Hydrodynamic Verification for Streaming Electrification of Petroleum: Distinctive Character of Static Charge Relaxation in Relaxation Pipe

We have developed the Relaxation Pipe (RP) for the prevention of electrostatic charging hazard on a transportation pipe system in petroleum industry. This paper describes that many factors of RP have been discussed, and we have obtained a 100% relaxation factor of discharging rate of static charge. The velocity distribution of flowing petroleum in RP must be known accurately to make a more effective RP, because many hydrodynamic factors are involved obscurely decreasing the relaxation factors. Our experimental results discovered their hydrodynamic factors. We have measured a velocity distribution of kerosene in the RP using a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV), and we have a computer simulation of the velocity distribution of flowing kerosene with the Navier-Stokes equation. These could be extremely useful for designing more effective RP.