Sonic Velocity Piping Design

Sonic velocity is also known as speed of sound. In chemical engineering, sonic

velocity is defined as the sound velocity of the internal fluid. From my knowledge,
this term, sonic velocity is important to verify if the internal fluid across the valve
achieves choked condition or critical condition. When the fluid achieves that
condition, it is described as choked flow. Choked flow is an undesired condition to
the process flow system. It is a condition in which the mass flow rate will not
increase with further decrease in the outlet pressure (P_outlet) and fixed inlet
pressure (P_inlet). When choked flow is achieved, the Mach number will be equal to
1 (Ma = 1).

The formula of Sonic Velocity is as defined below: (Rule of thumb)

[Source: Branan, C. R. , The Process Engineers Pocket Handbook, Vol. 1, Gulf

Publishing Co., 1976]

Sonic velocity, Vs = sqrt (K*g*R*T/Mw)

Where,

Vs = sonic velocity with unit of ft/sec

K = Cp/Cv

g = 32.2 ft/sec2

R = 1544 ftlbfR1lb-mol1

Mw = Molecular Weight

T = Absolute temperature, R

Sometimes, clients request for this computation in the dynamic simulation (HYSYS).
This is to ensure if the flow achieves choked flow throughout the simulation
analysis.

In HYSYS software, sonic velocity is not included in the Stream Properties Tab. It
requires doing a manual computation using the intrinsic property of the fluid. This
can be done by inserting a HYSYS Spreadsheet icon in which the required
variables (K and T) can be imported from the Stream Properties and Condition
tabs. After that, the sonic velocity formula can be input into one of the cell in the
spreadsheet using the variable imported from the Stream Properties and
Condition tabs. When the integrator is activated and calculation integration step
begins, the sonic velocity result will be automatically generated itself for every
single integration time step.
In order to monitor the progress of the flow condition (choked flow or not), another
flow speed is inserted next to the flow sonic flow. The flow speed can be described
as

v = (actual volume flow) / (internal piping cross sectional area)

Sonic velocity and flow velocity are plotted in a strip chart. As the integrator is
activated, the calculated result of sonic velocity and flow velocity will be plotted in
the strip chart. From the strip chart, it can determine if the flow achieves the
choked condition. For non-choked flow condition, the flow velocity must always be
lower than the sonic velocity.

A token of appreciation to Phil Leckners explanation:

Some people do not allow the velocity in the downstream piping to ever achieve a
flow greater than 75% to 80% of sonic. You can do this by increasing the piping
size but of course, you pay more for this as well. I don't necessarily subscribe to
this limitation. I will size the pipe for sonic velocity but then choose the next larger
standard pipe size. This will bring the velocity down somewhat. I then have the
piping designers design the pipe for potential vibration if necessary.