DYNAMIC SIZING AND LOCATIONING OF FACILITIES ON NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION NETWORKS

Multiperiod, multicomponent, nested design and capacity expansion problems in natural gas transmission networks are investigated. Using as input a set of potential timings of expansions such as that given by Ref. 7, a two-level hierarchical solution technique is employed to solve the model (which is developed in Ref. 6). In the first level, the optimal numbers, locations, initial construction dates and the optimal sequence of capacity additions of the compressor stations are determined. Optimal capacity additions to the pipes are expressed at this level, only in terms of the cumulative equivalent diameters. The second level develops a search procedure that determines the actual sizes of the main pipes and the sizes, lengths, and timings of construction of the loop pipes.