Research Article

Synergistic Effect of Natural and Synthetic Polymers as Drag Reducing Agents in Single Phase Water Flow

Gimba Mohammad M.1*, EDOMWONYI-OTU L C2, Abubakar Abdulraheem1, Nurudeen Yusuf.3
1 Department Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
3 Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: gimbamohammadm@njmse.msn.ng
Published: Jun, 2018
Pages: 16 - 22

Abstract

One of the most power consuming applications in the process and petroleum industry is the turbulent means of  transporting fluid over long distances through pipelines. High pumping energy is required to overcome the  occurring frictional pressure drop. An economical approach has been reported where addition of small amount in  parts per million (ppm) of high molecular weight polymeric solution can lead to large decrease in pressure drop.  Synthetic polymers are more effective in reducing pressure drop (drag reduction, DR), but cannot be degraded  easily by biological means. There is the need to combine them with natural polymers to improve DR and reduce their  environmental effect. In this study, an experimental flow facility which consists of liquid storage tanks, pumps and  unplasticised polyvinylchloride (uPVC) horizontal pipe system with 20 mm ID has been constructed. DR in single  phase water flow was investigated using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM; magnafloc 1011),  polyethylene oxide (PEO) and Aloe Vera mucilage (AVM) separately, as well as mixtures of HPAM-AVM and PEO AVM at Reynolds number from 12,916 to 48,871. The master solutions of 2000 ppm and 20000 ppm for HPAM,  PEO and AVM respectively and their respective mixtures were used at different concentrations. The pressure drop  was measured using mercury U-tube manometer. Drag reduction of 75.2, 78, 82.5 and 83% was obtained by the  polymer mixtures, which was higher than the DR of individual polymer alone at all mixing proportions and  Reynolds numbers at the same concentration. The observed synergism in DR may be attributed to the increase in the  dimension of the macromolecular coil of the polymer mixture solutions due to the presence and rigidity of other  polymer molecules.

Keywords

Drag reduction; synergism; polymers; polymer-polymer mixture

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How to Cite

M., G. M., C, E. L., Abdulraheem, A., & Yusuf., N. (2018). Synergistic Effect of Natural and Synthetic Polymers as Drag Reducing Agents in Single Phase Water Flow. Nigerian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, 8(1), 16 - 22.

G. M. M., E. L. C, A. Abdulraheem, and N. Yusuf., "Synergistic Effect of Natural and Synthetic Polymers as Drag Reducing Agents in Single Phase Water Flow," Nigerian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 16 - 22, June 2018.

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