The Need

Pipeline and recirculating water systems lose significant energy to turbulent friction. Today’s polymer DRAs are effective in hydrocarbons but irreversibly shear‑degrade, need continual re‑injection, and cannot be “turned off” in heat exchangers. Earlier aqueous surfactant DRAs reduced pumping power but penalized heat transfer and were sensitive to water chemistry. Operators need a shear‑tolerant, controllable, aqueous drag reducer that lowers pump energy without compromising heat‑exchange performance, is fast‑dissolving, and remains stable in real‑world operating conditions.

The Technology

OSU engineers have developed a low‑dose, aqueous drag‑reduction additive that self‑assembles into wormlike micelles under flow, damping turbulence and cutting frictional pressure loss. Its drag‑reduction is switchable with small changes in operating conditions (e.g., temperature, flow, diameter, or dosage), enabling drag “on” in pipes and drag “off” in heat exchangers for efficient thermal transfer. The micellar network is shear‑tolerant and self‑healing, restoring performance downstream of pumps/valves. It is compatible with typical water‑treatment chemistries and operates in a neutral/alkaline pH range.

Commercial Applications

• Crude/refined product pipelines and water‑injection lines
• District heating/cooling transmission and building loops
• Refinery/chemical plant cooling‑water circuits and utility headers
• Municipal/industrial water distribution where pumping energy is a constraint

Benefits/Advantages

• Switchable drag reduction via temperature, flow rate, or dilution
• Improved environmental profile through precipitation-based surfactant recovery
• Customizable performance by tuning counterion concentration
• Enhanced operational efficiency with reduced pumping costs and minimized heat transfer interference