12 Rules of Thumb for Chemi
Nomenclature
D = pipe inside diameter, mm or in
¢ = efficiency, dimensionless
gas specific gravity
dimensionless
OG (Hh—M) Pe
ZaTs
= head correction, kPa or psia
(compared to air),
Where C2 = 0.0375 for US units, and 0.06835 for SI units
elevation of pipeline at origin, m or ft
elevation of pipeline at terminus, m or ft
L = pipe length, km or miles
nF (PR)
= average pressure for calculating H. and Z,
P,, = pressure base, standard conditions, kPa or psia
inlet pressure, kPa or psia
*» = outlet pressure, kPa or psia
Q = flow rate, standard m'/day or standard f'/day
average temperature, K or R
temperature base, standard conditions, K or R
Z, = average compressibility factor, dimensionless
Compressible Flow - Adiabatic
This section gives equations for computing pressure
drop due to friction for adiabatic flow [17]. An iterative
solution is required, but this is easy using the Solver tool
in Excel, or in a VBA subroutine. Use the following
procedure to solve for the flow rate (given upstream and
downstream pressures) or one of the pressures (given the
flow rate and the other pressure).
1. Calculate the Mach number, defined as the ratio of
the velocity of the gas in a pipe to the speed of sound.
in the gas at flowing conditions (temperature and
pressure). Use the upstream (given) temperature for
itil guess ofthe downstream temperature.
Nuw = vw 1.16)
i= \ RTE 16)
2. Calculate an intermediate value for each of the two
‘Mach numbers:
(17)
(1-18)
4, Solve the following equation by iteration of the
unknown flow or pressure, simultaneously with
equations 1-16, 1-17, and 1-18,
i)
(1-19)
‘The next section includes a VBA function that sol-
ves this problem,
Visual Basic Subroutines for Pressure Drop Due to Friction
‘The VBA functions listed here are used in conjunction
with an Excel spreadsheet to solve for pressure drop due to
friction in circular pipes running full, There are three
functions, designed to work in SI units. Incompressible
and adiabatic compressible flow problems are modeled in
single function, with two of three values as input and the
third as output (P), P2, or W). The functions and
examples are provided in the accompanying Excel
workbook.
After entering the code into a VBA Module, call the
functions from an Excel worksheet using the syntax given.
Each function returns a single value as described.Syntax ROS| Wn dp EMP)
Returns: Reynolds number
Requires ‘ass flow rate, viscosity, pipe diameter
Either density or temperature, molecular weight and pressure
Example: Figure 1-1
Listing
Function NReSI(K, mu,
Optional Mw, Optional p)
“w= Flowrate in kg/h
+ nu = Viscosity fnmPa-s
4, Optional ro, Optional Tin,
+ d=Pipelo inam
* ro = density in kg/m (required for liquid
in-= temperature, deg C (required for gas) - default
20degc
“Hy =nolecular weight (requi red for gas) - default 29
* p=pressure, kPa (required for gas) - default 1000 kPa
+ Re = ro u L/nw
+ r= density
*u=velocsty
+ L=length (or pipe diameter)
mu = viscosity
* Convert viscosity to units kg/mh
su =mu* 0.001 * 3600,
* Convert pipe diameter to meters
a=a/000
Ps =3.141592654
RL = 8214.47 * gas constant
f IsMissing(ro) Then * assune this 1s. gas cal eulation
Is ssing(Tin) Then Tin
# Ist ssingcMw) Then Hh
3]
2. pats
7 Parameter Unite
8) Mass Flow Rate —_kgih
3 Vesoosey mPa
40) PpeDameter mm
al Densty kira
2 Temperature
78] Noecuar Weight — kkgmo
ie) Presi We ere
45)
48)
Sopa
18 Reynlss Number _dmensioness
19)
20
Bl
zy
Figure 1
|-NRes\08.08,010,011)
Fluid Flow 13
If Ist ssing(p) Then p = 1000 "kPa
Convert tenperature to deg k
Tin=Tin + 273.15
Convert pressure to Pa
papel
ro=p*Mw/(R1* Tin)
End tf
If ¥al(ro) =0 Then
If Ist ssing(Tin) Then Tin = 20
If Ist ssing(Ma) Then Hw = 29
If Ist ssing(p) Then p = 1000 "kPa
Convert temperature to deo k
Tin=Tin + 273.15,
Convert pressure to Pa
=p 1000
ro=p*Mw/(R1* Tin)
End tf
Caleulate veloctty
U=wrosiPt * (4/2) *2)
NReSI = ro*U* d/aw
End Funetion
Darcy Friction Factor
Stan = FicionSi Nar a)
eture: Darcy friction factor
Required pipe roughness, Reynolds number pipe dlamoter
Example: Figure 1-2
Listing
Function FrictionS! epsilon, We, d)
epstlon= Surface roughness 1s in units m
= PipelD 1s in units me
| EEE | HPPEPEPE SFT] PEPER CPAP BEPC RP PEE PRP PPS PRTG
Example | Example 2
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|-nReSiE3.£9.510,612,613.614)14 Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers
el SE: MGSES R G
5 Inputs
Ed Pawmeter lun Srampe3
8 Wass Fou Rats fain “0000
Bo] asoaep mos i
40, PreDaneter mm xe
At Denaty ‘om 3610
42, Temperste oc
33 Moteur ght korg
a Preseure i abealte
1s
6 Pree Rouainess o ono0487
7
18 ouput
‘6 Reyolis Number émersoness 77.357
Fa
1 Darcy Picton Facordmersoness 0.0234
Bz
a
_ |-Fretionsi(016 019,010)
Figure 1-2.
convert dtameter fron aa tom
a= a/1000
wrehil1, $.K
Flow Regimes,”
hemical Engineering, 84:24, p9
a = (2.457 * Log(/((7/NRE) *
“Friction Factor Equation Spans 211
1977
9+ (0.27 * epstlon/
ayy) 816
(a7530/NRe) * 16
FeictionS! =8* ((8/WRe) * 124 1/(a +b) 41.5) * (1/12
End Funetion
Pressure Drop Due to Friction
Syntae POW.F Pd La Th Ma)
Function PO(W, Pin, Pout, d, Lf, Optional Density, Optional Tin,
Optional Mw, Optional Gamma)
FRetums: Downstream pressure, upstream pressure, or ow
Required: Two ofthe three parameters: downstream pressure,
upstream pressure, or ow
Pipe parameters diameter, equivalent length, and friction
factor. When sohing fr flow, an adttiona tration is
‘needed on the Reynolds number. See the example for
{an explanation
Ether density o temperature, molecular weight
and gamma
Note: As written, limited to perfect gas behavior. The
compressibility factor, Z, could be added wherever the
term R * T appears (change to R * T* Z); in this case, add
Z to the list of arguments.
Example, see Figure 1-3:
Create a cell formula that computes the difference
between the guess and the calculated (E26) flow rate.
‘Then, use Goal Seek to find a value for Guess that equals
the calculated rates.
‘Actually, this is overkill given the inherent uncertainty
in the friction factor to begin with. There is nothing wrong
with calculating a friction factor based on an initial guess
then just going with it, An example flow rate calculation is
shown in Figure 1-4
Listing
Function PDSI(W, Pin, Pout. d. L, f, Opttona? Density.
Optional Tin, Optional Hx, Optional Ganma, Optional
sotheraal)
* Pressure Drop due to friction ina round pipe
“with the fol lowing arguments
* Specify two of the following three: function W111
compute the third
“Wamass flow rate, kg/h
* Pin= inlet, or upstream, pressure, kPa
* Pout = outlet, or downstream pressure, kPa
* Pipe properties
“d= pipe dianeter, an
*L=pipe length, m
+f =barcy friction factor
+ Fluld properties
* Density (optional)
“Tin (optional )
deg ¢ (default to 20
* Hoc (optional
(default to 29 for air)
* Gamma (opt onal)
(default to 1.4
"Isothermal (optional) ~- any value forces tsothermal
compressible cale, Sf missing then adiabatic
"Establish constants
spect fy for
specify for gas
squids, ka/n3
inlet tenperature
specify for gas, molecular weight
specify for gas, ratio of Cp/cy
gc=1" conversion constant, m/sec2
RL = 8314.47 * gas constant, &3-Pa/kgnol-K
Pi = 3.1415926
convert d tometers
a= a/i000
* convert temperature to deg k
f IsMissing(Tin
in =Ting 273.15
Determine which unknoxn to solve for ~ Flow,
Pressure, or Outlet Pressure
On Error Resume Next
# IsMissing(W) Then
hen Pin =0
hen Pout =
hen Tin = 20
Inlet
f IsMissingcPin
# IsMissing(Pout)
On Error GoTo 0
0 Then opt
0 Then opt
Input Ere*
GoTo PoEnd
End If
* Limited input checking