Gas Pipeline Pressure Drop Calculator
Calculate outlet pressure using Panhandle A, Weymouth, and AGA fully-turbulent equations. Includes velocity and erosional velocity check.
Pipeline Parameters
Results
| Method | Outlet P (psi) | ΔP (psi) | Velocity (ft/s) |
|---|
Erosional Velocity
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Gas Z-Factor
--
Avg Pressure (psi)
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Erosion Check
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Pressure Profile Along Pipeline
How this was calculated
Panhandle A: Q = 435.87 E ((P1^2-P2^2)/(SG T_avg L Z))^0.5394 D^2.6182. Solves iteratively for P2.
Weymouth: Q = 433.5 ((P1^2-P2^2)/(SG T_avg L Z))^0.5 D^2.667. Explicit solution for P2.
AGA (Fully Turbulent): Uses Nikuradse fully-rough friction factor: f = (1/(-2 log10(e/3.7D)))^2 applied in the general flow equation.
Z-factor: Estimated using Hall-Yarborough correlation for given SG, T, and average P.
Erosional velocity: Ve = C / sqrt(rho), where C = 100 (API RP 14E) and rho is gas density at outlet conditions.
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Book a free strategy call →Understanding Gas Pipeline Pressure Drop
Pressure drop in natural gas pipelines is a critical design parameter that determines pipeline capacity, compressor requirements, and overall system economics. Unlike liquid pipelines, gas pipelines must account for compressibility effects, making the calculations more complex.
The three most common equations for gas pipeline flow are the Panhandle A equation (developed for large-diameter, high-pressure transmission lines), the Weymouth equation (conservative, often used for distribution systems), and the AGA equation (most accurate for fully turbulent flow). Each produces slightly different results due to their underlying friction factor assumptions.
Erosional velocity is a key constraint. API RP 14E defines the maximum allowable velocity based on gas density, typically using a C-factor of 100 for continuous service. Exceeding erosional velocity can cause internal pipe wall erosion, particularly at elbows and tees.
All calculations run entirely in your browser. Built by Groundwork Analytics, an AI and engineering company serving the energy industry. Get in touch or email info@petropt.com.