Analysis of Pressure Loss and Heat Transfer of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow through Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

Abstract

In this study, theoretical analyses have been performed to determine the feasibility of transporting gas-to-liquid (GTL) products through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) using a non-Newtonian fluid flow approach. Due to heat loss, the fluid temperature decreases in the direction of flow, and this affects the fluid properties, which in turn influence the convection coefficient and pumping power requirements. This article presents fluid temperature and heat loss along the pipeline at different locations. Furthermore, this study includes calculations on the power required to pump GTL and crude oil/GTL mix. Parametric studies had been performed varying two parameters: wind velocity, to vary convection over the pipeline, and snow depth. Ambient air velocities of 0.45 m/s (1 mph), 4.47 m/s (10 mph), and 8.94 m/s (20 mph) have been considered. Snow depths of 0 m (0 ft), 0.305 m (1 ft), and 0.61 m (2 ft) have also been taken into account. These results show that the pumping power and heat loss for GTL and commingled mixtures are less than that predicted by Nerella's (2002) Newtonian flow calculations.

Keywords:

• gas-to-liquids (GTL)
• non-Newtonian fluid flow
• non-Newtonian heat transfer
• pumping power
• trans-Alaska pipeline (TAPS)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial assistance from the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center and the Dean of the Graduate School at University of Alaska Fairbanks is gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Dr. Godwin A. Chukwu and Ms. Sirisha Nerella for their technical guidance.