Recommended Mean Velocities in Pipe From Various Sources

Fluid
Velocity
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

Velocity, ft/sec
4 - 6.5
1-5
0.5 - 3
4-8
1.5 - 4
2-7
15 - 30
15 - 80
0.5 - 1.5

Liquid Fluid
Ammonia, liquid
Benzene
Bromine, liquid
Calcium chloride
Carbon tetrachloride
Chlorine, dry liquid
Chloroform, liquid
Ethylene dibromide
Ethylene dichloride
Ethylene glycol
Hydrochloric acid, liquid
Methyl chloride, liquid
Oils, lubricating
Perchlorethylene
Propylene glycol
Sodium chloride solution
Sodium chloride sol'n w/solids
Sodium hydroxide, 0-30%

Velocity, ft/sec
6
6
4
4
6
5
6
4
6
6
5
6
6
6
5
5
6 min; 15 max
6

Pipe Material
Steel
Steel
Glass
Steel
Steel
Steel, Schedule 80
Copper, steel
Glass
Steel
Steel
Rubber-lined
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel
Monel, Ni
Steel, Ni

Sodium hydroxide, 30-50%

Sodium hydroxide, 50-73%
Styrene
Sulfuric acid, 88-93%
Sulfuric acid, 93-100%
Trichlorethylene
Vinyl chloride
Vinylidene chloride
Water, average service
Water, pump suction
Water, usual maximum economical
Water, sea and brackish
Water, sea and brackish

Steel, Ni
Steel, Ni
Steel
316 SS, lead
Cast iron; Steel, Sched 80
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel
Rubber-lined, Saran
Concrete-lined

Gaseous or Vapor Fluid

Acetylene
Air, 0 to 30 psig
Ammonia
Bromine
Chlorine, dry
Chloroform
Ethylene
Hydrochloric acid
Hydrogen
Methyl chloride
Natural gas
Oxygen (ambient temp.)
Oxygen (low temp.)
Steam, 0-30 psi, sat.
Steam, 15 psi up, superheated
Steam, 30-150 psi, sat or superheated
Sulfur dioxide

Pipe Material
Steel
Steel
Steel
Glass
Steel, Schedule 80
Copper, steel
Steel
Rubber-lined, Saran
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel
304 SS
Steel
Steel
Steel
Steel

5
4
6
4
4
6
6
6
3 to 8; 6 avg
3 to 8 ; 6 avg
7 to 10
5 to 8
5 to 12

Velocity, ft/sec
30 (max)
65
100
35
30 to 80
35
100
65
65
65
100
75 (Max)
65
0.1 to 100
0.1 to 250
0.1 to 165
65

Velocity

h or 0.5 psi/100 ft

olute pressure for friction loss