Gas Flow in Series, Parallel, and Looped Pipelines

It is often desirable to increase the throughput of a

pipeline while maintaining the same pressure drop and level.
This need may occur when new gas wells are developed in
an area serviced by an existing pipeline.
A similar type of problem may arise when an existing
pipeline must be pressure derated because of age
(corrosion, etc.) but it is desired to maintain the same
throughput.
A common economical solution to the above
problems is to place one or more lines in parallel, either
partially or throughout the whole length, or to replace a

ion of the line with a large one.

This requires calculations involving flow in series, parallel,
and series-parallel (looped) lines.
The philosophy involved in deriving the special relationships
used in the solution of complex transmission systems to
express the various lengths and diameters of the pipe in
the system as equivalent lengths of a common diameter
or equivalent diameter of a common length.
The equivalent meaning that both lines will have the same
capacity with the same total pressure drop.

Series Pipelines
Consider an L mile long, DA, inch internal diameter
pipeline operating with a total pressure drop of p1 p2 psi.
This pipeline is altered by replacing the first LB miles with a
DB inch internal diameter line (Figs. 7.6a and 7.6b). If the
total pressure drop in the new system is p1 p2, what is the
capacity of the new series pipeline?
DA = 4
in.
p1 O

O
L
Mile

Fig. 7.6 (a) Pipes in series

p2

P3
DB = 6
in.
P1 O

DA = 4
in
O P2

LA
mile

LB mile

Fig. 7.6 (b) Pipes in series

P3

P4

P2
P1
1

L1 D1
L2 D2
L3 D3

Fig. 7.6 (c) Pipes in series

Fig. 18.9 Sketch of (a) a series pipeline & (b) a parallel pipeline.

Fig. 18.10 Sketch of a looped pipeline

Also what is the pressure p3 at the junction of the DB in. line

and the DA in. line?
Using the following equation (7-48)
2

gcR

Tsc (p12 - p 22 )D5 1/2

qh =
[
]
64 28.97 psc g f ZTL

(7-48)

If we put the value of f as

0.032
f = 1/3
D

2
1

2
2

16/3

Tsc
(p - p )D
q h = 18.062 ( )[
psc
g TLZ

0.5

Since (p1 p2) is constant, this equation can be written as

16/3

D
q h = K1 (
)1/2
L
or

K1D16/3
L=
q 2h

(7-70)

(7-71)

Thus, for transporting a given quantity of gas at a given

pressure drop, length is proportional to diameter raised to
power (16/3).
L' A , that

Therefore, the equivalent length of a DA inch line,

would have the same pressure drop as the LB miles of DB in.

line is
L' A
D A 16/3
=( )
LB
DB
or

D A 16/3
LA = LB ( )
DB
'

(7-72)

Therefore, the series line shown has a total equivalent

length of

L Aeq

D A 16/3
= LA + LA = LA + LB ( )
DB
'

(7-73)

The volume flow rate qh of gas that will flow for given
values of p1, p2, g, T, and Z can be calculated using eq. (748) with LAeq DA.

However, from eq. (7-70) the flow rate is (1/L)1/2.

Thus, % change in flow rate is
1 1/2 1 1/2
(
) -( )
L Aeq
L
q h = [
]
1 1/2
( )
L

(7-74)

Example 7.2: Calculate the increase in throughput.

L =10 miles; LA = 7 miles; LB =3 miles
DA = 4 inch; DB = 6 inch

The equivalent length and diameters can the be

expressed as

D1 16/3
L = L2 ( )
D2
'
1

L1 3/16
D = D2 ( )
L2
'
1

(7-75)

(7-76)

If the Weymouth equation with friction factor f is used

where the flow of gas, pressure differential, temperature, gas
gravity, and deviation factor are same for two different
pipelines, the relationship of equivalent lengths and
diameters is expressed as:

f 2 D1 5
L = L 2 ( )( )
f1 D 2

(7-77)

f1 L1 1/5
D = D 2 ( )( )
f 2 L2

(7-78)

'
1

or

'
1

'
L
where 1

is the length of a pipe of diameter D1 and

friction factor f1 equivalent to the length L2 of a pipe of
'
D
1
diameter D2 and friction factor f2, or where
is the
diameter of a pipe of length L1, and friction f1 equivalent to
the diameter D2 of a pipe length L2 and friction factor f2.

The calculation of the pressure at the junction point of the DA

- DB line is accomplished by noting that the flow rates in the
two sections are equal and calculating in terms
of the
'
equivalent DA inch system. Using lengths of L A miles for
the B- section and LA miles for the A-section, eq. (7-48) is
g T 1/2
q A psc
p12 - p32 1/ 2
p32 - p 22 1/ 2
( 16/3 ) = cons tan t = [ '
] =[
]
18.062Tsc D A
L A ZB
L A ZA
or

2
1

2
3

2
3

2
2

'

[p - p ]L A ZA = [p - p ]L A Z B
(7-79)

'

LA, L A , p1, and p2 are known. Eq. (7-79) contains three

unknowns: p3, ZA, and ZB . It is best solves by trial and
error using p3 as variable. To start, assume
ZA

ZB

= (Zp1 + Zp2 )/2

Eq. (7-75) may be extended to three or more pipes in

series (Fig. 7-6 c).
The flow rates are same in all sections.
qt = q1 = q2 = q3
Total pressure drop equals sum of pressure drops:

p t = p1 + p 2 + p3
or
2
sc
2 2
sc

g ZTp

2
1 1
16/3
1

2
2 2
16/3
2

2
3 3
16/3
3

qL qL qL
(p - p ) =
[
+
+
]
(18.062) T D
D
D
2
1

2
4

Therefore,

Le
L3
L1
L2
16/3 =
16/3 +
16/3 +
D
D1
D2
D16/3
3

Using the Weymouth equation, which contains f,

(7-80)

fLe f1L1 f 2 L 2 f 3 L3
fn Ln
5 =
5 +
5 +
5 + ... +
5
D
D1
D2
D3
Dn