Formulae

Single Phase Flow in Pipelines

1

Weymouth Equation

2
2
5.333

Tsc P1 P2 d
(E)
qsc K

Psc LTm zm
0.5

K = 433.49

f
Q:
Tsc:
Psc:
P:
d:
:
L:
Tm:
z m:
E:
f:
2

Compressor Horse
Power

Brake or shaft horsepower

Compressibility factor
Flow (MMSCF/day)
Temperature at standard conditions (5200R)
Efficiency factor
isentropic exponent (Cp/Cv)
Pressure ratio (P2/P1)

Compression Ratio

P n
CR d
Ps
Pd:
Ps:
n:

Flow at base conditions (SCF/day)

Temperature at standard conditions (5200R)
Pressure at standard conditions (14.73psia)
Pressure (psia)
Internal diameter (in)
Specific gravity of flowing gas
Length of line (miles)
Average temperature (0R)
Average compressibility factor
Pipeline efficiency factor
Fanning friction factor

k 1

QTsc k k
BHP 0.0857 z
R 1

E k 1

BHP:
z:
Q:
Tsc:
E:
k:
R:
3

0.008
d 0.33

Compressor Discharge
Temperature

Downstream pressure (psia)

Suction pressure (psia)
Number of stages

Td Ts CR
Td:
Ts:
k:

k 1
k

Discharge temperature (R)

Suction temperature (R)
isentropic exponent (Cp/Cv)

Page 1 of 6

Formulae
Single Phase Flow in Pipelines
5

Fanning Friction Factor

Re 2000 ,

f = 16/Re

Re 4000 ,

f = 0.042/Re0.194

Large pipe 8 in

Re 4000 ,

0.172

Small pipe 8 in

f = 0.042/Re

Pf

Pressure Drop Equation

L
Pf:
L:
q:
:
:
gc:
d:

Equivalent Diameter
(lines in parallel)

d e2.661 d A2.661 d B2.661

0.554 0.554
L0.554
LA
LB
e

d e2.641 d A2.641 d B2.641

0.547 0.547
L0.547
LA
LB
e

Equivalent Diameter

Equivalent Length

Looping Requirements

11

Entire Line Looped

12

Diameter of Original and

Parallel Lines the Same

13

Line Capacity

Frictional pressure (psfa)

Length (ft)
Flow rate (ft3/sec)
Density (lbm/ft3)
Viscosity (lbm/fts)
Mass-force conversion constant (32.17 lbm-ft/lbf-sec2)
Pipe diameter (ft)

Small Pipe

(lines in series)
10

q1.806 0.806 0.194

8.081g c d 4.806

Large Pipe

(lines in series)
9

L
de d B A
LB

0.208

L
de d B A
LB

0.207

d
Le LB A
dB

4.806

d
Le LB A
dB

4.828

1 (q / ql )1.806
1.806

d 2.661
1 2.661 A 2.661
d A dB

1 (q / ql )1.828
1.828

d 2.641
1 2.641 A 2.641
d A dB

2.661
ql d B
1
q dA

2.641
ql d B
1
q dA

q 1.806
X 1.40 1
ql

q 1.828
X 1.40 1
ql

3.180d 2.661 P g
q 0.446 0.107 f c

L

Page 2 of 6

0.553

3.127d 2.64 P g
q 0.453 0.094 f c

L

0.547

Formulae
Multiphase Flow in Pipelines
1

Dukler Frictional Pressure

Drop

f n ftpr kVm Lm
2

Pf

(0.14623)d

L 2
H Ld

g 1

1 H Ld

QL
QL Qg

f n 0.0056 0.5 Re y
Re y

0.32

124.0 kVm d
n

Vm = VsL + VsG

n L g (1 )
Pf:
k:
Vm:
L m:
d:
L:
G:
:
HLd:
QL:
QG:
n:
L:
G:
VSL:
VSG:
2

Frictional pressure (psia)

Two phase mixture density (lb/ft3)
Mixture velocity (ft/sec)
Length (miles)
Pipe diameter (in)
Liquid density (lb/ft3)
Gas density (lb/ft3)
Flowing liquid volume fraction
Liquid holdup fraction (Dukler)
Liquid volumetric flow rate at flowing conditions (ft3/sec)
Gas volumetric flow rate at flowing conditions (ft3/sec)
Mixture viscosity (cp)
Liquid viscosity (cp)
Gas viscosity (cp)
Superficial liquid velocity (ft/sec)
Superficial gas velocity (ft/sec)

Elevation Effects

Pe

L H Lf
144

Z e

Pt Pe Pf
Pe:
Pt:
HLf:
Ze:

Elevation pressure (psia)

Total pressure (psia)
Liquid holdup fraction (Flanigan)
Pipeline vertical elevation rise (ft)

Page 3 of 6

Formulae
Multiphase Flow in Pipelines
3

Liquid Holdup

0.05

Pavg
1.84 N Lv

Pb

NE
0.0277
N gv N d
0.575

NL

N Lv 1.938VsL L

0.25

N gv 1.938Vsg L

0.25

N d 10.073d L

0.1

0.50

1
N L 0.15726 L
3
L

0.25

I L (28.80) H Le d 2 Lm
HLe:
IL:
:
Pavg:
Pb:

Liquid holdup fraction (Eaton)

Liquid inventory in pipe (ft3)
Interfacial tension at flowing conditions (dyne/cm)
Average pressure (psia)
Base absolute temperature (14.73 psia)

Flow in Pipelines
1

Qii
m
Qi

Mixing Rules

Q i:

Stream flowrate

i : Stream quantity (to be mixed)

m : Mixed quantity

Page 4 of 6

Formulae

Process Engineering
1

API Gravity

VLE Calculations

API
Ki

141.5
131.5
G
Therefore:

yi
xi

yi

K i zi
1

V 1
1 K i
V

yi

K i zi
Ki 1V 1

xi

zi
Ki 1V 1

F L V
zi F xi L yiV xi ( L K iV )
xi

zi F
L K iV

yi

K i zi F
K i zi
F

L K iV V L

Ki
V

At equilibrium:
i n

K i zi

1
i 1
i 1 ( K i 1)V 1
i n

Now as F = L + V , for 1 mole of feed

i n

Hydrate Formation

i 1

i 1

zi
1
i 1)V 1

Hammerschmidt Equation:

T
where: T
MW
K
W
4

in

x (K

1 = L + V , or L/V = 1/V 1

KW
100( MW ) ( MW )W

= depression of hydrate formation temperature (oF)

= molecular weight of inhibitor
= constant
= weight percent of inhibitor in final water phase

Separator Sizing

vg K s
vg:
Ks:
L:
G:

l g
g

Gas velocity (m/s or ft/sec)

Separator constant (m/s or ft/sec)
Liquid density (kg/m3 or lb/ft3)
Gas density (kg/m3 or lb/ft3)

Page 5 of 6

Formulae
Process Engineering
5

Q mC p (T2 T1 )

Heat Exchanger
where;
Q
m
T2
T1
Cp

=
=
=
=
=

heat rate in Btu/hr

mass flow rate in lbm/hr
downstream temperature oR
upstream temperature oR
specific heat capacity (BTU/lbm-oR)

Q UA(LMTD)
LMTD is the Log Mean Temperature Difference and it is given by:

LMTD

T1 T2
ln(T1 / T2 )

T1 is the higher temperature difference, F

T2 is the lower temperature difference, F
A is the heat transfer area, ft2
U is the Overall heat transfer coefficient, Btu/hr-ft2-F.

Page 6 of 6