Title: Pipeline lateral gas flow modelling and impedance matching

Authors: Robert Whalley; Alaa Abdul-Ameer

Addresses: The British University in Dubai, P.O. Box 345015, Dubai, UAE ' The British University in Dubai, P.O. Box 345015, Dubai, UAE

Abstract: The flow of gas in long pipelines is considered. Distributed parameter modelling methods are advocated for the pipeline whilst lumped analysis techniques are employed for the relatively concentrated assemblies such as the compressors, input and exit valves, bends and pipeline branches. Gas stream energy storage and the series and shunt, frictional resistance, energy dissipation effects are included in the multivariable analysis procedure. The response characteristics of the system are computed following voltage changes on the compressor motor. The optimum, 'matched', input and exit, pipeline impedance values are derived, maximising thereby the steady state exit volume flow whilst minimising the constrained input-exit volume flow difference with respect to the pipeline roughness parameter. Application studies are presented. The transient response of the pipeline system with the optimum and arbitrarily selected impedance values are computed validating the optimisation analysis and theoretical predictions herein.

Keywords: gas pipelines; lateral gas flow modelling; impedance matching; distributed parameter modelling; lumped analysis; gas stream energy storage; series; shunt; frictional resistance; energy dissipation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2016.073311

International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 2016 Vol.8 No.1, pp.37 - 53

Received: 24 Jun 2014
Accepted: 25 Sep 2014
Published online: 30 Nov 2015 *

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