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

Suspended particles have always caused fatal problems in natural gas pipelines and related equipments. In this study, the suspended particles in natural gas transmission and distribution network of Kerman were investigated. Particle concentration and size distribution were measured, under isokinetic condition, in Kerman natural gas pipelines' network. The particle characterizations were obtained with SEM/EDX and XRD analysis. The filtration performance found to be inefficient according to the particle concentrations of natural gas flow, although it decreased along pipelines to the end of network. Larger particles were more likely to exist at the network entrance in comparison with the network pipelines outrance. The results of particle characterizations confirmed the presence of corrosion products in the suspended particles.