278 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

Table 8-4 summarizes the equivalent length for various commonly

used valves and fittings. Figures 8-11 and 8-12 show equivalent lengths
of various fabricated bends.
Laminar Flow Coefficient

Equivalent lengths that are usually published in tables are for turbulent
flow. The following equation is used when the flow is laminar, that is, the
Reynolds number is less than 1,000:

where (Le)laminar = equivalent length to be used in pressure drop calcu-

lations (never less than actual fitting length)
Le = equivalent length of the valve or fitting if flow were
turbulent

EXAMPLE PRESSURE DROP CALCULATIONS

Example 8-1: Pressure Drop in Liquid Line

Problem: Solve for pressure drop in a 2-inch and 4-inch I.D. line using
the general equation and Hazen-Williams.
 Pressure Drop in Piping 281

Diameter
2-in. 4-in.
Re 14.4 X 10 3
7.2 X 103
e/d 0.002 0.001
f (from chart) 0.032 0.034
AP 78psi 2.6 psi

Example 8-2: Pressure Drop in Gas Line

282 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

Inlet pressure = 900 psi

Temperature = 80°F
Problem: Solve for pressure drop in a 4-in. and 6-in. ID line using the:
1. General equation
2. Assumption of AP < 10% P!
3. Panhandle B Equation
4. Weymouth Equation.

Solution to Example 8-2

1. General Equation
Specific gravity of liquid:

Diameter
4-in. 6-in.
6
Re 7.6 X 10 5.0 X 106
e/d 0.001 0.0007
f (from chart) 0.0198 0.0180
Pi 2 -P 2 2 555 X 103 66 X 103
P2 505 863
AP 395 psi 37 psi
 Pressure Drop in Piping 283

Diameter
4-in. 6-in.
P2
AP
753
147
882 psi
18psi

4. Weymouth

Diameter
4-in. 6-in.
P2
AP
476
424 psi
862 psi
38 psi
284 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

Example 8-3: Pressure Drop in Two-Phase Line

Given: Same conditions as Examples 8-1 and 8-2

Problem: Solve for the pressure drop with both liquid and gas flow in
a single 4-in., 6-in., or 8-in. line.

Solution to Example 8-3

Specific gravity of liquid = 0.91 (from before)

Density of mixture (compute at 900 psi):

Line ID AP
4 in. 392 psi
6 in. 52 psi
Sin. 12 psi
It may be desirable to iterate using an average density for each case.
324 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

(text continued from page 314)

for pipe, flanges, fittings, bolts, nuts, and gaskets, material and construc-
tion for each valve used in the piping, welding certification and inspec-
tion requirements, and design details, (e.g., branch connections, pipe
support spacing, clearances, and accessibility). Each pipe class in the
job is assigned a designation that indicates its pressure rating and ser-
vice. A separate table is prepared for each designation that lists the
details of pipe material, end connection, acceptable valves of each type,
fittings, etc. for the specific pipe designation. Often, each valve type is
assigned a symbol or designation number that is referenced on the
mechanical flow sheets. Tables 9-12 and 9-13 are examples of pipe,
valve, and fittings tables.
A pipe, valve, and fitting specification differs from the industry stan-
dard pressure rating standards in that it addresses the quality of the pip-
ing components an construction details. It may require greater wall
thicknesses than may be calculated from either ANSI B 31.3 or B 31.8.
This is especially true for small diameter pipes where mechanical
integrity can be more important than ability to withstand internal pres-
sure. It designates the particular type of joint (e.g., flange, socket weld,
screwed), that is required for each service and the quality of the valves
and fittings to be purchased.
A discussion of each of the details in developing a pipe, valve, and fit-
ting specification is beyond the scope of this chapter. A general descrip-
tion of items to consider is contained in API RP 14E.

EXAMPLES
Example No. 9-1: Liquid Line

Given: Same as Example 8-1.

Liquid flow to a low pressure separator operating at 150 psi.
Line is rated for 1,480 psi.
Problem: Choose a line size and wall thickness using B 31.3, B 31.4,
and B 31.8.

(text continued on page 328)

328 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

(text continued from page 324)

Solution
Criteria

Pressure Drop
From Example 8-1, the pressure drop in 2-in. line is acceptable. For
flexibility and mechanical strength, it would probably be better to use a
2-in. line than a 1-in. or 1%-in. line.
B31.3

Would probably use a standard weight pipe for mechanical strength.

B31.8
Outside the facility use F = 0.72, wall thickness same as above. Within
the facility use F = 0.6.
t = 0.0837 in.
 Choosing a Line Size and Wall Thickness 329

Example No. 9-2: Gas Line

Given: Same as Example 8-2.

Gas flows to dehydrator, which operates at 800 psi.
Line is rated for 1,480 psi.
Problem: Choose a line size and wall thickness using B 31.3 and
B31.8.

Solution
Criteria

At this low a pressure, erosional velocity is not important.

Velocity
Maximum velocity occurs at the dehydrator.

Pressure Drop
From Example 8-2 pressure drop in 4-in. line is not acceptable, but is
acceptable in a 6-in. line. This also gives reasonable velocities (between
15 and 60 ft/s).

Use 6-inch XS. Could use 6-inch 0.375 wall if available.

330 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

B31.8
Outside facility:

Use 6-in. std. Could use 6-in. 0.219 wall if available.

Inside facility:

Example No. 9-3: Two-Phase Line

Given: Same as Example 8-3.

Fluid flows to separator, which operates at 800 psi.
Line is rated for 1,480 psi.
Problem: Choose a line size and wall thickness using B 31.3 and
B31.8.

Solution

Criteria

Critical condition occurs at lowest pressure but for computing Ve use

900 psi to be conservative.
pm = 6.93 lb/ft3 from Example 8-3.
 Choosing a Line Size and Wall Thickness 331

c ve
80 30.4
100 38.0
120 45.6
140 53.2
Minimum ID
Z = 0.67 (from Chapter 3)

V ro^
10 7.9
15 6.5
38 4.1
46 3.7
53 3.4
Pressure Drop
From Example 8-3 a 4-in. line is not acceptable, a 6-in. line is margin-
al and an 8-in. line is probably okay.

Use 8-in. XS. Could use 8-in. 0.438 wall if available.

332 Design of OIL-HANDLING Systems and Facilities

Use 8-inch, 0.277 wall. With a slight deration, one could use an 8-
inch, 0.250 wall.
Inside facility:

Use 8-in. std. One could use an 8-in., 0.312 wall if available.

REFERENCES

1. Svedeman, Steven J. "Experimental Study of the Erosional/Corrosion-

al Velocity Criterion for Sizing Multiphase Flow Lines," Submitted to
American Petroleum Institute, 1993.
2. Wicks, Moye, "Transport of Solids at Low Concentrations in Horizon-
tal Pipes," Advances in Solid-Liquid Flow in Pipes and its Application,
Iraj Zandi, Pergamon Press, 1971.