Transport of Fluids

CHE 141
Course Objectives

 Calculate the minimum thickness of a pipe.

 Calculate the economic pipe diameter in a
hydraulic system.
 Specify the process-related parameters of a
pump by completing a standard pump
specification sheet (e.g. API pump datasheet).
 Understand the parameters in a pump
performance curve from vendors.
Minimum Pipe Thickness
Perry, et. al. 7th ed.
Equivalent to equation 10-95 in 8th ed.
Minimum Pipe Thickness

Sample Problem:

What is the maximum allowable working pressure or design pressure of a

2” Schedule 40, carbon steel pipe (A53 Grade A Type S) without corrosion
allowance? Design temperature is 700 degF.
Economic Pipe Diameter

Economic Pipe Diameter (Perry, et. al. 7th ed)

Balance between piping cost and operating expense (pump power)
 Select a nominal pipe which will give the following velocities:

For Liquids: 1.8 - 2.4 m/s

For Gases: 9 – 40 m/s

Typical Line Pressure Drop (Towler, et. al. 2008)

Compressors

Reciprocating Compressors: high .discharge pressure, low flow rate

Axial Compressors (Blowers): low discharge pressure, high flow rate
Centrifugal Compressors: common type used in chemical industries.

Typical design parameters which should be specified by Chemical

Engineers:

1. Normal Flowrate and Rated Flowrates (at standard operating conditions)

2. Normal suction temperature and pressure
3. Normal discharge pressure and expected discharge temperature
4. Composition of gas which will be handled during normal operation and
special conditions (e.g. catalyst regeneration, startup, etc.)
5. Intercoolers (for multistage compressors)
6. Control scheme (i.e. spillback control and/or variable speed driver)
Compressors

Towler, et. al. 2nd ed.

 Pumps

Discharge line

Motor

Suction Line
with “basket”
strainer

Pump Casing
with Impeller
Pumps
Pumps

Pumps are used to transport liquid streams from one point to

another.

The energy imparted by the pump to a liquid stream (WS) shall

overcome the combined effects of system operating pressures,
gravity and friction.
Mechanical Energy Balance

It is more convenient to convert the terms on the equation into heads.

1. Pressure head (difference in pressure)

2. Static head (difference in elevation)
3. Velocity head (difference in velocity)
4. Friction head (frictional losses in equipment, piping,
valves and fittings)
Conversion of head to pressure

P=gh
P =  g h

1 bar = 100 kPa = 10.2 meters of water

P of liquid  head of liquid

P of liquid in bar x ( 10.2 / SG of liquid)

Example: What is the equivalent pressure head of a

liquid at 100 bar? SG = 0.7

100 bar x 10.2 / 0.7 = 1457 meters

Fittings Pressure Drop
Pressure Drop
Pressure Drop vs. Flow Rate

When the pressure drop at a certain flowrate is known, the pressure

drop at any flowrate can be determined by:
Mechanical Energy Balance

The variables on the left side of the pump

equation can be divided into two categories:

Flowrate- Flowrate-Dependent
Independent Variables
Variables

1. The pressure head and static head are

constant for any flowrate.
2. The velocity head and friction head are
proportional to the square of the velocity.
Pump and System Curve

Head
The system curve shows
the required pump head
for different flowrates on
the system.
Total Head = Fixed
Head + Variable Head

Variable Head

Fixed Head

Flowrate
Driver and Utility Requirements

Normally, electric motor drives are used except for pumps that must
operate during a power failure.
Typical Pump Efficiency
(Centrifugal Pumps)

Towler, et. al. 2nd ed.

Sample Problem: Specify the pump for
this service by completing the API 610
pump datasheet.

Liquid = Diesel
Temperature = 50 degC
Pressure = 1 barg

Density = 727 kg/m3 at 50 degC

Vapor Pressure = ?

Total pipe length from P-101, R-101 to T-101 is 100 meters.

Total pipe length from P-101 to E-101 to T-101 is 50 meters.
Pressure drop across the pipe = 0.5 bar/100m
Problem: Calculate the rated pump
head and NPSHa of P-101.

Liquid = Gasoline at saturated

condition
Temperature at D-101 = 40 degC
Pressure at D-101 = 1 barg
Density = 850 kg/m3 at 40 degC

Total pipe length from P-101, R-101 to T-101 is 100

meters.
Total pipe length from P-101 to E-101 to T-101 is 50
meters.
Total pipe length from D-101 to P-101 is 10 meters.
Use the typical line pressure drop of 0.05 bar/100m
at pump suction and 0.5 bar/100m at pump
discharge.
 Centrifugal Pump Curve

The pump performance curve

shows the head delivered by
Head
the pump at any flowrate at a
specific impeller diameter and
Shutoff speed.
Point
The extreme points of the
h rated curve are the shutoff point
(zero capacity) and the runout
point (maximum capacity)
Runout
Point

Q rated
Flowrate
Actual Pump Performance Curve from Vendor