Simulation of gas pipeline leakage using the characteristics method

Abstract

The modeling of gas leakage for understanding the process of pressure reduction and gas leakage rate of a hole is accomplished by zero-dimensional models of the tank and pipe. These models of the tank and pipe are suitable for simulation when the hole is very small or where there is a complete fracture. However, use of these two methods or a combination of them is suitable rather when the pipelines are very long. In zero-dimensional models the effects of complex boundaries are also ignored. In this study, the pipeline leakage is simulated by use of the one dimensional characteristics method. This model is perfect compared with both pipe or tank models, or a combination of them, and we can expand the simulation of gas pipeline leakage to the short pipelines and variable boundary conditions. This is important in order to calculate the volume of gas discharged from the pipelines when an accident occurs.