Liquid Pipeline Pressure Drop Calculation: Darcy-Weisbach & DRA Impact
This segment reviews the calculation of pressure drop in a 100-mile, 15.5-inch ID pipeline using the Darcy-Weisbach equation and elevation gradient, starting with an inlet pressure of 1234 PSI and resulting in an outlet pressure of 39 PSI. When drag reduction agents (DRA) are introduced at 15 parts per million, the friction factor decreases by 40%, raising the outlet pressure to 446 PSI. This significant increase demonstrates the effectiveness of DRA in reducing frictional losses and enhancing the pipeline's throughput capacity.