A gas pipe (220 mm in outside diameter) rises 250 metres from a sub-sea module o

Question

A gas pipe (220 mm in outside diameter) rises 250 metres from a sub-sea module on the ocean floor as illustrated below. Under cyclonic conditions, the pipe can be exposed to ocean currents as high as 8 m/s. If it is assumed that the current is approximately uniform (and horizontal) over the entire 250 m of vertical pipe section, what is the total drag force acting on the pipe?

(NB – for all shapes, for Reynolds Numbers > 106 the drag coefficient may be regarded as constant and equal to the value shown on charts at Re = 106 if the chart does not extend beyond Re =106 )

Explanation / Answer

Total drag force acting on pipe

=> F = 0.5 C A V2

where,     A = Reference area
C = Drag coefficient
F = Drag force
V = Velocity
= Density of fluid

=>   F = 0.5 * 1.21 * 1030 * (3.14 * 0.22 * 0.22) * 82

                =    6061.046 N

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