Flow Velocity Steam Pipes

Reference data and engineering information about flow velocity steam pipes for steam and condensate applications.

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Overview

Engineering reference data for Flow Velocity Steam Pipes in steam condensate.

Key Formulas

Steam Quality

$x = \frac{m_v}{m_{total}}$

Mass fraction of vapor in two-phase mixture.

Enthalpy of Wet Steam

$h = h_f + x \cdot h_{fg}$

Specific enthalpy of wet steam.

Flash Steam

$m_{flash} = m_{liquid} \frac{h_f - h_{f2}}{h_{fg2}}$

Steam generated when condensate flashes to lower pressure.

Condensate Load

$m_c = \frac{Q}{h_{fg}}$

Condensate generated by heat transfer.

Variables

Symbol	Description	Unit
$x$	Steam quality	—
$h_f$	Enthalpy of saturated liquid	kJ/kg
$h_{fg}$	Latent heat of vaporization	kJ/kg
$h$	Specific enthalpy	kJ/kg
$Q$	Heat transfer rate	kW

Oil Pipe Flow Velocities

The following table provides recommended flow velocities for oil in pipes. These values are highly dependent on the oil's viscosity; heavier oils require lower velocities unless heated.

4 rows

Recommended Flow Velocities for Oil in Pipes
Oil Application	Flow Velocity (m/s)	Flow Velocity (ft/s)
Suction lines for pumps	< 0.5	< 1.6
Suction lines for pumps (low pressure)	0.1 - 0.2	0.3 - 0.65
Discharge lines for booster pumps	1.0 - 2.0	3.3 - 6.5
Discharge lines for burner pumps	< 1.0	< 3.3

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Properties & Notes

Viscosity Dependency: The recommended velocities apply to typical oils like benzol and gas oil. Heavier oils with higher viscosities require lower velocities to maintain laminar flow and avoid excessive pressure drop.
Compensation for High Viscosity: The velocity limitations for viscous oils can be mitigated by heating the oil or using heat tracing on the pipes, which reduces viscosity.

References

Original Source

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com