Experimental study of filtration system performance of natural gas in urban transmission and distribution network: A case study on the city of Kerman, Iran

Suspended particles are well known to cause serious problems in natural gas pipelines and related equipment. In this study, suspended particles in the natural gas transmission and distribution network of the city of Kerman, Iran were investigated. Particle concentration and size distribution were measured, under isokinetic condition, in different locations of the natural gas pipeline network. Additional particle characterization was carried out through SEM/EDX and XRD analysis. The filtration performance was found to be rather inefficient according to the particle concentration in the natural gas flow, although it decreased along the pipeline to the end of the network. Larger particles were more likely to exist at the network entrance with respect to the network pipeline exit. The results of particle characterization confirmed the presence of corrosion products in the suspended particles.