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The Simulation of Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline Network
Peng Shanbi*,1, Li Junying2, Jiang Yong3 and Liu Yuan4
1
Civil Engineering and Architecture Department, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, China
2
Sichuan Kehong Oil & Gas Engineering Co., Ltd, China
3
Beijing Oil and Gas Regulation and Control Center, Beijing, China
4
Southwest Oil and Gas Field, Chongqing, China
Abstract: This paper focuses on developing a simulation model for the analysis of natural gas gathering pipeline network
system. The simulation mathematical model of the pipeline element and non-pipeline element in natural gas pipeline
network is established, the implicit difference method is used to change the partial differential model into the finite
difference equations. In order to determine the unknown pressure and flow parameters, the NewtonRaphson solution
technique is applied to solve the model. The simulation model is used to analyze the pipeline network in a gas field. The
result simulated comparing with the actual parameter showed that the developed simulation model enabled to determine
the parameters with less than 5% relative error. And we can see from the simulation results that: the pressure in each
pipeline does not exceed the allowable pressure, the pressure drop is small in the pipeline network, and the flow in part of
pipeline is very small. Therefore, we can adjust the gas transmission scheme, and increase the gas transmission volume
properly.
Keywords: Natural gas, gathering, pipeline network, simulation.
h = h ( ,T ) (5)
i i+1 x
Fig. (1). Difference grid graph of pipeline.
If there are non-pipeline components in the pipeline
system, the influence caused by non-pipeline components on In the four grid nodes in Fig. (1), the unknown variables
the flow must be considered. The non-pipeline components are Pi, j+1 , Pi+1, j+1 , M i, j+1 , M i+1, j+1 , Ti, j+1 ,Ti+1, j+1 , i, j+1 , i+1, j+1 ,
include compressor, valve and some local resistance devices, hi, j+1 , hi+1, j+1 , the known variables are Pi, j , Pi+1, j , M i, j ,
the flow model can be described by the inlet pressure ( Pin ),
i+1, j , i+1, j , hi+1, j , hi+1, j . The center
M i+1, j , Ti+1, j ,Ti+1, j ,
outlet pressure ( Pout ) and flow rate ( M ), its general form is:
implicit difference method is to apply the unsteady flow
f1 ( Pin , Pout , M ) = 0 (6) equations to the center point of four-point grid in finite
difference form, namely:
In addition, according to the law of mass conservation,
M M i+1, j + M i+1, j+1 M i, j M i, j+1
the flow rate of flowing in and flowing out at any node n = (8)
must be equal at any time, then x 2x
f2 = nk M nk + Ln = 0 (7) M M i, j+1 + M i+1, j+1 M i, j M i+1, j
kCn = (9)
t 2t
In which:
P Pi+1, j + Pi+1, j+1 Pi, j Pi, j+1
M nk = absolute value of flow which component k connected = (10)
x 2x
to the node n flows in (out) node n
P Pi, j+1 + Pi+1, j+1 Pi, j Pi+1, j
Ln = flow which node n exchange with outside (inflow as = (11)
t 2t
positive, outflow as negative)
h hi, j+1 + hi+1, j+1 hi, j hi+1, j
= (12)
1 when flow rate in the component t 2t
k flows in the node n h hi, j+1 + hi+1, j+1 hi, j hi+1, j
nk = = (13)
1 when flow rate in the component x 2x
k flows out the node n
(
M = M i, j + M i, j+1 + M i+1, j + M i+1, j+1 / 4 ) (14)
20 The Open Fuels & Energy Science Journal, 2013, Volume 6 Shanbi et al.
(
P = Pi, j + Pi, j+1 + Pi+1, j + Pi+1, j+1 / 4 ) (15) +
2K t
(
Ti+1, j+1 + Ti, j+1 + Ti, j + Ti+1, j 4T0 )
D
T = (T + Ti, j+1 + Ti+1, j + Ti+1, j+1 )/4 (16) gt
( )
i, j
+ sin M i, j+1 + M i, j + M i+1, j+1 + M i+1, j = 0 (19)
Substitute (8) to (16) into equation (1), (2), (3), and 2A
obtain the difference equation of continuity equation: In which:
i=0, 1, 2,N1, node number of pipe section
i+1, j+1 i+1, j + i, j+1 i, j +
A (17) j=0, 1, 2, N2, computing time level
(M i+1, j+1 M i, j+1 + M i+1, j M i, j ) = 0
= t x ratio of mesh
The difference equation of motion equation is as follow:
The above three central difference equations are
M i+1, j+1 M i+1, j + M i, j+1 M i, j + M i+1,
2
j+1 / i+1, j+1 + A Pi+1, j+1
2
A
established for the center point of the mesh in Fig. (1), and
the object establishing difference equations is the mesh
M i,2 j+1 / i, j+1 A 2 Pi, j+1 + M i+1,
2 2 2 2
j / i+1, j + A Pi+1, j M i, j / i, j A Pi, j
rather than grid point. If the pipe section of study is split into
many small sections, then in (t,t + t) period of time, we can
+
( )
t M i, j + M i, j+1 + M i+1 j + M i+1, j+1 M i, j + M i, j+1 + M i+1, j + M i+1, j+1 obtain a series of meshes along the x-axis direction in x t
( )
domain, where each mesh corresponds to a subdivision pipe
4AD i, j + i, j+1 + i+1, j + i+1, j+1 section. By establishing three central difference equations for
each mesh, we can obtain a difference equation group
Atg sin
+
2
(
i+1, j+1 + i, j+1 + i+1, j + i, j = 0 ) (18) corresponding to (t,t + t) period of time for all meshes, the
equation group contains only time t and variable values of
The difference equation of energy equation is: all grid points at time t + t . If known the values of each
2 2
grid point at time t , the equation group can be solved with
1 M i, j+1 1 M i, j the boundary conditions, and obtaining the variable values of
hi, j+1 i, j+1 Pi, j+1 + h + P
2A 2 i, j+1 2A 2 i, j each grid point at time t + t .
i, j i, j i, j
M i,3 j+1 3
M i+1, M i,3 j where M i , M i+1 , Pi , P i+1 ,Ti ,Ti+1 are the unknown variables on
+ hi+1, j M i+1, j + hi, j M i, j
j
time level, the frontal analysis shows that a closed equation
2A 2 i,2 j+1 2A 2 i+1,
2
j 2A 2 i,2 j
group can be composed by the equations (17) to (19) of each
mesh, flow balance of node (7) and boundary conditions, the
J2
OUT3
IN1
L2 L3 J4 OUT4
L4
OUT1 L5
OUT5
L6
J1 OUT2 J3 J5
L1 J6 L7
L8 OUT6
IN2 L10
J7
J10 L9
OUT7
J8
L11
L12
OUT8 IN3
J9
J11
closed equation group is a nonlinear equation group, and can low, the network can transport more natural gas. Therefore,
be solved by the generalized damping Newton-Raphison it is sufficient to meet the demand of new users along the
method. line for gas in the next few years by adjusting the gas
transmission scheme.
APPLICATION
The results of the simulation model were compared with
As shown in Fig. (2), the natural gas pipeline network is the actual parameters, which shown in Table 3. The relative
consists of 11 nodes (J1 to J11), 12 pipelines (L1 to L12), 3 error for each nodal pressure is between -2.77%and 0.40%.
intake points (IN1 to IN3) and 8 outlet points (OUT1 to
OUT8), the length and diameter of each pipeline are shown CONCLUSION
in Table 1, the flow of each outlet point and the pressure of The natural gas pipeline network system is large and
each gas source are shown in Table 2. The input flow of each complicated; it is difficult to master the operation law of the
gas source and pressure of user are obtained through pipeline system by conventional method. In order to simulate
simulation analysis, Table 2 shows that the minimum operation parameters accurately and efficiently, a simulation
pressure of pipeline network is 2.9782MPa, the maximum model was developed by incorporating the pipeline element
flow of intake point is 136104 m3/d, the pressure in each and non-pipeline element. The NewtonRaphson solution
pipeline does not exceed the allowable pressure, the pressure technique was applied to solve the model, and the result
drop is small in the pipeline network, so the utilization is simulated comparing with the actual parameter showed that
Node Type Flow, m3/d Simulated Pressure, MPa Actual Pressure, MPa Relative Error, %
the developed simulation model enabled to determine the [2] Changjun, Li.; Ziqiang, Z. Simulation of gas pipeline network
parameters with less than 5% relative error. The developed system. Oil Gas Storage Transp., 1997, 2, 21-25.
[3] Zemao, J.; Yutang, X.; Wang S. Simulation and analysis of gas
simulation model could be easily extended to be applied for transportation and distribution pipeline network. Petroleum
the analysis of gas gathering pipeline network systems for Industry Press: Beijing, 1995.
other petroleum products. [4] Changjun, L. Analysis of gas unsteady flow in pipeline system.
Nat. Gas Ind., 1994, 6, 54-59.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST [5] Changjun, L.; Zemao. J. Analysis of gas unsteady flow in pipeline
system. Acta Petrol. Sin., 1998, 19(4), 99-103.
The authors confirm that this article content has no [6] Enbin, L.; Changjun, L. Study and application of emulation
conflict of interest. technology on the reformation of pipeline system for gas fields.
Nat. Gas Ind., 2005, 1, 135-138.
[7] Shashi Menon, E. Gas Pipeline Hydraulics, CRC Press, USA,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2005.
Declared none. [8] Bruce, E.; Larock, R.W.; Jeppson, G.Z. Watters, Hydraulics of
Pipeline Systems, CRC Press, USA, 2000.
REFERENCES
[1] Changjun, L. Pipeline transportation of natural gas. Petroleum
Industry Press: Beijing, 2000.
Received: April 8, 2013 Revised: July 21, 2013 Accepted: August 6, 2013