Complete Gas Flow Equations

25 August 2017
GAS FLOW EQUATIONS
1. GENERAL FLOW EQUATION

The General Flow equation also called the Fundamental Flow equation, for the steady-state
isothermal flow in a gas pipeline is the basic equation for relating the pressure drop with flow
rate. The most common form of this equation in the US Customary System (USCS) of units is
given in terms of pipe diameter, gas properties, pressures, temperatures, and flow rate.
The General Flow equation can be used for calculating the flow rate in a gas pipeline, given the
upstream and downstream pressures. Alternatively, it can be used to calculate the pressure
drop for a given flow rate.
1.1 The General Flow Equation, in USCS or English system
Where
Q= gas flow rate, standard, ft3/day (SCFD)
L = pipe length, miles
D = inside diameter of pipe, inches.
P1 = upstream pressure, psia.
P2 = downstream pressure, psia.
Pb= base pressure, psia (usually 14.7 psia)
Tb= base temperature, OR (usually 60+460 = 540 OR)
Tf = average flowing temperature of gas, OR
G = gas specific gravity (Air = 1.00)
Z = gas compressibility factor at the flowing temperature and pressure, dimensionless
f = friction factor, dimensionless.
1.2 The General Flow Equation, in SI or Metric System
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Where
Q = gas flow rate, standard, ft3/day (m3/day )
L = pipe length, km
D = inside diameter pipe, mm.
P1 = upstream pressure, kPa (absolute).
P2 = downstream pressure, kPa (absolute).
Pb= base pressure, kPa (absolute).
Tb= base temperature, K
Tf = average flowing temperature of gas, K
G = gas specific gravity (air = 1.00)
Z = gas compressibility factor at the flowing temperature and pressure, dimensionless
f = friction factor, dimensionless.
1.3 The General Flow Equation in terms of Transmission Factor in USCS or English System
1.4 The General Flow Equation in terms of Transmission Factor in SI or Metric System.
2. CORBROOK-WHITE EQUATION
The Colebrook-White equation, sometimes referred to simply as the Colebrook equation, is a
relationship between the friction factor “f” and the Reynolds number Re, pipe roughness, and
inside diameter of pipe.
The Transmission factor F is considered the opposite of the friction factor “f”. Whereas the
friction factor indicates how difficult it is to move a certain quantity of gas through a pipeline,
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the transmission factor is a direct measure of how much gas can be transported through the
pipeline. As the friction factor increases, the transmission factor decreases and, therefore the
gas flow rate also decreases. Conversly, the higher the transmission factor, the lower the
friction factor and, therefore, higher the flow rate will be. The transmission factor F is related to
the friction factor f as follows: F = 2/ f , therefore f = 4/F 2.
2.1. The Colebrook-White Equation in USCS or English System for Turbulent Flow
Where
f = friction factor, dimensionless
D = pipe inside diameter, in.
e = absolute pipe roughness, in.
Re = Reynolds number of flow, dimensionless
2.2 The Colebrook-White Equation in USCS or English System for Turbulent Flow in smooth
pipe
2.3 The Colebrook-White Equation in USCS or English System for Turbulent Flow in fully
rough pipes
3. MODIFIED COREBROOK WHITE EQUATION
The Modified Colebrook-White equation discussed above has been in use for many years in
both liquid flow and gas flow. The US Bureau of Mines, in 1956, published a report that
introduced a modified form of the Colebrook-White equation. The modification results in a
higher friction factor and, hence, a smaller value of the transmission factor. Because of this a
conservative value of flow rate is obtained due to higher friction and pressure drop. The
modified version of the Colebrook-White equation for turbulent flow is as follows:
3.1 Modified Colebrook White Equation for Turbulent Flow with Friction Factor
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3.2 Modified Colebrook White Equation for Turbulent Flow with Transmission Factor
4. WEYMOUTH EQUATION
The Weymouth equation is used for high pressure, high flow rate, and large diameters gas
gathering systems. This formula directly calculates the flow rate through a pipeline for given
values of gas gravity, compressibility, inlet and outlet pressures, pipe diameter, and length.
The Weymouth equation is generally applied to short lines within a production facility. In these
lines, the gas velocity is generally low and thus the Re would most likely low. These lines also
have high-pressures, high-flow rates and large diameters. The Weymouth equation is generally
used within the production facility where the Reynolds number is expected to be high.
Gas flows in pipelines with diameters of 15 inches or below are better modeled by the
Weymouth equation.
4.1 The Weymouth Equation in USCS and English units.
Where
Q = volume flow rate, standard ft3/day (SCFD)
E = pipeline efficiency, a decimal value less than or equal to 1.0
Pb = base pressure, psia
Tb = base temperature, °R (460 + °F)
P1 = upstream pressure, psia
P2 = downstream pressure, psia
G = gas gravity (air = 1.00)
Tf = average gas flow temperature, °R (460 + °F)
Le = equivalent length of pipe segment, mi
4
Z = gas compressibility factor, dimensionless D = pipe inside diameter, in.
Where
the equivalent length Le and s were defined earlier in Equation 2.9 and Equation 2.10. By
comparing the Weymouth equation with the General Flow equation, we can isolate an
equivalent transmission factor as follows: The Weymouth transmission factor in USCS units is
F = 11.18(D)1/6
4.2 The Weymouth Equation in SI or metric System / units.
Where
Q = gas flow rate, standard m3/day
Tb = base temperature, K (273 + °C)
Pb = base pressure, kPa
Tf = average gas flow temperature, K (273 + °C)
P1 = upstream pressure, kPa
P2 = downstream pressure, kPa
Le = equivalent length of pipe segment, km
Other symbols are as defined previously.
The Weymouth transmission factor in SI units is
F = 6.521(D)1/6
5. PANHANDLE-A EQUATION
The Panhandle A equation was developed for use in natural gas pipelines, incorporating an
efficiency factor for Reynolds numbers in the range of 5 to 11 million. In this equation, the pipe
roughness is not used or the pipe roughness is not incorporated into Panhandle-A equation.
The Panhandle-A equation is best suited for 12-60 inch diameter pipelines at pressures
between 800 psia to 1500 psia.
5.1 The Panhandle- A Equation in USCS or English System.
Where
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E = pipeline efficiency, a decimal value less than 1.0
Z = gas compressibility factor, dimensionless
5.2 The Panhandle-A Equation in SI units or Metric System.
where
P1 = upstream pressure, kPa (absolute)
P2 = downstream pressure, kPa (absolute)
Due to the exponents involved in this equation, all pressures must be in kPa.
6. PANHANDLE-B EQUATION
The Panhandle B equation, also known as the revised Panhandle equation, is used in large
diameter, high pressure transmission lines. In fully turbulent flow, it is found to be accurate for
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values of Reynolds number in the range of 4 to 40 million. Panhandle-B equation is most often
used for pipes with a diameter of 36 inches or larger, and pressures above 1000 psia.
6.1 The Panhandle-B Equation in USCS or English System
Where
E = pipeline efficiency, a decimal value less than 1.0
6.2 The Panhandle-B Equation in SI units or Metric System.
Where
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Z = gas compressibility factor at the flowing temperature, dimensionless
7. IGT FLOW EQUATION
The Institute of Gas Technology IGT equation proposed by the Institute of Gas Technology is
also known as IGT distribution equation.
7.1 The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) Flow Equation in USCS units or English System.
Where
µ = gas viscosity, lb/ft-s
7.2 The Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) Flow Equation in SI units or Metric System
Where
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µ = gas viscosity, Poise
8. SPITZGLASS EQUATION
The Spitzglass equation has been around for many years and originally was used in fuel gas
piping calculations. There are two versions of Spitzglass equation. One equation is for low
pressure(less than or equal to 1 psig or 6.9 kPa) and another is for high pressure (more than
1 psig or 6.9 kPa ). These equations have been modified to include a pipeline efficiency and
compressibility factor. However, both equations are typically used at near-atmospheric
conditions, with pipe diameters below 10 inches (otherwise the friction factor is not
accurately modeled).
8.1 The low-pressure (less than or equal to 1 psig) version of the Spitzglass equation in
USCS units is
Where
8.2 The low-pressure (less than 6.9 kPa) version of the Spitzglass equation in SI units is
where
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8.3 The high-pressure (more than 1 psig) version in USCS units or English System is as follows.
where
8.4 In SI units, the high-pressure (more than 6.9 kPa) version of the Spitzglass equation is
Where
Le = equivalent length of pipe segment, km Z = gas compressibility factor, dimensionless
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9. MUELLER EQUATION
The Mueller equation is another form of the flow rate vs. pressure relationship in gas
pipelines.
9.1 The Mueller equation is another form of the flow rate vs. pressure relationship in gas
pipelines. In USCS units, it is expressed as follows:
Where
Pb = base pressure, psia Tb = base temperature, °R (460 + °F)
µ = gas viscosity, lb/ft-s
9.2 In SI units, the Mueller equation is as follows:
where
Le = equivalent length of pipe segment, km m = gas viscosity, cP
10. FRITZSCHE EQUATION
The Fritzsche formula, developed in Germany in 1908, has found extensive use in
compressed air and gas piping.
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10.1 The Fritzsche formula, developed in Germany in 1908, has found extensive use
in compressed air and gas piping. In USCS units, it is expressed as follows:
10.2 In SI units,
11. AGA EQUATION

In 1964 and 1965, the American Gas Association (AGA) published a report on how to calculate
the transmission factor for gas pipelines to be used in the General Flow equation. This is
sometimes referred to as the AGA NB-13 method. Using the method outlined in this report, the
transmission factor F is calculated using two different equations. First, F is calculated for the
rough pipe law (referred to as the fully turbulent zone). Next, F is calculated based on the
smooth pipe law (referred to as the partially turbulent zone). Finally, the smaller of the two
values of the transmission factor is used in the General Flow Equation 2.4 for pressure drop
calculation. Even though the AGA method uses the transmission factor F instead of the friction
factor f, we can still calculate the friction factor using the relationship shown in Equation 2.42.
For the fully turbulent zone, AGA recommends using the following formula for F, based on
relative roughness e/D and independent of the Reynolds number:
Equation 2.48 is also known as the Von Karman rough pipe flow equation. For the partially
turbulent zone, F is calculated from the following equations using the Reynolds number, a
parameter Df known as the pipe drag factor, and the Von Karman smooth pipe transmission
factor Ft:
Where
Ft = Von Karman smooth pipe transmission factor
Df = pipe drag factor that depends on the Bend Index (BI) of the pipe
The pipe drag factor Df is a parameter that takes into account the number of bends, fittings, etc.
Its value ranges from 0.90 to 0.99. The Bend index is the sum of all the angles and bends in the
pipe segment, divided by the total length of the pipe section under consideration.
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Complete Gas Flow Equations

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25 August 2017

GAS FLOW EQUATIONS

1. GENERAL FLOW EQUATION

3. MODIFIED COREBROOK WHITE EQUATION

11. AGA EQUATION

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