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BASIC PROCESS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

14. LINE SIZING CRITERIA

14.1. LINE SIZING CRITERIA FOR LIQUIDS

MAXIMUM PRESSURE DROP

SERVICE LINE SIZE VELOCITY bar/km
m/s Normal Max.
≤ 2” 0.6
3” – 10” 0.9
Pump suction, bubble point (1) 0.6 0.9
12” – 18” 1.2
≥ 20” 1.5
≤ 2” 0.9
3” – 6” 1.2
Pump suction, subcooled 2.3 3.5
8” – 18” 1.5
≥ 20” 1.8
Pump discharge: - P ≤ 50 barg 3.5 4.5
1.5 to 3 (8)
- P > 50 barg 7.0 9.0
Gravity flow 0.6 (3) 0.25 0.45
≤ 2” 0.6
Side-stream draw-off (2) 0.6 0.9
≥ 3” 0.9
Rich Amine, sour water, caustic soda 2.0 (9)
Cooling water (7): - sub-header 2.5 3.5
2.5
- main header 0.6 – 1.5 (4)
2 m/s min.
Sea Water
2.5 to 3.5
Kerosene jet fuel (5) 3.0 (max)
Hot oil 1.0 (min)

Notes:

(1) Applicable to liquid containing dissolved gas.

(2) Provide a vertical run of 3 metres minimum from nozzle, at nozzle size, before
reducing the size of the line.
(3) Normal velocity.
(4) To be analysed case by case.
(5) 50 to 100 m upstream tank inlet or loading facilities, the velocity shall be reduced
to 1 m/s limit risks associated with static electricity.
(6) Pressure Drops for liquid to thermosiphon reboiler are 0.2 – 0.4 bar/km to be
checked by heat exchanger section.
(7) Use Hazen-Williams formula for calculation.
(8) For off sites large lines velocity criteria can be increased
(9) Rich Amine velocity limitation to be set-up case by case
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BASIC PROCESS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

14.2. GAS & VAPOURS

Maximum
ρv² (max) Pressure Drop
Velocity
Pa bar/km
m/s
1. VACUUM SERVICE 4 % Abs. Press. Max. 90
2. COMPR. SUCT. 0.2 – 0.7 (2)
(2)
3. COMPR. DISCH. GAS 0.4 – 1.0 (2)
4. STEAM (sub-headers)
a) 1 barg 0.4 – 1.0
15 000 (3)
b) 10 – 40 barg 1.0 – 2.0
c) > 40 barg (5)
5. STEAM (long lines)
a) 1 barg 15 000 0.1 – 0.2 (3)
b, c) > 10 barg 0.2 – 1.0
6. KETTLE REBOILER OR NATURAL
0.2 – 0.4 (4)
CIRCULATION RETURN LINE
7. OVHD VAPOUR FROM STRIPPER 0.2 – 0.45 (4)
8. COLUMN OVHD (P ≥ atm) 15 000 0.3 – 0.6 (1)
9. COLUMN OVHD (vacuum) TOTAL = 5 mm Hg max 90
10. GAS LINES
P ≤ 20 barg 6 000
20 < P ≤ 50 barg 7 500 (4)
50 < P ≤ 80 barg 10 000
P > 80 barg 15 000

Notes:

(1) See figure in Annex 2

(2) See figure in Annex 5
(3) The following table applies to set the velocity:

STEAM CONDITIONS
PIPE SIZE
SATURATED SUPERHEATED
< 2” 10 m/s 15 m/s
3” – 8“ 30 m/s 40 m/s
> 10” 40 m/s 60 m/s

(4) For large diameter lines of over 300 mm, it should be verified that the following
velocities are not exceeded:

Pressure (barg) Max. Velocity (m/s)

0.1 or lower 60.0
Up to 1.0 40.0
Up to 2.5 30.0
Up to 10.0 15.0
Up to 20.0 10.0
Up to 40.0 7.0

(4) to be analysed case by case

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BASIC PROCESS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

14.3. EROSIONAL SERVICES

14.3.1. Mixed phase

Pressure Drop v
bar/km m/s
1. MIXED PHASE CONDENSATES 0.2 – 0.3 10 – 20
2. REBOILER RETURN LINE (NATURAL CIRCULATION) 0.2 – 0.4
3. PARTIAL CONDENSER OUTLET 0.3 – 0.6
4. MIXED PHASES AT COMPRESSOR DELIVERY 0.4 – 1.0

Vertical and horizontal pipes should not be affected by slug flow.

In a first step, the following criteria can be used:

vm = 10 to 23 m/s
2 = 5 000 to 10 000 Pa (15 000 Pa Max)
ρm v m

where:
ρm = density of mixed phase
vm = velocity of mixed phase (equal to 10 to 23 m/s)

14.3.2. High velocity services

In offshore facilities piping handling gaseous and mixed phase (gas/vapour + liquid)
streams, velocity shall be lower than the erosional velocity defined in API RP-14E/3,
that is:
C
Ve =
S
Where:
Ve = ft/s
S = lbs/ft³
C = refer to the following table

“C” VALUES

CONTINUOUS SERVICE
150 For high alloy/corrosion resistant material.
For uniform corrosion with rates lower than 0.3 mm/a, or when a
100
corrosion inhibitor is used.
80 For uniform corrosion with rates higher than 0.3 mm/a.
DISCONTINUOUS SERVICE
200 For all cases.
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BASIC PROCESS DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

Velocity shall be in any case lower than 50 m/s in continuous services except vacuum
services, while for discontinuous services (as safety valve discharges to flare) velocity
shall be lower than:

- 0.75 MACH for individual users

- 0.50 MACH for flare header.

In case of solid particle entrainement, limitations for discontinuous services shall be

used.

14.3.3. Liquid and gas with solids

v
(m/s)
1. Liquid + solids 1 ≤ v ≤ 3 (1)
2. Gas + solids (pneumatic conveying) 20 ≤ v ≤ 30 (1)

Notes:

1. For licensed plants, refer to Licensor requirements.

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ANNEX N. 2
ALLOWABLE ∆P FOR COLUMN OVHD

100

10
P bar abs.

0.1
0.1 1 ∆P admissible bar/km 10
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ANNEX N. 5
RECOMMENDED VELOCITY FOR INLET/OUTLET LINES OF COMPRESSORS

1
RECOMMENDED GAS VELOCITY
FOR LINES ATTACHED TO COMPRESSORS

100
Gas Velocity (m/s)

10 1

Axial compressors: acceptable velocity in area delimited by lines 1 and 2.

Reciprocating and Centrifugal compressors: acceptable velocity in area delimited by lines 2 and 3.

Gas Density (kg/m³)

1
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000