Gas Pipeline Blowdown time

Reference: "Simple Method Predicts Gas Line Blowdown Times", by

M.H. Weiss, K.K. Botros, W.M. Jungowski, Oil & Gas Journal, Dec. 12, 1988

P
t c ln i
Pa

k
k 1

ln

2
k 1
k 1

k 1 2( k 1)
V

2
v
c Ath C d
c

Z k R T
MW
1
Pi 5270 101.785SG
1
T 3.825

f L
f L
f L
C f a1 a 2 log 10
a3 log 10
a 4 log 10

D
D

1
1
1
25.680
38.409

a1 1.0319 5.2735
Ar
Ar
Ar

1
1
1
a2 0.2699417.304 86.415 144.77
Ar
Ar
Ar

1
1
1
a3 0.2417512.637 56.772 88.351
Ar
Ar
Ar
2

1
1
1
a4 0.054856 2.6258 8.9593 12.139
Ar
Ar
Ar
Ar

Ap
Ath C d

Note:
The polynomials for the coefficients (a1, a2, a3, a4) are valid only for 3 < Ar < 30 and should
not be used outside this range.
Pc

k
1.20
1.25
1.30
1.35
1.40
1.45
1.50
1.55
1.60

ts
0.5645
0.5549
0.5457
0.5368
0.5283
0.52
0.512
0.5042
0.4968

t tot t c t s V C f

0.7371
0.7605
0.7833
0.8058
0.8278
0.8495
0.8707
0.8916
0.9122

where:
tc =

Dimensionless Sonic blowdown time

Pi =

Initial Pressure of the gas pipeline, kPa (abs)

Pa =

Atmospheric Pressure, kPa (abs)

k=

Ratio of Specific heats (Cp/Cv)

V =

Ap =

Time constant, seconds

Volume of the pipe being blown down, m3
(Pipe C/S area X Pipe length)
sonic velocity, m/s
compressibility factor
Specific Gravity of Gas (Air =1)
Absolute temperature of the gas in pipeline, K
Universal Gas Constant (8314 J/kmol-K)
Molecular Weight of the Gas
= SG*28.96 (if only specific gravity of gas is known)
Blowdown Correction Factor, dimensionless
Darcy friction factor, dimensionless
Length of pipeline, m
Inside Diameter of the Pipeline, m
Ratio of Pipe-to-effective-valve-discharge-area, dimensionless
C/S area of pipe, m2

Ath =

Blowdown Valve discharge Area, m2

V=
c=
Z=
SG =
T=
R=
MW =
Cf =
f=
L=
D=
Ar =

Ath*Cd =

Notes:
1. For full-bore ball valves the "discharge area" will be considered the
same as the blowdown line cross-sectional area
2. For reduced bore ball valves the "discharge area" should be considered
based on the cross-sectional area of one size lower than the blowdown
line size
Blowdown Valve discharge coefficient, dimensionless
(Use a value of 0.85 to 1 in absence of manufacturer's data)
Effective valve discharge area, m2

Pc =

Critical Pressure Ratio

Cd =

2 k 1
Pc

k 1
ts =

Dimensionless subsonic blowdown time

ttot =

total blowdown time, seconds

Darcy Friction Factor (Turbulent Flow)

Pipe ID

mm
26.64 (1" STD)

0.023

40.9 (1.5" STD)

0.021

52.5 (2" STD)

0.019

77.92 (3" STD)

0.018

102.26 (4" STD)

0.017

154.08 (6" STD)

0.015

202.74 (8" STD)

0.014

254.46 (10" STD)

0.014

304.81 (12" STD)

0.013

336.56 (14" STD)

0.013

387.36 (16" STD)

0.013

438.16 (18" STD)

0.012

488.96 (20" STD)

0.012

590.56 (24" STD)

0.012

742.96 (30" STD)

0.011

895.36 (36" STD)

0.011

Exam ple Calculation:

Estimate the total blowdown time for a 25 km, 36" STD pipeline which contains natural

gas at 6000 kPa(abs) and 10C. The gas has a specific gravity of 0.6.
The blowdown valve is a 8" full bore valve on a 8" blowdown line
The atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa(abs).
Inputs
Pi =
Pa =
k=
Cd =
D=
T=
SG =
f=
BDV size =
L=
ts =
Calculations
Z=
MW =
V=
c=
Ath =
Ap =
Ar =
tc =

6000 kPa(abs)
100
1.3
0.85
0.895
10
0.6
0.011
8
25000
0.7833

kPa(abs)
input from external source
m
C

inch
m

23.6
3.49

a1 =

0.8514

a2 =

0.3229

a3 =

-0.1991

a4 =

0.0413846

Losses
ttot =

Prepared by:
Email:

Refer table

3
15728.1 m
390.4 m/s
2
0.031 m
2
0.629 m

2578.0 seconds

ttot =

specific gravity of gas (Air =1)

manual input based on table for Darcy friction factor
(if RB use one size lower than BD line size and if FB use line size)

0.87
17.4

V =

Cf =

Input based on NPS & Pipe Schedule

1.06
11669.7 seconds
1.05
12253.2 seconds
204.2 minutes

(Time delay is based on losses in vent line and entrance)

(including losses)

Ankur Srivastava
Chemical Engineer
ankur_2061@hotmail.com

Mass Flow Rate for Gas Pipeline Blowdown through Hole or Orifice
Notes:
1. The depressuring or blowdown is assumed to be adiabatic and the heat
exchange with the environment is neglected.
Sonic or Choked Release Rate (ms), kg/s
If the pressure ratio (Pa/Pi) is less then or equal to the critical pressure ratio (Pc) then the
flow is sonic or choked and the mass flow rate through the hole or orifice can be calculated
from:

2
m s C d Ath i Pi k

k 1

k 1
k 1

where:
Pa =

Atmospheric Pressure, Pa (abs)

Pi =

Initial Pressure of the gas pipeline, Pa (abs)

ms =

Sonic Release Rate, kg/s

Cd =

Ath =

Hole or Orifice discharge coefficient, dimensionless

(Use a value of 0.62 for sharp-edged orifices)
(Use a value of 0.95-0.99 for rounded orifices)
Hole or Orifice C/S Area, m2

i =

density of the gas in pipeline@Pi,T

T=
MW =

Absolute temperature of the gas in pipeline, K

Molecular Weight of the Gas
= SG*28.96 (if only specific gravity of gas is known)
Compressibility Factor
Specific Gravity of Gas (Air =1)
Ratio of Specific heats (Cp/Cv)

Z=
SG =
k=

Pi MW
8314 T Z

Inputs
Pi =
k=
Cd =
T=
SG =
Hole/ Orifice Size =
Z=
Calculations
MW =
i =

6.00E+06 Pa (abs)
1.3
0.62
10
0.6
2 inch
0.87

17.4
3
50.9 kg/m

Ath =
ms =

2
0.00203 m

14.65 kg/s

Sub-Sonic Release Rate (mss), kg/s

If the pressure ratio (Pa/Pi) is greater then the critical pressure ratio (Pc), (Psc), then the flow
is sub-sonic and the mass flow rate through the hole or orifice can be calculated from:
k 1

2 k 1
m ss C d Ath i Pi k

k 1
where:
mss =

P
a
Pi

Sub-sonic Release Rate, kg/s

1

k
P
1 a

Pi

Inputs
Pa =
k=
Cd =
T=
SG =
Hole/ Orifice Size =
Z=
Psc =
Calculations
MW =
Pi =

k 1
k

1.00E+05 Pa (abs)
1.3
0.62
10 C
0.6
2 inch
1
0.5555

Ath =

17.4
1.80E+05 Pa (abs)
0.99978
3
1.3 kg/m
2
0.00203 m

mss =

0.41 kg/s

=
i =

k 1

2 k 1 k 1

k 1 2

(Pc = 0.5457 for k =1.3)