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In the world of chemical, petrochemical, and oil & gas engineering, the difference between a plant that runs smoothly and one plagued by pump cavitation, leaks, or catastrophic failure often comes down to one thing: correctly applied process piping hydraulics. This article is structured to rank for search
| Service | Recommended velocity (ft/s) | Limiting factor | |---------|----------------------------|------------------| | Pump suction (liquids) | 1–4 | NPSH, cavitation | | Pump discharge (liquids) | 4–10 | Erosion (max 15 for carbon steel) | | Two-phase flow | 30–50 (actual) | Avoid slug flow | | Steam (saturated) | 80–120 | Water hammer, noise | | Compressed air | 20–40 | Pressure drop | Part 2: Pipe Pressure Rating (ASME B31
The Goal: Find an "economical size" that balances the initial capital cost of the pipe against the long-term energy costs of pumping. "Module 3: Process Piping – Hydraulics, Sizing and
Pressure rating ensures pipe can withstand operating pressure, temperature, and transients (surge, hammer).
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"Module 3: Process Piping – Hydraulics, Sizing and Pressure Rating" is a specialized engineering training module that bridges the gap between fluid mechanics and mechanical design. It focuses on the dual requirements of a piping system: ensuring it is large enough to handle required flow rates (hydraulics) and strong enough to contain internal pressure (rating). 1. Hydraulic Pipe Sizing Fundamentals

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