Simulation of transient flow in gas pipelines using the finite volume method

Abstract

The transient flow analysis is fundamental to the simulation of natural gas process, in order to adjust the system to real operative conditions and to obtain the highest level of efficiency, compliance and reliability. The simulation of natural gas pipelines and networks requires mathematical models that describe flow properties. Some models that have been developed year after year based on the laws of fluid mechanics that govern this process, interpreted as a system of equations difficult to solve. This investigation describes the fully implicit finite volume method for natural gas pipeline flow calculation under isothermal conditions and transient regime. The simplification, discretization scheme and implementation equations are approached throughout this paper. The model was subjected to two evaluations: sinusoidal variation of the mass flow and opening-closing valve at the outlet of the pipeline, it is compared with two models: fully implicit finite difference method and method of characteristics. This method proved to be efficient in the simulations of slow and fast transients, coinciding the flow oscillations with the natural frequency of natural gas pipeline.