PRESSURE DROP IN LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS LAMINAR FLOW IN CYLINDRICAL ELLIPTIC PIPES

This work investigated Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) flow in cylinders of elliptic cross-section. The LPG found in Nigeria contains mainly butane with varying percentages of propane. Commercial code FLUENT, which uses the finite volume method, was used to solve fluid flow governing equations. Very little attention has been paid to LPG flow in cylindrical elliptic pipes. Results of flow parameters of velocity and pressure were presented. Results showed that the pressure drop for LPG flow in elliptic pipes was higher than the ones of the circular pipes for the same cross-sectional area. This finding is relevant because the pressure drop is related to the power needed to drive the flow. Results showed that the velocity increased towards centre of the pipe at all cross-sections, and also increased towards the outlet of the pipe.