The Panhandle A and B Equations for Natu

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Parameters
Inlet pressure (absolute)
Outlet pressure (absolute)
Pressure, std condition (absolute)
Temperature std condition (absolute)
Mean temperature of line (absolute)
Inside diameter
Pipe length
Gas relative density (air=1)
Mean gas compressibility
Pipeline efficiency
Mean gas viscosity
Elevation of exit above entrance
Flowrates (std conditions)
Panhandle A
Panhandle B

998
913
14.7
530
560
18.5
10
0.6
0.85
0.95
1
20

349505515.3
338635377.81

ons for Natural Gas Flow

Pressure units

psia
Pa

Inlet pressure
Outlet pressure
Pressure, std condition
Temperature std condition
Mean temperature of line
Inside diameter
Pipe length
Gas relative density (air=1)
Mean gas compressibility
Pipeline efficiency
Pipe effective roughness
Mean gas viscosity
s
Le
Panhandle A
Panhandle b

Temperature Units

Length units

Viscosity

Volume flowrate

F
K

in
m
miles

Pa s
cP

ft^3/day
m^3/s

std condition
ure std condition
mperature of line

Unit
1
1
1
1
1
1
3

Value in Imperial
998
913
14.7
530
560
18.5
10

ve density (air=1)
compressibility

tive roughness
viscosity

2
1
1 7.878151261E-005
10.0003939179
1 349505515.295777
1 338635377.810175

The Panhandle A and B Equations for Natural Gas Flow

This Excel spreadsheet calculates the Panhandle A and B equations for the flow of natural gas throug

With Excel's Goal Seek function, you can also back-solve. For example, you can ask Excel to calculate

Weymouth (1912) developed the general gas flow equation. However, a li

The Panhandle equations are considered fairly accurate for Reynolds num

As a caveat, the equations were originally developed for long pipelines; hence their use in shorter ru
These are the equations implemented in the spreadsheet.

The notation is defined in a prior blog post that explores the Weymouth eq

Download Excel spreadsheet for the Panhandle A and B equations for natu

ural Gas Flow

ons for the flow of natural gas through high pressure pipelines. You can choose between USCS (field units) or SI units, and even mix both (the spread

ample, you can ask Excel to calculate the exit pressure that gives you a desired flowrate.

flow equation. However, a limitation is that the friction factor can only be obtained iteratively. Hence simpler

accurate for Reynolds numbers between 4 million and 40 million. Panhandle A is best suited for 12-60 inch d

pelines; hence their use in shorter runs may not be appropriate

t explores the Weymouth equation.

e A and B equations for natural gas flow

units, and even mix both (the spreadsheet does the unit conversion for you).

d iteratively. Hence simpler relationships based on the gas flow equation were developed, including the Weym

best suited for 12-60 inch diameter pipelines at pressures between 800 psia to 1500 psia. Panhandle B is mo

veloped, including the Weymouth equation and the Panhandle A (developed in the 1940s) and B (developed

500 psia. Panhandle B is most often used for pipes with a diameter of 36 inches or larger, and pressures abov

e 1940s) and B (developed in 1956) equations. These correlations simply substituted equations for the trans

r larger, and pressures above 1000 psia. Gas flows in pipelines with diameters of 15 inches or below are bett

ted equations for the transmission factor (i.e. the friction factor) into the general gas flow equation.

15 inches or below are better modeled by the Weymouth equation.

gas flow equation.