New equation for friction-factor approximation developed

Journal Article · Mon Apr 04 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5082915

Towler, B F; Pope, T L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)

A new equation for approximation the Moody friction factor in gas flow calculations include gas viscosity and gives a better approximation for a wide range of Reynolds numbers than four existing, more widely known equations. All of these latter four discount effects of gas viscosity. Only the IGT equation applies to a wide range of flow velocities. In comparisons of the four equations among themselves as well as with the newly developed equation, the Weymouth approximation was shown to be a poor estimator of friction for most flow conditions and should not be used. Viscosity is a laminar phenomenon, and it is often stated that in turbulent flow, the flow rate and pressure drop are independent of viscosity. This new equation shows that the viscosity dependence is indeed small and that if the practicing engineer assumes a constant viscosity for turbulent gas pipeline flow, the error involve would be small. The new equation shows, however, the specific dependence of viscosity in turbulent flow.

• OSTI ID: 5082915
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 92:14; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
EQUATIONS
EVALUATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FRICTION FACTOR
GAS FLOW
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PIPELINES
TURBULENT FLOW
VISCOSITY