Methodology and algorithm for calculating of local pressure losses in pipelines

Abstract

The article is devoted to the hydraulic calculation of pipelines. For the storage of liquid products used in the national economy, there are tanks, which are usually combined into tank farms. Equipment for transporting liquids within the tank farm includes pumping units, pipelines, shut-off and control devices, etc. The growing needs of the economy create the necessity of build new and expand existing storage facilities for liquid products at industrial and transport objects. Hydraulic calculation is an important part of the tank farms pipeline systems design. This paper presents a methodology and algorithm for determining of local fluid pressure losses in pipelines. The calculation is based on the characteristics of pipeline system sections in which local hydraulic resistance occurs: a change in the diameter or direction of the pipeline, installation locations of auxiliary devices, etc. The Weisbach formula is used to calculate the local pressure losses. This takes into account the values of the local resistances coefficients and average flow velocities in the respective sections. The average flow velocities are determined by the given values of the flow rates and flow profiles on the sections. The local losses coefficients, depending on the type of resistance, are also found according to the calculation formulas, or are set as the initial values. Local pressure losses are calculated for curved sections of pipelines, conical transitions (confusers and diffusers), inlet and outlet sections, shut-off, control and safety valves, instrumentation, branches.