A model and topological analysis procedures for a pipeline network of variable connectivity

In the paper, a model is firstly formulated for a pipeline network of variable connectivity in the terminology of graph theory. Through analyzing the topological changes of the pipeline network caused by connecting or disconnecting a pipe, several procedures are then proposed to construct the incidence matrix and fundamental circuit matrix of a graph directly from those of its parent graph or graphs without the time-consuming inversion of the corresponding incidence matrix. Thirdly, the proposed model and topological analysis procedures are used to establish a dynamic solver for a tank farm together with the chord flow method of Rahal (1995) [3]. Finally, the dynamic solver is applied to a tank farm of liquor for verifying the model and procedures proposed in this paper.

► Propose a general framework for modeling pipeline networks of variable connectivity.
► Develop several procedures for efficient identification of a network’s topology.
► Build a high-speed dynamic solver for a tank farm.
► Apply the dynamic solver to the simulation of a tank farm.