Flow bypass line size? 1

[hirenyp]

Can anyone tell me how to size a pipe line for minimum flow through it for a closed loop system.
All your help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
HP

 

[djack77494]

HP,
You'll have to do a better job of defining your system if you want more than a nonsensical answer. Is this a liquid filled system? What is the driver? Centrifugal Pump? PD Pump? Something else? Help us help you.

 

[hirenyp]

Thanks djack77494
Ok. Its liquid filled system and centrifugal pump is a driving force with total process consumption of 5000 gpm of flow through various equipment in the system.

HP

 

[djack77494]

You generally size pipes for the maximum or design flowrate. When you say "minimum flow", I don't know if you mean the minimum stable flowrate that your centrifugal pump can deliver or if you mean something else.

Closed or open system is not particularly relevant. Pipes are generally sized based on velocity and/or pressure drop. Many E&C company guidelines have (maximum) recommendations for both. Sometimes, you have "pressure to burn", and you might not be worried about pressure drop. Other times, you might have a hydraulically tight system, and pressure drop considerations would dominate. If you have a slurry, you might be hemmed in. Too low a velocity and the solids would drop out; too high a velocity and you'd experience excessive erosion. HTH.