OPTIMAL-DESIGN OF A MULTISTAGE CAPSULE HANDLING MULTIPHASE PIPELINE

Based on the least-cost principle, a methodology has been developed fo r the determination of the optimal size and optimal spacing between tw o successive pumping stations of an inclined up or down spherical caps ule pipeline. The analysis indicates that the optimum diameter increas es with increase in throughput as well as specific gravity of the caps ule, whereas the optimum spacing has a trend opposite to that of optim um diameter. The capsule velocity is found to decrease with increase i n capsule specific gravity and is always within the prescribed practic al limits. As one would expect, the friction factor increases with inc rease in specific gravity of the capsule; however, in each case it dec reases with increase in Reynolds number. The procedure can be applied to obtain the optimal size of the fluid pipeline by simply dropping th e cost of the capsule term from the total cost. The procedure outlined is of a versatile nature and can be used for the design of the cylind rical capsule pipeline as well. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.