Drag Reducers: Flowchem

Drag Reducers

Drag reducing agent or Drag reducers or simply DRA, a high molecular weight water-soluble polymer has been utilized to improve flow. These are utilized to lessen energy losses and can as well be called friction reducers. Friction Reducers/Drag reducers lessen frictional pressure during fluid flow.  Drag reducer usage permits either a bigger flow while utilizing identical amount of energy, or a lessened pressure drop for very similar flow rate of fluid in pipelines. Polyacrylamide-based, water-soluble polymers are consist of long chains that aid to lessen the amount of energy lost in turbulence. Flowchem product series is an artificial, high molecular weight polyelectrolyte-based polyacrylamide, & is supplied in fluid emulsion or dry powder form. Flowchem products are highly competent friction reducers when utilized in water-based hydraulic fracturing fluids, & are able of reducing pressure losses because of friction by amounts in excess of 70 percent. Flowchem products will work well in anyplace from fresh water to heavy brines, & are tolerant of brines that contain high concentrations of multivalent ions.  Flowchem system offers hydration, onsite, storage & dose control of environmentally friendly powder grade Flowchem™ Friction Reducers.  Flowchem is the largest company of water soluble polymers utilized in oilfield and we have been driving technology ever since 1978 by mounting and manufacturing the highest quality products best suited to meet field needs.  

What are the benefits of using a drag reducer?

Bypassing MOL pump stations

Energy Savings

Boost in pipeline throughput

Maintaining the throughput all through MOL (Main Oil Line) pump upholding for derated lines

Reduction of the tanker’s waiting time for loading and offloading

Theory of Drag Reduction Frictional pressure drop, or simply drag, is a result of the resistance encountered by flowing fluid impending into contact with a solid surface, like a pipe wall. There are in general 2 different types of flow; turbulent and laminar. The friction pressures that are observed in laminar flow can’t be changed except if the physical properties of the fluid are changed. The present class of DRAs doesn’t change fluid properties & therefore they are useful simply in turbulent flow. In the majority petroleum pipelines, the liquid flows through the tube in a turbulent regime. As a result, current DRAs can do very well in most pipelines.  In a turbulent flow regime, the molecules of fluid move in a haphazard manner, causing much of the vigor applied to them to be exhausted as eddy currents & other haphazard motion. DRAs work by a contact of the molecules of the polymer with the turbulence of the flowing fluid.  In order to recognize how drag reducers lessen the turbulence, it is essential to describe the turbulent flow’s structure in a pipeline. A typical turbulent flow in a pipeline has three parts to the flow. In the center of the pipe is a turbulent core. It is the major region & includes most of the fluid in the pipeline. This is the region of the eddy currents & random motions of turbulent flow. Adjacent to the pipeline wall is the laminar sub layer. In this sector, the fluid moves across in sheets. Amid the laminar layer & the turbulent core lies the buffer zone. 

Flowchem is a leading provider of Drag Reducing Additives (DRA) to improve pipeline flow in onshore and offshore pipeline applications.  Flowchem Turboflo™ DRA reduces drag in petroleum pipelines in order to increase throughput capacity and energy efficiency. 

Call Flowchem at (936) 372-5347 or contact us online to discuss how Flowchem can improve your pipeline's flow.