Oil Pipes - Recommended Flow Velocities

Oil pipes flow velocities should be kept within certain limits. The table below shows recommended flow velocities for different oil applications. Values depend on the viscosity of the oil - heavier oils with higher viscosities require lower velocities but can be compensated with heating and heat tracing.

Oil ApplicationOil Flow Velocity (m/s)Oil Flow Velocity (ft/s)
Suction lines for pumps< 0.5< 1.6
Suction lines for pumps at low pressures0.1 - 0.20.3 - 0.65
Discharge lines for booster pumps1.0 - 2.03.3 - 6.5
Discharge lines for burner pumps< 1.0< 3.3
Oil Pipes - Recommended Flow Velocities | MEPKit Engineering Tools | MEPKit