Viscosity model for pure gases at atmospheric conditions

Abstract

The production processes for petroleum gases use a broad range of simulation packages to reduce the capital, time, and cost associated with actual recovery and pipeline transportation. The viscosity model is an important component of these packages. In this study, two simple-to-use empirical models are presented for predicting the viscosity of petroleum gases: the three-parameter Yaws equation; and the correlation of Miadonye-Clyburn. New values were obtained for the constants in Yaws' equation for various hydrocarbon gases. Alternatively, the Yaws equation has been extended to cover nonhydrocarbon gases, some for the first time, and new values were derived for the constants for these gases. The results obtained with the new constants were compared with the viscosity predictions from both the Yaws and the Miadonye-Clyburn correlations. For four petroleum gases and two nonhydrocarbon gases at temperatures from 100 to 1500 K, the models gave viscosity predictions with overall average absolute deviations of 0.30 and 0.75% for the Yaws correlation with new constants, and 1.17 and 2.7% for the Miadonye-Clyburn correlation for viscosity predictions based on one viscosity value. Both models are simple to incorporate in design and simulation packages, and are accurate within the limits of experimental errors for the viscosities of petroleum gases.