An Optimal Flow Allocation Model of the Natural Gas Pipeline Network Considering User Characteristics

Abstract

The fundamental function of a natural gas pipeline network is to transport enough natural gas to users. Therefore, user characteristics should be considered in the formulation of the flow allocation plan of the pipeline network under accident conditions. However, user characteristics have usually not been considered in previous flow allocation models. In this study, a mixed integer linear programming model is developed to determine the optimal flow allocation plan of a large-scale and complex natural gas pipeline network under accident conditions, and the user characteristics are considered as well. The optimization objective is to maximize the weighted sum of the amount of natural gas transported to the consumers under accident conditions, and the weights of the natural gas users are obtained by user characteristics analysis. The model constraints include flow constraints, gas source supply capacity constraints, user demand constraints, pipeline transmission capacity constraints, pressure constraints, and pipeline hydraulic constraint. For the sake of model simplification, the hydraulic constraints are treated piecewise linearly. Furthermore, the model is set into a real-world situation, which is the natural gas pipeline network located in China, and the user characteristics are considered in the optimal flow allocation plan under accident condition. The impact of user characteristics is further investigated by calculating and comparing the flow allocation plan when considering and ignoring user characteristics. The study indicates that when user characteristics are considered, the natural gas pipeline network will tend to give higher priority to those crucial users.