Method for optimized management of a system of pipelines and a pipeline system realization in accordance with said method

Claim 1

A method for the management of a pipeline system including plural valves, piping connected therewith and with plural pumping locations at least selected pumping locations including groups of pumping means, said selected pumping locations operable in different conditions providing different flow rates, pressure differences and costs of operation, said method relying on real time determination of flow rates and pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating a set of flow rates and pressure differences at each of various points in said pipeline system, (b) determining the pumping locations to be employed so as to meet the flow rates and pressure differences calculated in said step (a), (c) determining an optimum condition for operation of said selected pumping locations to achieve the selected flow rates and pressure differences relying on a minimum number of said pumping means, (d) detecting in real time data representing flow rates and pressures in said pipeline system, and (e) controlling said pumping means at said selected pumping locations in accordance with said data of step (d) and with the optimization of step (c), wherein: (f) said step of determining an optimum condition includes optimizing by use of a generalized reduced gradient algorithm.

Claim 2

A method for the management of a pipeline system including plural valves, piping connected therewith and with plural pumping locations at least selected pumping locations including groups of pumping means, said selected pumping locations operable in different conditions providing different flow rates, pressure differences and costs of operation, said method relying on real time determination of flow rates and pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating a set of flow rates and pressure differences at each of various points in said pipeline system, (b) determining the pumping locations to be employed so as to meet the flow rates and pressure differences calculated in said step (a), (c) determining an optimum condition for operation of said selected pumping locations to achieve the selected flow rates and pressure differences relying on a minimum number of said pumping means, (d) detecting in real time data representing flow rates and pressures in said pipeline system, and (e) controlling said pumping means at said selected pumping locations in accordance with said data of step (d) and with the optimization of step (c), wherein: (f) said step of determining an optimum condition includes optimizing by use of a generalized reduced gradient algorithm.

Claim 6

A method for the management of a pipeline system including plural valves, piping connected therewith and with plural pumping locations at least selected pumping locations including groups of pumping means, said selected pumping locations operable in different conditions providing different flow rates, pressure differences and costs of operation, said method relying on real time determination of flow rates and pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating a set of flow rates and pressure differences at each of various points in said pipeline system, (b) determining the pumping locations to be employed so as to meet the flow rates and pressure differences calculated in said step (a), (c) determining an optimum condition for operation of said selected pumping locations to achieve the selected flow rates and pressure differences relying on a minimum number of said pumping means, (d) detecting in real time data representing flow rates and pressures in said pipeline system, and (e) controlling said pumping means at said selected pumping locations in accordance with said data of step (d) and with the optimization of step (c), wherein: (f) said step (c) determines an optimum condition for operation based on a pipeline system modeled using a steady state flow pattern.

Claim 7

A method for the management of a pipeline system including plural valves, piping connected therewith and with plural pumping locations at least selected pumping locations including groups of pumping means, said selected pumping locations operable in different conditions providing different flow rates, pressure differences and costs of operation, said method relying on real time determination of flow rates and pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating a set of flow rates and pressure differences at each of various points in said pipeline system, (b) determining the pumping locations to be employed so as to meet the flow rates and pressure differences calculated in said step (a), (c) determining an optimum condition for operation of said selected pumping locations to achieve the selected flow rates and pressure differences relying on a minimum number of said pumping means, (d) detecting in real time data representing flow rates and pressures in said pipeline system, and (e) controlling said pumping means at said selected pumping locations in accordance with said data of step (d) and with the optimization of step (c), wherein: (f) said step (c) determines an optimum condition for operation based on a pipeline system modeled using a steady state flow pattern.

Claim 8

A method for the management of a pipeline system including plural valves, piping connected therewith and with plural pumping locations at least selected pumping locations including groups of pumping means, said selected pumping locations operable in different conditions providing different flow rates, pressure differences and costs of operation, said method relying on real time determination of flow rates and pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating a set of flow rates and pressure differences at each of various points in said pipeline system, (b) determining the pumping locations to be employed so as to meet the flow rates and pressure differences calculated in said step (a), (c) determining an optimum condition for operation of said selected pumping locations to achieve the selected flow rates and pressure differences relying on a minimum number of said pumping means, (d) detecting in real time data representing flow rates and pressures in said pipeline system, and (e) controlling said pumping means at said selected pumping locations in accordance with said data of step (d) and with the optimization of step (c), wherein: (f) said step (c) determines an optimum condition for operation based on a pipeline system modeled using a transient flow pattern.

Claim 9

A method for the management of a pipeline system including plural valves, piping connected therewith and with plural pumping locations at least selected pumping locations including groups of pumping means, said selected pumping locations operable in different conditions providing different flow rates, pressure differences and costs of operation, said method relying on real time determination of flow rates and pressures, comprising the steps of: (a) calculating a set of flow rates and pressure differences at each of various points in said pipeline system, (b) determining the pumping locations to be employed so as to meet the flow rates and pressure differences calculated in said step (a), (c) determining an optimum condition for operation of said selected pumping locations to achieve the selected flow rates and pressure differences relying on a minimum number of said pumping means, (d) detecting in real time data representing flow rates and pressures in said pipeline system, and (e) controlling said pumping means at said selected pumping locations in accordance with said data of step (d) and with the optimization of step (c), wherein: (f) said step (c) determines an optimum condition for operation based on a pipeline system modeled using a transient flow pattern.