Assignment task: Respond to the following discussion, address the following:
Comment specifically on the suggested ways described to decrease system losses. Need Assignment Help?
Your replies must reflect a genuine interest in the discussion post. This means your replies are more substantial than saying "I like your discussion post" or "Great job!" Replies may be in the form of:
Comments that clarify points or issues raised by a student.
Questions that will help you understand a student's topic of discussion.
Respectfully disagree with a comment presented in the discussion thread.
I will be discussing the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System (TAPS), an 800 mile system that transports crude oil from Prudhoe Bay in Northern Alaska to Valdez Marine Terminal in Southern Alaska.
The energy loses that the system faces are:
Friction loses - as the oil moves through the pipes it experiences friction against the interior surface of the pipe. Additionally, the roughness of the pipes and the viscosity of the oil contribute to this.
Elevation and Gravity Effects - The pipeline spans through rough terrain with changes in elevation which creates gravitational potential energy loses.
Temperature Induced Viscosity Changes - In cold weather, the viscosity increases which increases friction and adds to energy loses.
Potential Improvements:
Use internal coatings in the interior of the pipe to reduce roughness of the pipe and therefore reduce friction. PU (Polyurethane) or epoxy coatings are commonly used in pipes to reduce drag
Pump Efficiency can be optimized through using more efficient pumps with variable speed drives and installing booster pumps in strategic locations can reduce the impact of the rough terrain.
Heating systems and insulation can be installed to reduce viscosity in colder regions which would lead to reduced friction.
Reduce sharp bends in the pipe and use more gradual, smoother curves to change direction of flow.
Images: (Having issues with exceeded file storage, so I cant load the image)
Sources:
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. (n.d.). Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
Pipeline & Gas Journal. (2021). Reducing Energy Loss in Oil Pipelines.
U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Improving Efficiency in Oil Transportation.