Research Progress in Natural Gas DRA and Its Drag Reduction Mechanism

In allusion to the urgent demand of natural gas DRA in gas pipeline operation, developing history of gas DRA in foreign countries over 60 years is reviewed.Research progress in natural gas DRA carried out in PetroChina Pipeline R & D Centre is introduced, in which, pilot plant test On DRA product gets 8%~10% effectiveness of sound drag reduction in commercial applied test and the effectiveness is available for a period over two months.Parameters such as hydraulic frictional resistance, etc.of gas pipelines are analyzed and mechanism of gas DRA action is investigated.It iS understood at a microcosm angle that an essence of drag reduction for gas pipelines is to reduce its energy loss.A new concept in drag reduction of gas pipelines by elastic collision to decrease energy lOSS iS proposed.