Transient response analysis of high pressure steam distribution networks in a refinery

This article aims to develop a rigorous mathematical model for analyzing the transient response of the high pressure steam pipeline network in a refinery. A sequentially iterative fully implicit method has been propounded to deal with the unsteady nonlinear equations in a pipeline. The proposed method is then combined with the modified Hardy-Cross method to study the transient response in a looped pipeline network. A complex high pressure steam network problem is used for demonstrating the applicability of the proposed solution method in analyzing the transient response in a pipeline network. This analysis is critical for optimizing operation and control of the steam distribution systems.