Energy Losses in Horizontal Steam Lines

Abstract

The present work shows a computarized model where joint equations from fluid mechanics and transfer have been introduced applied to a process of polytropic expansion, in order to determine the energy losses that the steam suffers when it is conducted through long horizontal pipes of a big diameter which are thermically insulated. This model gave interesting step by step results of final conditions of the following parameters: pressure, fluid and insulator temperatures, enthalpy and steam dryness along any section of pipe of a given diameter, thickness and type of insulation, starting from the initial conditions of pressure; mass rate of the fluid as much as with surrounding air temperature and wind velocity. The model could be modified and utilized for non-geothermal purposes having as an objective improving the design of the piping system of for checking up the actual operating conditions.