Visualization of Dynamic Fluid Characteristics for Hose and Pipeline Systems in Army Operational Environment

摘要

When the Army deploys in Brigade or larger size units (whether for combat operations or humanitarian relief), the demand for bulk fuel and water is tremendous. Depending on the situation, that demand could be thousands to tens of thousands of gallons per day. Often, deployment will be to austere and environmentally-hostile regions (i.e. Afghanistan). Unlike commercial supply chains, the Army often has to build out the supply chain from theater entry point to the forward operating bases and resupply points. As the primary provider of fuel to US military and coalition partners in a theater of operation, the Army will plan and establish fuel and water distribution pipe and hose line systems to push the large quantities of fuel and water that are needed to meet its own, other service and coalition partner's demands. In planning the routes for these hose and pipeline systems, Army petroleum and water warfighters must deal with several constraining factors to achieve the required push. In addition to security and concealment factors, Army warfighters must factor in equipment availability, terrain elevation changes that impact the hydraulic pressures in the line, and limited lift resources to haul the equipment to the field. All of these factors drive the selection of the route that will be used to meet the desired flow rates and demands of deployed forces.