A numerical study on the characteristics of transient flow in a pressure regulator resulting from closure of the pressure control valve

摘要

This study investigates characteristics of transient flow and the possibility of freezing in a pressure regulator and the rear connecting pipe of the pressure regulator during the closing process of the pressure control valve (PCV), which is an essential element in the operation of a natural gas pipeline network. For this purpose, the study develops a numerical model for the PCV and its rear connecting pipe by applying computational fluid dynamics method. The analysis is conducted in each of two cases: (1) a steady-state analysis in the case of normal operation and (2) an unsteady-state analysis in the case of emergency closure in problematic situations. First, we closely examine characteristics of internal flow in the pressure regulator and the rear connecting pipe when the PCV operates regularly with a 50% opening ratio in a steady state. Afterwards, unsteady-state analysis examines characteristics of transient flow, such as lowered pressure and temperature, velocity change, etc., of rear flow in the pressure regulator when the PCV is closed because of trouble in the pressure control system.