Pipeline Hydraulic Transient and Leak Detection Analysis

Liquid and gas pipelines cannot be properly designed with consideration of steady flow analysis techniques alone due to the possibility of pipeline failure resulting from uncontrolled pressure transients. A pipeline with all related equipment and control systems can be dynamically simulated by computer modeling. The computer model is used to simulate the pressure-flow response of the pipeline to transient inducing events such as valve closure, pump or compressor start-up and shutdown, load change, or a pipeline leak. This paper contains representative case studies of pipeline system hydraulic transient analysis. The use of transient analysis techniques to determine the design criteria for leak detection systems is also explained.