomes
smaller and volumetric efficiency becomes lower.
The method of dehydration, heating or heat transfer
sporting usually is used to transport the natural gas.
Numerical calculation of gas pipeline temperature drop
be used to judge whether the design of gas transmission
pipeline hydrate and ensure the production operation to
provide reference data. This paper starts from the basic
theoryofheat conduction. According to the basic theory
ofthermal gas flow in pipeline, this paper combined
with engineering thermodynamics heat transfer, fluid
mechanics. Considering the various influence factors
of natural gas components, pipeline design parameters,
thermal insulation and buried on the natural gas pipeline
temperature drop. Theforward and reverse calculation of
pipeline temperature drop is calculated, the temperature
drop curve is draw. The calculation formula for natural
gas pipeline along the temperature drop was come out.
Effects of various factors on the temperature drop, gas
composition, operating parameters, pipe insulation was
contrasted to provide a way to reduce natural gas pipeline
temperature drop.
1. PHYSICAL MODEL
As buried line contains enormous advantages, such as little
limiting factors about terrain and surface features, shortening
transportation range, safety seal, free of bad weather and
long-term stable operation. So it gets common application in
the petroleum pipeline engineering. Figure 1 is diagrammatic
drawing about buried Natural gas pipeline.
Copyright Canadian Research & Development Center of Sciences and Cultures
when temperature is 273 K, Pa s; C is dimensionless

number associated with the kind of gas. When absolute
atmosphere is one, the illustrates dimensionless number of
several hydrocarbons are as table 1.
Soil
h
Table 1
The Illustrates Dimensionless Number of Several
Hydrocarbons C
insulating
Con
T
duit
d1
Natur
d2
al gas
Figure 1
Schematic Diagram of Buried Gas Pipeline
2. THE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF

NATURAL GAS
Natural gas in the pipeline has been formed through
mixtures of various single component gases which could
not chemically react. Mean parameter are obtained by
the properties of single component gases according to
the mixing rule. It mainly embodied in molecular weight,
average density, virtual critical parameter, correlation
parameter of natural gas. The main parameters in the
process of calculation have heat absorption capacity,
viscosity and coefficient of heat conductivity.
2.1 The Heat Absorption Capacity
By thermodynamics, formula which calculate heat
absorption capacity of is:
2
T T
(1)
CP CV =
2 P

T
Above formula: CP is mass heat capacity at constant
pressure, kJ/(kmolK); CV is mass heat capacity at constant
volume, kJ/(kmolK); T is temperature of the actual gas,
K; is density of The actual gas, kg/m3; P is presure of
the actual gas, Pa.
2.2 Viscosity
The viscosity of one component gas depends on
temperature and pressure, but component of gas also is an
important factor to decide viscosity of gas mixture. The
viscosity of gas mixture rises with temperature increasing.
The approximate formula that temperature effect on gas
dynamic viscosity is:
1.5
273 + C T

T = 0
(2)
T + C 273
Above formula: T is gas dynamic viscosity when
temperature is T, Pa s; 0 is gas dynamic viscosity
Name
Methane
Ethane
Propane
Butane
Isobutane
Pentane
Ethylene
Propylene
Butene
C
164
252
278
377
368
383
225
321
329
Temperature/
20 - 250
20 - 250
20 - 250
20 - 120
20 - 120
122 - 300
20 - 250
20 - 120
20 - 120
2.3 The Heat Conduction Coefficient

The heat conduction coefficient of gas hydrocarbon
rises with temperature or pressure increasing. It could
determine heat conduction coefficient though chart and
calculation method.
2.3.1 The Effect of Temperature on Heat Conduction
Coefficient
2
273 + C T

= 0
(3)
T + C 273
Above formula: is actual gas heat conduction
coefficient, W/(mK); 0 is gas heat conduction coefficient
when temperature is 273 K, W/(mK); C is dimensionless
number associated with the kind of gas.
2.3.2 The Effect of Pressure on Gas Heat Conduction
Coefficient
The heat conduction coefficient of one component gas is
calculated according to the reduced density r when the
pressure is high.
r < 0.5
Zc5
( 0 ) =
0.5 < r < 2.0
Zc5
( 0 ) =
2.0 < r < 2.8
Zc5
( 0 ) =
( 2.69654 10 ) ( e
4
( 2.51972 10 ) ( e
0.535 r
0.67 r
1.069 ) (5)
1.155 r
+ 2.016 ) (6)
( 5.74673 10 ) ( e
5
1) (4)
Above formula: r is gas compared density; 0 is lowpressure gas heat conduction coefficient, W(mK); Zc is
critical compression.
3 . H Y D R A U L I C C A L C U L AT I O N O F
NATURAL GAS IN PIPELINE
3.1 Flow of Gas
Pipeline gas flow rate is calculated as:
128
ZHAO Guangda; SUN Qiji; WANG Xiaohu; WANG Xu (2014).

Advances in Petroleum Exploration and Development, 7 (2), 127-131
QZT
(7)
Pd12
Q: is the beginning of the pipeline gas flow rate, m3/s;

Z stands for compression factor
3.2 Gas Pressure
Assume the length of a section of gas pipeline as L.
Assume X. X represents any point on the pipe from the B
to A, the gas pressure of the pipeline is:
x
(8)
L
In the formula, p Q describes the calculation of the
starting pressure of the gas pipeline or the stop pressure
upstream of the compressor station, MPa; Pz stands for
the calculation of the ending pressure of the gas pipeline
or the outbound pressure downstream of the compressor
station for the gas pipeline, MPa.
PQ 2 ( PQ 2 PZ 2 )
Px =
4. PIPELINE GAS THERMODYNAMIC

CALCULATION
4.1 Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient
Heat transfer process of buried pipeline consists of
three parts: (a) the exothermic from gas to pipe wall, N
layer heat transfer; (b) pipe wall insulation, N layer heat
transfer and so forth; (c) heat transfer from pipe wall to
the surrounding soil. Overall heat transfer coefficient is
calculated as:
d
d
1
1
1
1
1
ln 2 +
ln 3 +
=+
(9)
Kd 1d1 2g d1 2b d 2 2 d3
In the formula, 1 stands for the exothermic coefficient

from gas to the inner pipe wall, W/(m2K); 2 is described
as the exothermic coefficient for the pipe wall to the
surrounding medium heat transfer coefficient, W/(m2K);
g is the thermal conductivity of the pipe wall, W/(mK);
b is the thermal conductivity of insulation, W/(mK).
4.2 The Reduction Formula of Temperature
The Pipe wall reduction formula is calculated as:
PQ PZ
(1 ax ) (10)
aL
In the formula, p Q stands for the starting pipeline
pressure, Pa; pZ is the ending pipeline pressure, Pa; L is
the pipe length, m; T is the gas temperature, K or ; T0 is
the ground temperature of burial deep pipeline in the, K or
; Di joules-Thomson coefficient, /MPa.
=0 +(
ax
129
5. EXAMPLES OF CALCULATION AND

ANALYSIS
5.1 Pipeline Design Parameters
Take from XUSHEN sixth gas gathering station to the
song - associated gas pipeline for example , the design
parameters are: diameter 219 mm 7 mm, the length
is 12 km; Pipes are made of 20# steel, natural gas is
the transmission medium, starting temperature is 60 ,
starting pressure is 10 MPa, the ending pressure is 3 MPa,
the designed capacity is 80 104 m3/d; insulation materials
adopt superfine wool carpets with the thermal conductivity
of 0.035 W/(mK), insulation thickness is 15 mm.
5.2 The Conditions of Laying Pipelines
Laying conditions: The depth of the center of the pipe is
1 m, the soil thermal conductivity is 1.5 W/(mK), the air
temperature is -20 (worst condition). The percentage of
each component of the natural gas are in Table 2.
Table 2
The Percentage of Each Component of the Natural Gas
CH4
92.302
C2H6
1.511
C3H8
0.129
n-C4H10 i-C4H10
0.033
0.011
CO2
3.333
N2
2.61
5.3 Fitting the Relationship Between

Temperature and Distance
Considering the impact of throttling, the gas temperature
of pipeline would below the underground temperature
of the burial depths. When the temperature drop to the
lowest point, soil transfer heat to the pipe, so that the
temperature of the ending pipe would rise slowly. Fitting
the relationship between temperature and distance are
shown in Figure 2.
Gas temperature/
us =2.3 105
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10 0
2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

From the nozzle length/ m
Figure 2
The Dropping Curves of the Pressure of Gas Pipeline
5.4 Comparing the Impact of Various Parameters
on the Dropping of the Temperature
In order to analyze the impact of various factors, enlarging
or narrowing some of the Setting value[10]. Set the length
of the Pipe is 15,000 m, other parameters are the same as
the parameters from Xushen sixth gas gathering station to
the song-associated gas pipeline. The consulting results of
the impact of Pipeline are shown in Figures 3-13.
Gastemperature/
10
0
Gas temperature/
70
70
60
50
40
30
20
Methane
Ethane
5,000
10,000
60
20
10
0
0
40
30
20
10
0
0
5,000
10,000
From the nozzle length/m
133*5
219*7
377*7
40
30
20
10
5,000
10,000
Gas temperature/
10
5,000
10,000
15,000
From the nozzle length/

length/mm
Figure 8
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Starting
Pressure Along the Pipe
70
60
TerminalPressure 15 MPa
50
Terminal Pressure 10 MPa

40
30
20
10
0
Length 5,000 m
Length 10,000 m
Length 20,000 m
20
10
5,000
10,000
15,000
Figure 9
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Ending
70
Gas temperature/
70
30
20
15,000
Figure 5
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Diameter
Along the Pipe
40
Starting Pressure 5 MPa
30
0
0
50
40
60
StartingPressure 15 MPa
50
Gas temperature/
Gas temperature/
70
50
60
15,000
Figure 4
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Content of
Water Vapor Along the Pipe
60
15,000
70
Gas temperature/
Gas temperature/
50
5,000
10,000
Figure 7
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Flow Along
the Pipe
Water vapor content, 10%

60
Flow 12105 m3/d
30
From the nozzle length/ m
70
Flow 8105 m3/d
40
15,000
Figure 3
The Impact of the Content of Methane and Ethane on
the Dropping of the Temperature
Flow 4105 m3/d
50
60
50
40
30
= 0.1W/(mK)
= 0.3W/(mK)
= 0.5W/(mK)
20
10
0
0
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
Figure 6
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Length
Along the Pipe
5,000
10,000
15,000
Figure 10
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Thermal
Conductivity of the Insulation Layer Along the Pipe
130
Gas temperature/
ZHAO Guangda; SUN Qiji; WANG Xiaohu; WANG Xu (2014).

Advances in Petroleum Exploration and Development, 7 (2), 127-131
70
60
50
40 mm
60 mm
80 mm
40
30
20
10
0
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
Gas temperature/
Figure 11
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Thickness
of Thermal Conductivity Along the Pipe
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0

500
1,000
1,500
REFERENCES
2,000
Figure 12
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Starting
Gas temperature/
300

250
200
150
100
50
0
500
1,000
1,500
a great influence on the temperature drop. Water vapor

content, diameter and thermal conductivity of the insulation
layer have little influence on thetemperature drop.
(b) For the long distance gas pipeline, the temperature
drop in the pipeline near the beginning is the most
obvious. Because of the influence of throttling effect,
the minimum temperature of natural gas will be lower
than the temperature. After the gas heat transfer, the
temperature of natural gas increased slightly.
(c) Starting and end point of the pressure and tube
length effect of low temperature. The greater the
differential pressure of starting and end point is and the
smaller the length is, throttling effect is significant and the
lowest temperature of natural gas is lower.
(d) When the length of the pipeline is longer, the
diameter has no effect on the diameter.
2,000
Figure 13
The Dropping of Temperature of Different Ending
CONCLUSION
(a) Gas composition, the length, the task flow start and
end pressure and the thickness of the insulation layer have
131
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ISSN 1925-542X [Print]

ISSN 1925-5438 [Online]

Advances in Petroleum Exploration and Development