Possibility of the drag reduction effect application to reduce the cost of transport energy in water systems

Institute of Thermal and Process Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, Cracow, Poland

^* Corresponding author: bartosz.kopiczak@mech.pk.edu.pl

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to present possible drag reduction effect application to reduce the energy costs in water transport systems. Results obtained in laboratory scale experiment present possibility to enhance the drag reduction effect in pipe flow by simultaneous addition to the transported water small amount of high molecular polymers and surfactants. The hypothetic mechanism of drag reduction by polymer-micellar aggregates is presented. Qualitative analysis of polymer-micellar additives influence on shape and character of flow resistance curves is performed. Complex polymer-micellar solution flow resistance curves are compared with appropriate single additive polymer or surfactant one.