Characteristic of

flow
Characteristic of
Cruid oil and LNG
TUGAS KELOMPOK KE 2

afluidisasubstancethat
continuallydeform(flows)underan
appliedshearstress.Fluidsareasubsetof
thephasesofmatterandincludeliquid,
gases,plasmaand,tosomeextent,plasticsolid.
Fluidscanbedefinedassubtancesthathave
zeroshearmodulusorinsimplertermsafluidis
asubstancewhichcannotresistanyshear
forceappliedtoit.

TYPES OF FLOW

There are two types of flow:

Laminar flow

Turbulent flow

Laminar Flow

Diagrammatic representation of
laminar flow

Turbulent Flow

Diagrammatic representation of
turbulent flow

Pressure: flow is directly proportional to the

pressure difference across the tube

Q P
Radius: flow is directly proportional to the
fourth power of the radius (or diameter) of the
tube

Q r4, or Q d4
Length: flow is inversely proportional to the
length of the tube

Q 1/l
Viscosity: flow is inversely proportional to the
viscosity of the fluid

Reynolds Number

This number is calculated from an equation that

incorporates the factors that determine the critical point
Reynolds number = vr

or

vd

v = velocity of fluid flow

= density of fluid
r = radius of tube
d = diameter of tube
= viscosity of fluid

Reynolds number does not have any associated unit

It is a dimensionless number

Reynolds Number (Contd)

if Reynolds number exceeds 2000, flow is likely to be

turbulent
a Reynolds number of less than 2000 is usually associated
with laminar flow

Tube and Orifice

In a tube, the length of the fluid pathway is greater than the

diameter
diame
ter

leng
th

In an orifice, the diameter of the fluid pathway is greater

than the length

diame
ter
leng
th

Tube and Orifice (Contd)

As the diameter of a tube increases, the Reynolds number

increases. Eventually if the diameter of the tube increases
enough, it will exceed the length of the tube. We then call
this an orifice

Flow through a tube is laminar and hence dependent on

viscosity (provided that the critical velocity is not exceeded)

If the flow is through an orifice it is turbulent and

dependent on density

Tube and Orifice (Contd)

The flow rate of a fluid through an

orifice is dependent upon:

the square root of the pressure

difference across the orifice
the square of the diameter of the
orifice
the density of the fluid (flow through
an orifice inevitably involves some
degree of turbulence)

Without going to the theoretical details the effect of the diameter

ratio on the empirical discharge coefficient at infinite Reynolds
number is shown in Figure 3. Similar prediction is possible for
many other parameters

Crude Oil

Crude oil (Petroleum)

A mixture of hydrocarbons (compounds which contain only

hydrogen and carbon atoms)

API

API
o
API = (141.5/SG 15oF) 131.5
The purpose of this equation was to extend the range of the specific gravity scale.
Crude oil SG changes, although small, may be important.
Crude Oils oAPI = 10 50
o

Higher oAPI, more paraffinic crude, higher yields of gasoline.

Lower oAPI, more aromatic crude, lower yields of gasoline.

Viscosity
Resistance to flow, usually measured @
100oF in centistokes (kinimatic viscosity)

Pour Point

Measured by ASTM D-97 temperature at which oil ceases to

flow. Diesel may contain waxes, smaller than candle wax, which
could solidify in cold weather.

Flash Point

Temperature above which the oil will spontaneously combust.

Fractions in vacuum tower are the least combustible. They are
the heaviest.

Vapor Pressure

Measured by ASTM D-323. Also know as Reid vapor pressure

(RVP). True vapor pressure is usually 5-9% > RVP

Carbon Residue
The solid residue (%wt) remaining after
heating to coking temperatures (700800oC)
ASTM D-524 Ramsbottom Carbon
ASTM D-189 Conradson Carbon
CCR incr. then Asphaltene incr

mass meter 30
the air eliminator structure 22
S-tubes 31
the measurement system10

Other Devices For Measuring

Gas Flow
Measurements other than pressure
change across an orifice have been
used to measure flow. eg,

Hot wire flowmeters

Ultrasonic flowmeters

LNG COMPOSITION

BOILING POINT LNG

Boiling Point

Webster-Merriman on line
(www.webster-merriman.com)
defines boiling point as the
temperature at which a liquid boils
or converts rapidly from a liquid to a
vapour or gas at atmospheric
pressure.

The boiling point of LNG varies

with its basic composition, but
typically is -162C (-259F).

When cold LNG comes in contact

with warmer air, water, or the
environment, it begins to boil at
that interface because the
surrounding temperatures are
warmer than the LNGs boiling point,
as shown in Figure 1. Table 3 shows
the boiling points of water and
common gases.

Conversely, LNG becomes a liquid at these cryogenic

temperatures (-162C;-259F) at atmospheric pressure. As a
liquid, it takes up about 1/600th the volume of natural gas.
Consequently, it is generally transported and stored in a liquid
state

The density of LNG falls between 430 kg/m3 and 470 kg/m3 (3.5
to 4 lb/US gal)

While natural gas is flammable

, LNG is

not. The Flammability Limits of methane

are such that any small leak of LNG vapour from a
tank in a wellventilated area is likely to rapidly mix
with air and quickly dissipate. Large leaks and
spills are essentially precluded by a plethora of
leak-detection systems and similar safeguards.