Effective de-aeration of pipelines and the use of captured air to mitigate dynamic pressures

摘要

Pipelines operate optimally when effectively de-aerated. The reality is that pipe failures, intermittent operation, and maintenance will result in sections of a pipeline to be partially or fully drained. During charging and operation, air has to be captured and released in a controlled manner to minimize the induced pressures. This requires an understanding of the hydraulic transportability, sizing and location of air valves and the dimensioning of the discontinuity to intercept the transported air. Trapped air enhances the system's elasticity, reducing the pressure spikes resulting from operational changes. These interrelated aspects should be considered to achieve hydraulic effective, sustainable and safe operating systems.