Recommended Mean Velocities in Pipe From Various Sources

Fluid
Dry Gas 100 fps
Wet Gas 80 fps
High Pressure Steam (150 psig+) 150 fps
Low Pressure Steam (< 50 psig) 100 fps
Air 100 fps
Vapor Lines, General Max velocity 0.3 mach or 0.5 psi/100 ft
Light Volatile Liquid near Bubble Point, Pump Suction 0.5 ft head total suction line
Pump Discharge, Tower Reflux 3 to 5 psi/100 ft
Hot Oil Headers 1.5 psi/100 ft
Vacuum Vapor Lines below 50 MM Abs Pressure Allow max of 5% absolute pressure for friction loss
Source: Branan, "Rules of Thumb for Chemicl Engineers", 2nd ed., Page 5
Typical Design Velocities for Process System Applications
Service
Average liquid process
Pump suction, supercooled fluid
Pump suction, boiling fluid
Boiler feed water
Gravity liquid drain lines
Liquid to reboiler (no pump)
Vapor-liquid mixture out of reboiler
Vapor to condenser
Gravity separator flows
Liquid Fluid
Ammonia, liquid Steel
Benzene Steel
Bromine, liquid Glass
Calcium chloride Steel
Carbon tetrachloride Steel
Chlorine, dry liquid Steel, Schedule 80
Chloroform, liquid Copper, steel
Ethylene dibromide Glass
Ethylene dichloride Steel
Ethylene glycol Steel
Hydrochloric acid, liquid Rubber-lined
Methyl chloride, liquid Steel
Oils, lubricating Steel
Perchlorethylene Steel
Propylene glycol Steel
Sodium chloride solution Steel
Sodium chloride sol'n w/solids Monel, Ni
Sodium hydroxide, 0-30% Steel, Ni
Sodium hydroxide, 30-50% Steel, Ni
6 min; 15 max
6
5
6
5
6
4
6
6
4
4
6
6
5
5
1.5 - 4
2 - 7
15 - 30
15 - 80
6
6
5
6
Velocity, ft/sec
Velocity, ft/sec
4 - 6.5
0.5 - 1.5
1 - 5
0.5 - 3
4 - 8
Pipe Material
Velocity
Sodium hydroxide, 50-73% Steel, Ni
Styrene Steel
Sulfuric acid, 88-93% 316 SS, lead
Sulfuric acid, 93-100% Cast iron; Steel, Sched 80
Trichlorethylene Steel
Vinyl chloride Steel
Vinylidene chloride Steel
Water, average service Steel
Water, pump suction Steel
Water, usual maximum economical Steel
Water, sea and brackish Rubber-lined, Saran
Water, sea and brackish Concrete-lined
Gaseous or Vapor Fluid
Acetylene Steel
Air, 0 to 30 psig Steel
Ammonia Steel
Bromine Glass
Chlorine, dry Steel, Schedule 80
Chloroform Copper, steel
Ethylene Steel
Hydrochloric acid Rubber-lined, Saran
Hydrogen Steel
Methyl chloride Steel
Natural gas Steel
Oxygen (ambient temp.) Steel
Oxygen (low temp.) 304 SS
Steam, 0-30 psi, sat. Steel
Steam, 15 psi up, superheated Steel
Steam, 30-150 psi, sat or superheated Steel
Sulfur dioxide Steel
3 to 8; 6 avg
3 to 8 ; 6 avg
5 to 12
7 to 10
5 to 8
4
6
6
6
4
4
Velocity, ft/sec
30 (max)
6
65
65
100
35
30 to 80
35
100
65
0.1 to 165
0.1 to 250
65
100
65
75 (Max)
65
0.1 to 100
Pipe Material
Max velocity 0.3 mach or 0.5 psi/100 ft
Allow max of 5% absolute pressure for friction loss
Velocity