Chapter 2

5.1 Steel Pipe

Pipe is a tube with round cross section conforming to the dimensional requirements of
ASME B36.10M Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
ASME B36.19M Stainless Steel Pipe

Or Pipe is a tube with round cross section with specified thickness (schedule).

Different types of pipe:

1. Seamless pipe, 2. Butt-weld pipe, 3. Spiral welded pipe

5.1 Manufacturing Methods
Seamless pipe is formed by piercing a solid, near-molten, steel rod, called a billet, with a mandrel to
produce a pipe that has no seams or joints. Figure shows below depicts the manufacturing process
of seamless pipe.

Butt-welded pipe is formed by feeding hot steel plate through shapers that will roll it into a hollow
circular shape. Forcibly squeezing the two ends of the plate together will produce a fused joint or
seam. Figure shows below the steel plate as it begins the process of forming butt-welded pipe.

Spiral-welded pipe:
Spiral-welded pipe is formed by twisting strips of metal into a spiral shape, similar to a barber's
pole, then welding where the edges join one another to form a seam. This type of pipe is restricted
to piping systems using low pressures due to its thin walls. Figure shows below the spiral welded
pipe as it appears before welding.

Each of the three methods for producing pipe has its advantages and disadvantages. Butt-welded
pipe, for example, is formed from rolled plate that has a more uniform wall thickness and can be
inspected for defects prior to forming and welding. This manufacturing method is particularly useful
when thin walls and long lengths are needed. Because of the welded seam, however, there is always
the possibility of defects that escape the numerous quality control checks performed during the
manufacturing process.

As a result, The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) developed strict guidelines for the
manufacture of pipe. Pressure Piping Code B 31 was written to govern the manufacture of pipe. In
particular, code B31.1.0 assigns a strength factor of 85% for rolled pipe, 60% for spiral-welded and
100% efficiency for seamless pipe.
Generally, wider wall thicknesses are produced by the seamless method. However, for the many
low-pressure uses of pipe, the continuous welded method is the most economical. Seamless pipe is
produced in single and double random lengths.

5.1 Pipe Materials

A comprehensive list of the materials used to manufacture pipe would be quite lengthy. Some of the
materials are: a. Concrete b. Glass c. Lead d. Brass e. Copper f. Plastic g. Aluminium h.
Cast iron

i. Carbon steel and j. Steel alloys

Such a broad range of materials available, selecting one to fit a particular need can be confusing. A
thorough understanding of the pipe's intended use is essential. Each material has limitations that
may make it inappropriate for a given application. Throughout this text we will base our discussion
on carbon steel pipe, the most common material used in the piping industry.

5.1 Sizing of Pipe

Pipe is identified by three different size categories: nominal pipe size, outside diameter, and inside
diameter.
The size represented the approximate inside diameter of the pipe in inches. A 6 pipe is one whose
inside diameter is approximately 6 inches (in). Users started to call the pipe as 2-in, 4-in, 6-in pipe
and so on. To begin, each pipe size was produced to have one thickness, which later was termed as
standard (STD) or standard weight STD.WT.). The outside diameter of the pipe was standardized. As
the industrial requirements demanded the handling of higher-pressure fluids, pipes were produced
having thicker walls, which came to be known as extra strong (XS) or extra heavy (XH). The higher
pressure requirements increased further, requiring thicker wall pipes. Accordingly, pipes were
manufactured with double extra strong (XXS) or double extra heavy (XXH) walls while the
standardized outside diameters are unchanged.

Nominal pipe size (NPS) is a dimensionless designator of pipe size. It indicates standard pipe size
when followed by the specific size designation number without an inch symbol. For example, NPS 2
indicates a pipe whose outside diameter is 2.375 in. The NPS 12 and smaller pipe has outside
diameter greater than the size designator (say, 2, 4, 6, . . .). However, the outside diameter of NPS 14
and larger pipe is the same as the size designator in inches. For example, NPS 14 pipe has an outside
diameter equal to 14 in. The inside diameter will depend upon the pipe
wall thickness specified by the schedule number. Refer to ASME B36.10M or ASME B36.19M.

Diameter nominal (DN) is also a dimensionless designator of pipe size in the metric unit system,
developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO). It indicates standard pipe size when
followed by the specific size designation number
without a millimetre symbol. For example, DN 50 is the equivalent designation of NPS 2. Refer to
Table A1.1 for NPS and DN pipe size equivalents.

Pipes are produced in a length of 6m / 12m or 20 /40.

Why Pipe sizing is important?

Almost 30% cost of plant is carried out by piping systems.

Criteria for Pipe sizing:

1. Velocity of fluid
2. Pressure drop consideration
3. Economic considerations

Equation(s) Steady Flow:

l : Pipe Length (m)
w : Water Flow Rate (m/h)
d : Pipe Inner Diameter (m)
v : Water Velocity (m/s)
p : Pressure Loss (Pa)
: Coefficient of friction
V = 183.3461(Q/D2) SG : Specific Gravity

where V = velocity, ft/s

Q = flow rate, ft3/s
D = inside diameter, in

V = 0.4085(Q/D2)

where V = velocity, ft/s

Q = flow rate, gal/min
D = inside diameter, in

In SI units, the velocity equation is as follows:

V = 353.6777(Q/D2)

where V = velocity, m/s

Q = flow rate, m3/h
D = inside diameter, mm

Example : Water flows through an NPS 8 pipeline (12.7 mm wall thickness) at the rate of 3000
m3/h. Calculate the
average velocity for steady flow. (Note: The designation NPS 8 means nominal pipe size
of 8 in.)

Example: Water flows through a DN200 pipeline (10-mmwall thickness) at the rate of 75 L/s.
Calculate the
average velocity for steady flow.

Types of Flow:

1. Laminar Flow R<2100

2. Critical flow 2100 <R<4000
3. Turbulent flow R>4000

Reynolds Number
The Reynolds number is a dimensionless parameter of flow. It depends on the pipe size, flow rate,
liquid viscosity, and density. It is calculated from the following equation:
R = VD / ---2.1
or
R = VD / ----2.2
where R= Reynolds number, dimensionless
V = average flow velocity, ft/s
D = inside diameter of pipe, ft
= mass density of liquid, slug/ft3
= dynamic viscosity, slug/(ft s)
= kinematic viscosity, ft2/s
Since R must be dimensionless, a consistent set of units must be used for all items in Eq. (2.1) to
ensure that all units cancel out and R has no dimensions.
Other variations of the Reynolds number for different units are as
follows:

R = 3162.5 (Q/D) ---(2.3)

where R= Reynolds number, dimensionless

Q = flow rate, gal/min
D = inside diameter of pipe, in
= kinematic viscosity, cSt

In SI units, the Reynolds number is expressed as follows:

R = 353,678 (Q/D)
where R= Reynolds number, dimensionless
Q = flow rate, m3/h
D = inside diameter of pipe, mm
= kinematic viscosity, cSt

Example: Water flows through a 20-in pipeline (0.375-in wall thickness) at 6000 gal/min. Calculate
the average velocity and Reynolds number of flow. Assume water has a viscosity of 1.0 cSt.

Solution: Average velocity is calculated as follows:

V = 0.4085(6000/19.252)
= 6.61 ft/s

Reynolds number R = 3162.5(6000/19.25 1.0)

= 985,714

Example:
Water flows through a 400-mm pipeline (10-mm wall thickness) at 640 m3/h. Calculate the average
velocity and Reynolds number of flow. Assume water has a viscosity of 1.0 cSt.

Solution: Average velocity is calculated as follows:

V = 353.6777(640/3802)
= 1.57 m/s

Reynolds number R = 353,678(640/380 1.0)

= 595,668