Natural Gas Processing

3.2. Process pipe sizing for plants located onshore single phase

The optimum pipe size should be based on minimizing the sum of the costs of energy and piping. However, velocity limitations causing erosion or aggravating corrosion must be taken into consideration. Sometimes, the line size must satisfy process requirements such as the pump suction line.

Although pipe sizing is mainly concerned with pressure drop, for preliminary design purposes when pressure loss is not a concern, process piping may be sized on the basis of allowable velocity. When there is an abrupt change in the direction of flow (as in elbow or tees), local pressure on the surface perpendicular to the direction of flow increases dramatically. This increase is a function of fluid ...