SERIES PIPING

 Usually there is a pipeline having a single diameter throughout, but there are

situations where a gas pipeline can consist of different pipe diameters

connected together in a series.

 Following figure shows a series piping system.

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Equivalent Length Concept for calculating pressure in
pipeline

 This method can be applied when the same uniform flow exists throughout

the pipeline, with no intermediate deliveries or injections.

 Flow Q remains constant through all pipe segments.

 Equivalent length is obtained by the following formula :

.

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Ques.

 A series piping system, shown in Figure , consists of 12 mi of NPS 16, 0.375

in. wall thickness connected to 24 mi of NPS 14, 0.250 in. wall thickness and

8 miles of NPS 12, 0.250 in. wall thickness pipes.

 Calculate the inlet pressure required at the origin A of this pipeline system

for a gas flow rate of 100MMSCFD. Gas is delivered to the terminus B at a

delivery pressure of 500 psig

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 The gas gravity and viscosity are 0.6 and .000008 lb/ft-s, respectively. Take

friction factor as 0.02.Take isothermal flow 600 F.

 Compare results using the equivalent length method and with the more

detailed method of calculating pressure for each pipe segment separately.

Z=0.9

 NPS12=12.75inches

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 Next, we will compare the preceding result, using the equivalent length

method, with the more detailed calculation of treating each pipe segment

separately and adding the pressure drops.

 Consider the 8 mi pipe segment 3 first, since we know the outlet pressure at

B is 500 psig.

 Therefore, we can calculate the pressure at the beginning of segment 3 using

General Flow Equation, as follows:

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 This is the pressure at the beginning of the pipe segment 3, which is also the

end of pipe segment 2.

 Next, consider pipe segment 2 (24 mi of NPS 14 pipe) and calculate the

upstream pressure P1 required for a downstream pressure of 679.13 psig,

calculated in the preceding section.

 Using General Flow Equation, for pipe segment 2, we get

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 Next, we calculate the inlet pressure P1 of pipe segment 1 (12 mi of NPS 16

pipe)

 for an outlet pressure of 923.88 psig, just calculated. Using the General Flow

equation for pipe segment 1, we get,

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 Solving for pressure P1, we get P1 = 994.75 psia = 980.05 psig

 This compares well with the pressure of 980.07 psig we calculated earlier

using the equivalent length method.

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 PARALLEL PIPING

 In parallel piping two or more pipes are connected in such a

way that the gas flow splits among the branch pipes and

eventually combines downstream into a single pipe.

 It is also called a looped piping system, where each parallel pipe

is known as a loop.

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 Two reasons for installing loops in pipeline :

 Reduce pressure drop in a certain section of the pipeline due to

pipe pressure limitation

 For increasing the flow rate.

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Calculation of flow rate in individual pipe segment

Two main principles of parallel pipes is used:

The first principle is that of conservation of flow at any junction point

Q  Q1  Q2          (1)

 The second principle is that there is a common pressure across each parallel

pipe.

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 0.5
 Tb  P  P
2 2 
Q  38.77 F   
1 2
 D 2.5
 Pb   GT f LZ 

The pressure drop due to friction in branch BCE can be calculated

from

2
K LQ
P P 
B
2
E
2 1 1 1
5
D 1

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 2
K 2 L2Q
P P 
B
2
5 E
2 2
D2

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 In the two equations of pressure drop, constants K1 and K2 are

equal, since they do not depend on the diameter or length of the

branch pipes BCE and BDE.

 Combining both equations, we can state the following for

common pressure drop through each branch:

2 2
K1 L1Q K 2 L2Q
1
5
 5
2
D1 D2
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 Simplifying further, we get the following relationship between the two flow

rates Q1 and Q2:

0.5 2.5
Q1  L2   D1 
         (2)
Q2  L1   D2 

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Equivalent method of calculating pressure drop

 In this method, we replace the pipe loops BCE and BDE with a certain

length of an equivalent diameter pipe that has the same pressure drop as one

of the branch pipes.

 Solving for equivalent diameter De gives

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Ques.

 A gas pipeline consists of two parallel pipes. It is designed to operate at a

flow rate of 100 MMSCFD. The first pipe segment AB is 12 miles long and

consists of NPS 16, 0.250 in. wall thickness pipe. The loop BCE is 24 mi

long and consists of NPS 14, 0.250 in. wall thickness pipe.

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 The loop BDE is 16 miles long and consists of NPS 12, 0.250

in. wall thickness pipe. The last segment EF is 20 miles long

and consists of NPS 16, 0.250 in. wall thickness pipe.

 Assuming a gas gravity of 0.6, calculate the outlet pressure at

F and the pressures at the beginning and the end of the pipe

loops and the flow rates through them.

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 The inlet pressure at A = 1200 psig. The gas flowing temperature = 80°F,

base temperature = 60°F, and base pressure =14.73 psia. The compressibility

factor Z = 0.92. Use the General Flow equation with Colebrook friction

factor f = 0.015.

 NPS12 = 12.75

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Sol..

 The ratio of the flow rates through the two pipe loops is given by

Q  Q1  Q2          (1)
0.5 2.5
Q1  L2   D1 
         (2)
Q2  L1   D2 
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 This is the pressure at the beginning of the looped section at B. Next we

calculate the outlet pressure at E of pipe branch BCE, considering a flow rate

of 51 MMSCFD through the NPS 14 pipe, starting at a pressure of 1181.33

psia at B.

 Using the General Flow equation, we get

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 In summary, the calculated results are as follows:

 Pressure at the beginning of pipe loops = 1166.6 psig

 Pressure at the end of pipe loops = 1130.9 psig

 Outlet pressure at the end of pipeline = 1071.12 psig

 Flow rate in NPS 14 loop = 51 MMSCFD

 Flow rate in NPS 12 loop = 49 MMSCFD

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Second Method for the looped Section

 We will now calculate the pressures using the equivalent diameter method

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 Thus, we can replace the two branch pipes between B and E

with a single piece of pipe 24 mi long, having an inside

diameter of 17.67 in., flowing 100 MMSCFD.

 The pressure at B was calculated earlier as PB = 1181.33 psia

 Using this pressure, we can calculate the downstream pressure

at E for the equivalent pipe diameter as follows:

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 The pressure value is almost the same as what we calculated before.

 The pressure at F will therefore be the same as what we calculated before.

 Therefore, using the equivalent diameter method, the parallel pipes BCE and

BDE can be replaced with a single pipe 24 mi long, having an inside

diameter of 17.67 in.

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Ques.
 In a gas distribution pipeline, 60 MMSCFD enters the pipeline

at A, as shown in Figure. If the delivery at B is increased from

20 MMSCFD to 30 MMSCFD by increasing the inlet flow at A,

keeping all downstream flow rates the same, calculate the

looping necessary if entire length AB is looped to ensure

pressures are not changed throughout the pipeline. Pipe AB is

NPS 14, 0.250 in. wall thickness; BC is NPS 12, 0.250 in. wall

thickness;
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 CD is NPS 10, 0.250 in. wall thickness; and DE is NPS 12,

0.250 in. wall thickness. The delivery pressure at E is fixed at

600 psig. The pipe lengths are as follow:

 AB=12 miles; BC=18 miles; CD=20 miles; DE =8 miles

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 The gas gravity is 0.60, and the flow temperature is 60°F. The

compressibility factor and transmission factor can be assumed

to be 0.85 and 20, respectively, throughout the pipeline. The

base pressure and base temperature are 14.7 psia and

60°F,respectively.

 Also calculate the loop length if a particular length of AB is

looped with a diameter of 10 NPS and 0.25 inch wall thickness.

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Sol.

 First, the pressures at A and B must be calculated for the initial

flow rates.

 Starting at E, for a delivery pressure of 600 psig at E, the

pressures at D, C, and B will be calculated sequentially.

 Applying the General Flow equation for the 8 mi section DE of

inside diameter 12.25 in. and at a flow rate of 20 MMSCFD,

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 Pressure at D

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 Pressure at C

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 Pressure at B:

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 Pressure at A

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 Since the pressures at A and B are to remain the same as before,

the pipe segment AB must be looped to reduce the pressure drop

at the higher flow rate.

 We will assume the entire 12 mi length will be looped. Next, we

calculate the equivalent diameter required for segment AB,

using the General Flow equation, so the pressures at A and B are

the same as before.

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 Therefore, the pipe section AB must be looped with a pipe of
inside diameter 6.6 in. for the entire length of 12 mi.

 We could also increase the loop diameter and reduce the pipe
length that is looped to get the same effect.

 For example, increasing the loop diameter to 10 in. will reduce

the length of looping needed.

 Suppose we decide on an NPS 10, 0.250 in. wall thickness pipe

for the loop length of L mi. upstream of B.

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