Design and Economic Evaluation of a Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline as an Alternative Fuel Supply for Souk Al-Khamis Cement Plant, Libya

Abstract

Natural gas serves as a critical driver for modern heavy industries due to its high thermal efficiency and environmental sustainability. In Libya, the cement industry represents the backbone of infrastructure development; however, relying on conventional liquid fuels such as heavy fuel oil poses significant economic and environmental challenges. The primary objective of this study was to design a natural gas transmission pipeline to serve as a stable, safe, and continuous gas fuel supply for the Souk Al-Khamis cement plant in Libya. The study methodology followed standard pipeline design formulas from ASME B31.8 and API 5L codes and specifications. Route selection was conducted using Google Earth application. Secondary data of the gas, including flow rate, pressure, and temperature, were collected, and an empirical study was conducted to predict the nature of the gas and to calculate its physical properties .Hydraulic design formulas based on the Weymouth equation and Barlow’s formula were used to calculate pipe diameter, inlet and outlet gas velocities, pipe wall thickness, pipe schedule number, maximum operating pressure, burst pressure, hydro test pressure, and gas pressure drop. The resulting values were: 12 inches, 7.15 ft/s, 14.3 ft/s, 0.19inch, schedule number 14.0, maximum operating pressure 48.8 bar, burst pressure 108.5 bar, hydro test pressure 61 bar, and pressure drop 14 bar. The results demonstrate that the proposed design is technically feasible, economically viable, and significantly contributes to carbon emission reduction.