CONTROL SYSTEM IN A GAS PIPELINE NETWORK TO INCREASE CAPACITY FACTOR

• Main Authors: Esmaili, Ali, Latshaw, Catherine Catino, Guter, Eric J, Isom, Joshua David
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.10.2018
• Subjects: BLASTING; CALCULATING; COMPUTER SYSTEMS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS; COMPUTING; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; COUNTING; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES; REGULATING; STORING OF DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; WEAPONS

A system and method for controlling delivery of gas, including a gas pipeline network having at least one gas production plant, at least one gas receipt facility of a customer, a plurality of pipeline segments, and a plurality of control elements, one or more controllers, and one or more processors. The hydraulic feasibility of providing an increased flow rate of the gas to the gas receipt facility of the customer is determined using a linearized pressure drop model. A latent demand of the customer for the gas is estimated using a latent demand model. Based on the hydraulic feasibility and the latent demand, a new gas flow request rate from the customer is received. A network flow solution is calculated based on the new gas flow request rate. The network flow solution is associated with control element setpoints used by a controller to control one or more control elements.