New pipeline design for high-temperature fluids

Conference · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6091551

Quade, R N; Stanley, J D; Van Hagen, T H

Systems to transport high-temperature energy often use pipelines carrying high-temperature fluids, such as steam or a sensible-energy molten salt. Absorption of thermal expansion is a major consideration in high-temperature piping design. U-shaped loops commonly used to absorb expansion heavily penalize the transport system in both the total installed piping length and in pressure drop from the many 90/sup 0/ bends required. A new design that markedly reduced both factors uses a zig-zag configuration with straight lengths of pipe followed by small angle bends. The new design allows pressure drops and heat losses to be maintained with smaller diameter pipes and less thermal insulation. Costs for zig-zag pipelines carrying steam and molten salt at 339 to 556/sup 0/C are estimated to be 35 to 50% lower than costs for comparable U-loop pipelines. In a nuclear energy park application study, pipeline costs were reduced by 45%, representing a 20% reduction in total energy park capital costs.

• Research Organization: GA Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AT03-76SF70046
• OSTI ID: 6091551
• Report Number(s): GA-A-17074; CONF-830812-11; ON: DE83011893
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
COST
DESIGN
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY PARKS
EXPANSION
HEAT LOSSES
LOSSES
MOLTEN SALTS
NUCLEAR PARKS
PIPELINES
PRESSURE DROP
PUMPING
SALTS
STEAM
THERMAL EXPANSION