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Gas Line Sizing

The document outlines the general velocity and pressure drop limits for gaseous and two-phase flows in petrochemical and refinery plants, detailing specific parameters for gas and steam. It provides a step-by-step guide for calculating pipe internal diameter, pressure drop, and thickness, referencing relevant standards and equations. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of hydraulic analysis to assess flow phenomena before pipeline fabrication.

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Monica Bui
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6 views

Gas Line Sizing

The document outlines the general velocity and pressure drop limits for gaseous and two-phase flows in petrochemical and refinery plants, detailing specific parameters for gas and steam. It provides a step-by-step guide for calculating pipe internal diameter, pressure drop, and thickness, referencing relevant standards and equations. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of hydraulic analysis to assess flow phenomena before pipeline fabrication.

Uploaded by

Monica Bui
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Max

GAS & Operating Max ΔPΔP (bar/


Velocity
VAPOR Pressure 100m)
(m/s)

Lower than 7
Gas 30 0.1
barg

Higher than 7
Gas 30 0.4
barg

12d12d
Steam LPS 0.1
(note 1)

9d9d (note
Steam MPS 0.5
1)

Table 2. General velocity & pressure drop limits for petrochemical


and refinery plants – Gaseous Flow

Max Velocity Max ΔPΔP (bar/


TWO PHASE
(m/s) 100m)

High pressure flow Ve 0.45

Low pressure flow 0.65 Ve 0.45

Table 3. General velocity & pressure drop limits for petrochemical


and refinery plants – Two Phase Flow

After identifying the velocity, calculate pipe internal diameter using


volumetric flowrate. It’s recommended to consider 10% overdesign for the
fluid flowrate.

Note 1: d= pipe’s diameter in inch

Step 2. Pressure drop calculation

Having determined pipe ID, calculate fluid pressure drop using the related
dP equations and formulas. This is usually done by conventional
engineering software. Check the calculated dP with the related criteria. If it
exceeds the maximum limit, return to step one and repeat the calculations
for a lower velocity.

Step 3. Thickness calculation

In this step, we have to calculate pipe thickness which is done by piping


department. For every project, there is a document called piping &
material specification (PMS). In this document, all the available piping
materials, sizes and pressure rating classes are specified. Design
engineers usually refer to PMS in order to specify pipe’s pressure class and
thus the proper schedule (thickness). In PMS, schedule is a function of
design pressure, temperature and line service. However, PMS itself is
calculated based on mechanical stress-relating correlations. ASME B31
provides complete sets of correlations to calculate various pipes
thicknesses.

The following equation can be used for straight process pipes, which are
under internal pressure. Mostly utilized in petrochemical or refinery plants:
(Only valid for t < Do /6)tm=t+ctm=t+ct=PdDo2(SE+PdY)t=2(SE+PdY)Pd
DoWhere:

 tm = Minimum final thickness. The minimum thickness for the pipe


selected, considering manufacturer’s minus tolerance, shall not be
less than tm . The minus tolerance for seamless steel pipe is 12.5% of
the nominal pipe wall thickness.

 t = Calculated thickness (inch)

 c = Corrosion allowance. For carbon steel, based on the


corrosiveness condition, the normal values are 1.6/ 3.2/ 6 (mm).

 Pd = Design pressure (psig). This parameter shall be determined by


process engineers based on operating pressure and the predicted
over-pressure scenarios.

 Do = Outside diameter (inch). It can be determined based on pipe ID


using pipe table. Note that for pipes with nominal pipe size (NPS)
more than 14”, NPS is equal to Do . Otherwise NPS < Do .

 S = Allowable stress (psi). It is a function of material grade and


metal temperature. The more the metal temperature, the less the
allowable stress. An approximate value for most steels at medium
temperature is 20000 psi.

 E = Quality factor – or joint efficiency (dimensionless). It is a function


of material grade and pipe’s fabrication method. For seamless pipe
E=1. For most steel castings it can be approximated by 0.8.
 Y = Coefficient of temperature (dimensionless). For almost all metals
except cast iron at temperature smaller than 480° C, Y=0.4. For cast
iron Y=0.

After calculation of minimum thickness (tm), refer to pipe tables and


choose an appropriate schedule for the selected NPS. The schedule shall
be selected with a minimum thickness of tm .

Pipe tables provide specifications of standard pipes used in industry. Since


there are only limited values available for thickness of different NPS,
engineers use pipe tables to select a proper schedule among available
dimensions. ASME B36.10 & B36.19 cover the standardization of
dimensions of steel and stainless steel pipes.

Step 4. Checking the velocity and dP for the new ID

After choosing the proper pipe schedule for the selected NPS, specify pipe
ID again based on the new thickness, using pipe table. Then, calculate the
velocity and dP for the new ID and check them with the criteria. If they
don’t meet the criteria, return to step three and use a bigger NPS.

Step 5. Analysis of flow hydraulic & phenomena

Flow mapping is done after specifying pipe’s dimensions. Engineers have


to analyze flow hydraulic prior to pipeline fabrication by means of flow
assurance software. This step is especially essential if there is a probability
for the flow to enter two phase regimes. In this case, hydraulic analysis
shall be done for both maximum flow (110% normal) and minimum flow
(30% normal). This step includes the following activities:

 Erosion checking

 Wax deposition

 Hydrate formation (usually for pipelines)

 Slug analysis

 Corrosion rate estimation

 Static flow regime

 Dynamic flow evaluation (startup- shutdown)

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