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04 - Pressure Drop With Notes

This document discusses the basics of modeling pressure in pipe systems for process design. It covers factors that influence pressure drop, how to model a pipe system by dividing it into sections and calculating the outlet pressure for each based on inlet pressure and pressure drop. The document discusses determining local pressure at each section, plotting system curves, and providing examples of common questions involving solving for unknown values like flow, pressure, or pipe properties. An example problem is given involving pumping ammonia between a synthesis and storage tank while considering pipe sizing and necessary pump pressure increases at different flow velocities.

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Numb Jazz
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
34 views

04 - Pressure Drop With Notes

This document discusses the basics of modeling pressure in pipe systems for process design. It covers factors that influence pressure drop, how to model a pipe system by dividing it into sections and calculating the outlet pressure for each based on inlet pressure and pressure drop. The document discusses determining local pressure at each section, plotting system curves, and providing examples of common questions involving solving for unknown values like flow, pressure, or pipe properties. An example problem is given involving pumping ammonia between a synthesis and storage tank while considering pipe sizing and necessary pump pressure increases at different flow velocities.

Uploaded by

Numb Jazz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basics in Process Design

Pressure in pipe systems


Chemical Engineering Design,
Towler, Sinnott, 2013

 Block flow diagrams


 Calculate flows from mass and
energy balances
 Rough sizing of equipment for
– storage
– preprocessing
– reaction
– separation,
– heat exchange
– transport
 Instrumentation
 Cost estimates
Today

 Factors influencing
pressure in pipes
 Modelling
 Local pressure
 System curve
 Typical questions
 Example
Factors influencing
pressure drop in pipes
 Height difference, inlet and outlet pressure,
flow velocity
 Pipe length, pipe diameter, surface roughness,
pipe fittings, configuration
 Fluid density and viscosity
Modelling
 Draw a diagram of the pipe system
 Divide the pipe system into logical sections
 Note what is known and unknown (flow velocity/
inlet pressure/ outlet pressure/ pressure drop/
pipe length/ pipe diameter/ pipe parts/ height
differences/ densities/ viscosities/ pipe data ...
 For each section:
– Outlet pressure = inlet pressure – pressure drop

  1
pout  pin    g  zin  zout  p pump     w   
2

2
Local pressure
 Pressure at each section boundary
 Plotted against pipe length

 Fluid might change phase if pressure too low


→ could change flow calculations
 Can the pipe handle the pressure?
129

128

127

126

pressure (kPa) 125

124

123

122

121

120

119
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
pipe length from inlet (m)
System curve
 Necessary pressure increase or
decrease in pipe system
for certain flows
 Can be used with
pump curves or
valve curves

  1
p pump  pout  pin    g  zin  zout     w   
2

2
Typical questions
 inlet pressure, outlet pressure, pipe system
and fluid properties → flow in pipe
 flow, outlet pressure, pipe system and fluid
properties → inlet pressure
 flow, outlet pressure, inlet pressure and
fluid properties → pipe system

 Iterative solution – guess, calculate, check,


guess better, calculate ....
Flow velocity
180000

160000
cost of
pumping
cost of pipe
140000

total cost
120000
total price (€)

100000

80000

60000

40000

20000

0
0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5 3 3,5 4 4,5 5
flow velocity (m/s)
Example

 Pump ammonia from synthesis to storage tank


 Inlet pressure 3 bar, temperature -33 C
 Outlet 30 m higher than inlet and 200 m away
 Pipe size? Necessary pressure increase in
pump at different volume flows
 Ammonia properties? Pipe roughness?
– http://www.peacesoftware.de/einigewerte/nh3_e.ht
ml
– http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ammonia-
d_971.html
Questions?

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