Pressure transients in incompressible fluid pipeline networks

Pressure surges in pipelines are caused due to different events either planned or accidental. It is essential to determine the magnitude and frequency of pressures and forces triggered due to these transients to estimate the stresses and vibration levels in the pipeline networks. In this paper an effort is made to study these transients in incompressible fluid flow systems and the development of a computer program HYTRAN is described. This program comprehensively incorporates the method of characteristics for the calculation of the time dependent head and velocity of the fluid at any point in a complex fluid/water pipeline network upon the onset of any event such as pump failure, load reduction on a turbine, etc. The time history of the machine parameters in the case of pumps and turbines during such events can also be obtained as output. Two case studies have been taken up and the results are discussed. © 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.