@LittleInch
I am sorry for not replying to your post sooner. I just got back from another jobsite at work, and got a packed schedule.
Thank you for the detailed answer. I already had a chance to discuss with the pipeline engineers here, and I will try to respond each of your points.
1) I have...
@LittleInch
I must be very tired yesterday... Thanks for the corrections, again.
For the update, I have now met with the pipeline engineers. Turns out the difference in our calculations was caused by 1) they used B31.3 2012 version to calculate (the formula is still the same as the 2022...
@LittleInch
My bad. I was mistaken. Thank you for the corrections. I messed up the units. Below is the calculations, Google helped with the conversions (sorry for not doing them myself).
Q = max. 500 GPM
Q = 0.0315451 m^3/s
A = 3.14 x r^2
ID = OD - (2 x t)
ID = 6.625 in - (2 x 0.438 in)
ID =...
@1503-44
Yes, that's exactly what the engineers here mentioned: on slack flow areas, the ore slurry isn't filling up the pipe all the way to the top, resulting in higher velocity. We don't have any means to monitor the velocity, only pressure, but the pressure isn't as low as 15 psia. I'll look...
@GBTorpenhow
Thank you for the tip. Will look into Bernoulli eqs. As for the slack flow, it's something I've yet to confirm as it's (again) something that I heard from the engineers here. We do have pressure gauges and transmitters installed in several sections of the pipelines, so I'll look...
@GBTorpenhow
Thank you for your response.
Yes, there are sections that are installed on steep hills. For Mile 38-37-36 though, from the elevation profile that I have, they have the same elevation level. May I ask what equation we can use to determine the ore slurry pressure based on % solids...
@LittleInch & @1503-44
Thanks for the swift responses!
1503-44, what is the 0.4 factor you mentioned? Is it the coefficient (Y) or design factor (E)?
The Y for ferritic steel under 482 F is 0.4 but I didn't use it since it is only specified in B31.3.
For the design factor, I did use 0.72 for E...
@LittleInch
Thank you for your response. I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge as I had only started working here.
1) Yes. The company has been running for quite some time, so the pipelines (we have a total of 4 ore slurry pipelines here) have been completely replaced several times...
@1503-44
Thanks for the advice. The issue I found here is that when I use B31.4 to calculate the MAT for 4500 psi, I get 0.344 in (8.73 mm) and when I use B31.3 I get 0.554 in (14.07 mm). It is understandable that calculations using B31.4 will give thinner MAT than B31.3 due to the difference...
@DekDee
I'm sorry for the double post, and thank you for the warning. I have deleted the other thread
@1503-44
1) Is B31.4 not suitable for ore slurry?
I do understand that B31.4 used to be named "Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids" but since it's now...
Dear all,
Greetings everyone. I have something I want to ask about pipeline construction code.
I have recently started working at a mineral processing company that produces ore concentrate. The concentrate slurry (water and ore mixture, 66% solid) is transported over 62 miles (100 km) through...
