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Heat Transfer In Buried Liquid Lines (Stagnant Liquid)




Heat Transfer In Buried Liquid Lines (Stagnant Liquid) Dear All,

My earlier blog entry on heat transfer in buried liquid pipelines related to temperature reduction of the flowing liquid at a certain distance from the pipeline inlet.

Let us think of a buried pipeline or pipeline section where the liquid flow has been stopped and the liquid is now in a stagnant condition in the pipeline or pipeline section. Let us consider that the time at which the pipeline or pipeline section contents are completely at rest (stagnant) is zero i.e, t = 0 seconds. Now let us say that the average temperature of the stagnant liquid at time t = 0 seconds is T0, degrees C. If T0 is higher than the surrounding (soil at pipeline burial depth) temperature than it will start decreasing with time due to heat transfer from the stagnant liquid in the pipeline to the surrounding. We want to know the drop in temperature of the stagnant liquid after a given time period of the stagnant liquid. In other words, we are required to calculate the temperature Tt at a time interval of t = t seconds. The unit seconds are used because the equations require the unit of time as seconds. From a practical point of view a realistic temperature drop will occur in hours or days and time in hours or days needs to be converted into seconds.

Today's blog entry provides the relevant equations for a fair approximation of the temperature drop of a stagnant liquid (no flow) in a buried pipeline. These equations can be used with a fair degree of accuracy for heavy crudes being transported in buried pipelines within the constraints of the value of the empirical constant 'β' selected in the range provided. Let us go to the equations:

Attached Image

where:
TS = soil temperature at pipeline depth, K
Tt, T0 = oil temperature at time t and 0 respectively, K
F = dimensionless 'Fourier' number

Attached Image

where:
λ = thermal conductivity of liquid, W/(m-K) (for crude oil, λ = 0.13 W/m-K)
t = time, s
ρ = oil or liquid density, kg/m3
Cp = specific heat capacity of liquid, J/(kg-K)
d = pipeline internal diameter, m

β = empirical coefficient (ranges from 6 to 10), depending on heat transfer in the soil around the pipe, the pipe coating, pour point of the liquid and wax layer on pipe wall. A higher value of β means higher thermal conductivity of these layers.

Specific Heat Capacity of Crude Oil

Attached Image

where:
Cp = Specific heat capacity at temperature T0, J/kg-K
T0 = Temperature, ⁰C
ρ = crude oil density at temperature T0, kg/m3

A snapshot of an example calculation in an excel workbook is shown below to give an idea of the temperature drop at time t or in other words the numerical value of Tt.

Attached Image

That is all for today. Would be happy to have comments from members of "Cheeresources".

Regards,
Ankur.




Dear Mr. Ankur, would you please quote the references (book / code etc.) to the modelling equations mentioned in your blog-entry?

 

Thanks ~ opel

Dear Mr. Ankur, would you please quote the references (book / code etc.) to the modelling equations mentioned in your blog-entry?

 

Thanks ~ opel

Opel,

 

The reference is Shell Oil & Gas Manual.

 

Regards,

Ankur.

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Manali Surouthiya
Apr 29 2016 12:44 AM

Dear Mr. Ankur,

Can you please tell us what exact values of the empirical coefficient β do we need to take for our calculations.I understand that it depends upon the thermal conductivity of the surroundings but I am unable to estimate what values to take.

 

Regards,

Manali

Dear Mr. Ankur,

Can you please tell us what exact values of the empirical coefficient β do we need to take for our calculations.I understand that it depends upon the thermal conductivity of the surroundings but I am unable to estimate what values to take.

 

Regards,

Manali

Manali,

 

Tell me your application (type of fluid, temperature) and the soil characteristics around the buried pipe. Then it may not seem very difficult to judge the value of β.

 

Regards,

Ankur

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Manali Surouthiya
Apr 29 2016 04:45 AM

Fluid : Crude oil

Soil : Sand

Temperature : 55 deg celcius.

 

Thanks & Regards,

Manali

Fluid : Crude oil

Soil : Sand

Temperature : 55 deg celcius.

 

Thanks & Regards,

Manali

Is it wet or dry sand? Also is it heavy crude (< 15 Degree API) with high asphaltene and wax content or light crude (> 26 Degree API) with negligible asphaltene and wax content?

 

Regards,

Ankur.

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Manali Surouthiya
Apr 29 2016 10:33 PM

Sir we deal with all types of crude and the sand here is dry.

I request you to please give a general idea about how to take the values of beta so that we can do the calculations for varying conditions and crude types.

Thanks for your help.

 

Regards,

Manali

Sir we deal with all types of crude and the sand here is dry.

I request you to please give a general idea about how to take the values of beta so that we can do the calculations for varying conditions and crude types.

Thanks for your help.

 

Regards,

Manali

Ok,

IMHO, this is how the approach should be for selecting β:

 

1. Heavy Crude with high wax and asphaltene - Dry Soil: β = 6

2. Heavy crude but less wax and asphaltene - Dry Soil: β =7

3. Heavy crude (less wax and asphaltene) - Wet Soil: β = 8

4. Light Crude - Dry Soil: β = 8

5. Light Crude - Wet Soil: β = 9

6. Light Crude - Wet Sand (saturated): β = 10

 

This is based on my understanding of thermal conductivity of soils and wax formation on pipeline walls and acting as a insulator for heat transfer.

 

Regards,

Ankur.

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Manali Surouthiya
May 02 2016 01:41 AM

Dear sir,

Thank you so much for your help.

 

Regards,

Manali

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pops.nibrad
May 11 2019 05:57 AM

Can i use same formula for heat transfer to non agitated vessel using steam?

If yes then what is the Beta value?

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