Severe pressure surges in a simple pump-pipeline-valve system (and what to do about it)

Abstract

A Simple case study of a relatively high-friction pipeline with pump-assisted gravity flow (e.g., for high viscosity fluids such as hydrocarbon products) illustrates three features which lead to unexpectedly high transient pressure surges for which conventional alleviation practices (such as extended value-closure times or surge-relief devices at the pump discharge) are ineffective: (i) the use of a value to control flow in a long or high-friction pipeline; (ii) a system with a value closure a significant distance downstream of a pump; and (iii) a system where surge protection is located a significant distance away from a control value.