Enhancing the efficiency of crude oil transportation pipeline: a novel approach
In this paper, exergy and economic analyses are carried out on a 30″ crude oil transportation pipeline and related pump stations. The exergy destructions and losses of the components and the entire system were determined in the operation, resulting in the identification of the gas turbines stacks as the major elements of exergy losses. A proposal has been made for improving the energy and exergy efficiencies of the entire system. It has been shown that transfer of heat recovered from hot flue gas to the crude oil (for warming up the crude oil) can reduce the viscosity and flow resistance of the crude oil in the transportation pipelines, which could lead to a reduction in the power consumption and transportation costs. By applying this method, the energy and exergy efficiencies of the system will increase by up to 36.40 and 23.23%, respectively.