Pipeline Surge Analysis Studies require the hydraulic simulation of pressures and flows in fluids caused by the transient operations of pumps and valves. Pressure surges can cause significant damage to pipelines producing pipeline leaks, cracked pump casings, contamination and environmental damage. Without adequate surge protection this will result in significant downtime in process plants and distribution systems, and the reduced life expectancy of the pipeline.
This paper discusses pipeline surge analysis and looks to address the challenge of efficiently reviewing entire pipeline networks for pressure surges in order to comply with the Department of Transport regulatory requirements. To reduce the effort required in conducting pipeline surge analysis studies for pipeline design, operational changes, and product changes, a surge analysis program has been developed to automate the procedure from the scheduling of simulation scenarios to the creation of the surge analysis report.
