Users
Each of the different job roles within the design-build-operate cycle of any pipeline has their own perspective on why pipeline simulation should be used.
The benefits that each job role gains from pipeline simulation can also be vastly different, but they all lead to better, safer and more economical pipeline systems.
Here we briefly discuss a few of the reasons that different users integrate Pipeline Simulation into their job role. The roles discussed below are;
- Designers
- Equipment specification
- Commissioning Engineers
- Operations & Support
- Managers
- Regulators
The necessity and uses of steady state flow calculations are known by most engineers but Pipeline Simulation models offer a far more comprehensive analytical capability than traditional design methods. This can mean more economical pipelines, better equipment selection, safer systems and reduced commissioning time.
A good waterhammer (or surge) study is now considered essential to ensure safe and efficient operation. The adverse consequences of surge pressures are widely known and include ruptured pipes, leakage and damaged equipment. Systems that haven't had a good waterhammer analysis can have very chequered lives, suffering from low availability and excessive post-commissioning costs.
Most items of equipment in a pipeline system will experience their most extreme operating conditions during transient conditions. Many others (such as surge relief valves, air vessels and accumulators) are only intended to be used during transient conditions.
Because pipeline simulation is the only internationally recognised method of studying systems under transient conditions it is the best, the safest and the optimal way of accurately sizing many types of equipment.
Commissioning and pre-commissioning can be accelerated by using Pipeline Simulation services.
Simulation can determine control tuning parameters and operating procedures and can even calculate test results for comparison against which site measurements.
In any pipeline system only a few variables are measured (such as pressure and flow at the pumps) whilst items like NRV position and the amount of air in the pipeline are never available. Simulation can predict most of these unmeasured variables that are not measured and hence allow far superior diagnosis of any problems.
It can also offer a very powerful 'what-if' tool that is particularly useful with malfunctioning pipelines; it allows experienced engineers the opportunity to see if the suspected causes do in fact lead to the symptoms that are being experienced.
Good information concerning the current performance of any pipeline system is paramount to its competent operation. Simulation tools can provide this by taking the small amount of operational data that is available and turning it into comprehensive knowledge about most aspects of the pipeline's state.
This knowledge can then be used by experienced consultants to:
- identify problems (trouble shooting) - a surprising number of pipelines have problems during steady operation (low capacity, poor quality etc.) or due to Waterhammer
- explore temporary and permanent workarounds and modifications.
- train operators and support staff so that they have a superb intuitive feel for the system.
Managers use our services to plan, to de-bottleneck, to reduce downtime and to provide insight and knowledge into their pipeline systems.
Comprehensive hydraulic information (such as pressure and capacity) is consistently found to improve the allocation and management of resources in pipeline companies around the world
Information and predictive capabilities assist in planning for emergency or maintenance operations when the pipeline isn't operating in its normal mode.
Third party audits, advice and studies have all been undertaken for Regulatory bodies around the world.
We also offer introductory seminars to train and coach staff so that they can confidently appraise surge and simulation studies.
Introduction | Experience | Users | Industries | Studies
