13

PRESSURE
REQUIRED TO TRANSPORT

GAS PIPELINE HYDRAULICS

13

Gas temperature

TsGround temperature

Distance
Figure 3.16

Joule-Thompson effect in gas pipeline.

where

UD
(3.28)

mCp

Simplifying Equation 3.27 further, we get the downstream temperature of the

pipe segment of length L as
T T (T T )e
2

(3.29)

It can be seen from Equation 3.29 that as the pipe length increases, the term e
approaches zero and the temperature, T2, becomes equal to soil temperature, Ts.
Therefore, in a long gas pipeline, the gas temperature ultimately equals the surrounding soil temperature. This is illustrated in Figure 3.14.
In the preceding analysis, we made several simplifying assumptions. We assumed
that the soil temperature and the overall heat transfer coefcient remained constant
and ignored the Joule-Thompson effect as gas expands through a pipeline. In a long
pipeline, the soil temperature can actually vary along the pipeline and, therefore,
must be taken into account in these calculations. One approach would be to
subdivide the pipeline into segments that have constant soil temperatures and
perform calculations for each segment separately. The Joule-Thompson effect causes
the gas to cool slightly due to expansion. Therefore, in a long pipeline, the gas
temperature at the delivery point may fall below that of the ground or soil
temperature, as indicated in Figure 3.16.
3.12 LINE PACK
As gas ows through a pipeline from point A to point B, the pressures and temperatures vary along the pipeline length. The volume of gas contained in a given length
of pipeline is simply the physical volume of the pipe segment. For example, a 1-mile
yright 2005 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

section of NPS 16 pipe can have a physical volume of 7000 ft3. Therefore, this
volume represents the volume of the gas in this 1-mile section at the actual gas
temperature and pressure. The quantity of gas contained within the pipeline
under pressure, measured at standard conditions (generally 14.7 psia and 60F),
is termed the line pack volume. Consider a segment of pipe, of length L, with
upstream pressure and temperature of P1 and T1 and downstream values of P2 and
T2, respectively. We can calculate the line pack using the gas laws discussed in
Chapter 1. Suppose the inside diameter of the pipe is D; then the physical volume
Vp of the pipe section is

2
D L
Vp
4

(3.30)

This volume is the gas volume at pressures and temperatures ranging from P1,
T1 at the upstream end to P2, T2 at the downstream end of the pipe length L. In order
to convert this volume to standard conditions of pressure, Pb, and temperature, Tb,
we apply the gas law Equation 1.16 as follows:
P V
avg p

Z bTb Zavg avg

PV

(3.31)

b b

where
Pavg
Tavg
Zavg
Zb

average gas pressure in pipe segment

average gas temperature in pipe segment
average gas compressibility factor at Tavg and Pavg
compressibility factor at base conditions 1.00, approximately

The average pressure, Pavg, is calculated from the upstream and downstream
pres- sures P1 and P2 using Equation 2.14. The average temperature can be taken
as the arithmetic mean of the upstream and downstream temperatures T1 and T2. This
approach for average temperature will be accurate only if we consider short
segments of pipe.
From Equation 3.31, solving for line pack Vb at standard conditions, we get
(3.32)

P V
V Tb
avg p

P Z T

b avg avg

Substituting the value of Vp from Equation 3.30 and simplifying, we get

T
V 0.7854 b
b

wher
e

Pb

P
Z

avg avg

(D L)

avg

(3.33)

Vb line pack in pipe segment, standard ft3

D pipe inside diameter, ft
L pipe segment length, ft
Other symbols are as dened before.

Equation 3.33 is modied in terms of commonly used pipeline units as follows:

T
V 28.798 b
b

Pb

2
(D L)

avg

Z
avg avg

(USCS units)

(3.34)

where
Vb line pack in pipe segment, standard ft3
D pipe inside diameter, in.
L pipe segment length, mi
Other symbols are as dened before.
The corresponding equation in SI units is

4 T
V 7.855 10 b
b

Pb

2
(D L)

P
Z

av
g

avg avg

(SI units)

(3.35)

where
Vb line pack in pipe segment, standard m3
D pipe inside diameter, mm
L pipe segment length, km
Other symbols are as dened before.
Since the pressure and temperature in a gas pipeline vary along the length, to
improve the accuracy of calculations, the line pack volume Vb is calculated for short
segments of pipe and summed to obtain the line pack of the entire pipeline.
Example 10
A natural gas pipeline is 10 mi long and has an inlet pressure of 1000 psig and outlet
pressure of 900 psig when transporting 100 MMSCFD. The base pressure and base
temperature are 14.7 psia and 60F, respectively. If the pipe is NPS 16, 0.250 in. wall
thickness, calculate the line pack assuming an average gas temperature of 78F. Use
an average compressibility factor of 0.90.
Solution
Pipe inside diameter 16 2 0.250 15.5 in.
The average pressure is calculated from Equation 2.14 as follows:
2

1014.7 914.7

Pavg

1014.7 914.7
965.56 psia
3
1014.7 914.7

Using Equation 3.34, we calculate the line pack as follows:

V 28.798 60 460 965.56
115.52
b
14.7 78 460

10 4,880,521 standard ft3

0.90

Therefore, the line pack is 4,880,521 standard ft3.

Example 11
A natural gas pipeline is 20 km long and has an inlet pressure of 8000 kPa (gauge)
and outlet pressure of 5000 kPa (gauge) when transporting 5 Mm3/day. The base
pressure and base temperature are 101 kPa and 15C, respectively. If the pipe is
DN 500, 12 mm wall thickness, calculate the line pack assuming an average gas
temperature of 20C. Use an average compressibility factor of 0.90.
Solution
Pipe inside diameter 500 2 12 476 mm
The average pressure is calculated from Equation 2.14 as follows:
2
81015101
Pavg 3 81015101 81015101 6714.62 kPa (absolute)
Using Equation 3.35, we calculate the line pack as follows:
V 7.855 104
476
b

15 273 6714.62
101

20
273

20 258,448 standard m3

0.9

Therefore, the line pack is 258,448 standard m3.

3.13 SUMMARY
In this chapter we continued to look at the application of the pressure drop
equations introduced in Chapter 2. Several piping congurations, such as pipes in
series, pipes in parallel, and gas pipelines with injections and deliveries, were
analyzed to determine pressures required and pipe size needed to satisfy certain
requirements. The concepts of equivalent length in series piping and equivalent
diameter in pipe loops were explained and illustrated using example problems. The
hydraulic pressure gradient and the need for intermediate compressor stations to
transport given volumes of gas without exceeding allowable pipeline pressures were
also covered. The importance of temperature variation in gas pipelines and how it
is taken into account in calculating pipeline pressures were introduced with
reference to commercial hydraulic simulation models. The method of calculating
the line pack volume in a gas pipeline was also explained. In the next chapter,
we will discuss compressor stations, compressor performance, and horsepower
requirements.