Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Numerical Simulation of a Dovetail Tee and Its Role in Pipeline Improvement at LNG Fueling Stations

Version 1 : Received: 11 January 2024 / Approved: 12 January 2024 / Online: 12 January 2024 (04:04:11 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Kang, Z.; Tan, R.; Yao, Q.; Zhang, J. Numerical Simulation of the Dovetail Tee and Hydraulic Optimization of the Height Difference for Pipeline in a Liquefied Natural Gas Filling Station. Sustainability 2024, 16, 3525. Kang, Z.; Tan, R.; Yao, Q.; Zhang, J. Numerical Simulation of the Dovetail Tee and Hydraulic Optimization of the Height Difference for Pipeline in a Liquefied Natural Gas Filling Station. Sustainability 2024, 16, 3525.

Abstract

Certain configurations of liquefied natural gas refueling stations exhibit a deficiency in managing boil-off gas. Furthermore, the ill-conceived linkage between the submersible pump and the gas storage tank pipeline leads to impeded natural gas transmission. This study employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methodology to scrutinize the hydrodynamic attributes of T-type tee and dovetail tee configurations implemented in the pipeline design connecting the submersible pump and storage tank in an LNG filling station across diverse operational scenarios. The T-type tee induces detachment of the primary flow from the inner wall due to inertial forces, resulting in vortex formation and heightened resistance, accompanied by increased energy dissipation. Conversely, the dovetail tee, with its circular wall transition, mitigates vortex generation, reducing the separation zone and consequently minimizing resistance and energy loss. The maximum static differential pressure between the inlet and outlet of the dovetail tee is diminished by 52.52% when compared to that of the T-type tee. In the most noteworthy scenarios, the local resistance coefficient of the dovetail tee is even less than 1/10 of that of the T-type tee. In practical engineering applications, the incorporation of dovetail tees leads to a 17.58% reduction in the required elevation difference. This results in a more uniform flow field and enhanced stability in both flow rate and pressure. Such improvements contribute to heightened engineering efficiency and environmental sustainability, particularly evident in the design of LNG filling stations.

Keywords

numerical simulation; liquefied natural gas; tee; fluid dynamics; hydraulic calculation; optimal design

Subject

Engineering, Energy and Fuel Technology

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