FlowTran Pipeline Simulation – NEW Release – Version 1.70

Welcome to the home of FlowTran and SIROGAS software for the simulation of steady state and transient single phase flow in complex pipeline networks. A Windows GUI, animated graphs, full compressor performance, composition tracking and much else are all included.

FlowTran or further information can be obtained from

 

William J Turner Pty Ltd
ABN 27 056 858 738
26 Angwin Street
East Fremantle WA 6158
AUSTRALIA
email support@FlowTran.com.au
Phone Australia 08 or Internat 618 + Voice or Fax 9319 1933

Applications are

  • Tracking the behaviour of an operating pipeline in real time;
  • Prediction of future behaviour of an operating pipeline;
  • Checking the consistency of measurements with simulation of the pipeline;
  • Generating SCADA data for pipeline scenarios required for training operators;
  • Modelling the behaviour of new or modified pipelines; and
  • Leak Detection in operating pipelines.

Operators of FlowTran Tracking (in real time) Simulation are

Other Users of FlowTran Simulation are

  • South East Australian Gas
  • Alinta
  • AGL Energy
  • BHP
  • Camms
  • DBNGP WA Transmission
  • East Australian Pipelines
  • Energy Equity
  • Energy Infrastructure Management Pty Ltd
  • Epic Energy
  • Esso
  • Fluor Daniel
  • Foxboro
  • Gas Transmission
  • GGT
  • NT Gas
  • OSD
  • ParsonsBrinckerhoff
  • PetroBangla Bangladesh
  • PG&E Gas Transmission
  • The Pipeline Authority
  • Venton & Assoc
  • WAPET
  • Western Power
  • Zektin

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

FlowTran

Full details are in the FlowTran Manual/Help File Note that Windows may prevent access to part of this file. If so, save the file to your local hard drive, right click on it, open properties, and unblock.

To see a FlowTran Demonstration download, unzip FlowTranDemo.zip and run Setup.bat

Major features of FlowTran are

  • Leak detection;
  • AGA linepack and friction;
  • Variable gas composition;
  • Multi unit compressor station with full performance chart, recycle, and unit coolers;
  • Variation of setpoints, boundary conditions, and other data as functions of time;
  • Provision for line breaks;
  • Gas and pig tracking;
  • Steady state and transient calculations;
  • Graphical User Interface with a map display for writing the configuration file and displaying results;
  • Configuration files from all SIROGAS versions can be read into the Graphical User Interface;
  • Tables and graphs of output displayed in Excel;
  • Animated graphs in Excel of variation in time along any pipeline path;
  • Snapshot display of selected outputs at selected times linked to the map display;
  • Highly efficient, stable numerical procedures with unlimited time step;
  • Fully automatic time-step control allowing large time-steps during slow changes and short time-steps during rapid changes;
  • Profile library of variations over daily, weekly or other periods;
  • Choice of equation of state;
  • Thermodynamic properties including entropy for any conditions;
  • Compressor Performance program
  • Ability to run hundreds of simulations with one click in Excel
  • Ability to run simulation from Excel using Excel tables for input and output
  • Optimisation of any aspect of network performance using Excel Goalseek;

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

SIROGAS

SIROGAS is the hidden simulation engine that executes the input file written by FlowTran. SIROGAS is written in Fortran hence it can be implemented on any computer for which a FORTRAN 77, 90 or 95 compiler is available. FlowTran is written in Microsoft Visual Basic and can only be run in a MS Windows Environment. However the input file written by FlowTran is a text file and the output files produced by SIROGAS are all text files. Hence FlowTran on a PC can control and display output from SIROGAS running on another computer connected via a network.

SIROGAS is supplied as an exe and as MS Windows DLLs so that simulations can be directly linked into other calculations such as design optimisation, base case variations etc. Excel, VB and VC++ projects are supplied as both examples and templates of the use of the dll.s

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

Tracking

What you need

    • FlowTran to develop the configuration file that describes your network and the output you require, to display a map of your network, and to display SIROGAS results;
    • A means of moving your measured pressures, flows etc. on to a PC. This can by a file, by writing code in Visual Basic or VBA, Fortran, Borland Delphi or Borland or MS C++;
    • You may also wish to move SIROGAS results to your SCADA data base.

The simplest procedure is to use Excel macros as all the standard Excel timing, graphical and other procedures are available and use can be made of the Excel macro written by SIROGAS to display all requested data. FlowTran includes several demonstration and template Excel workbooks, Visual Basic and C++ programs calling the DLL.

These can be set up by your own staff or we can do it for you. Staff Training is included in FlowTran Maintenance

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

More detailed information is available in the FlowTran Manual/Help File under Advanced Applications/Tracking an Operating Pipeline.

Prediction

It is always nice to know a crisis is imminent before it actually arrives. This is the big advantage of having a prediction model.

What you need

    • FlowTran to develop the configuration file that describes your network and the output you require, to display a map of your network, and to display SIROGAS results;
    • Either a restart file from an earlier simulation; usually the FlowTran Tracking Model;
    • Or measured data for the past several hours of operation;
    • Expected supply and demand conditions for the period to be predicted. This data can be pasted into FlowTran using the Windows Clipboard. If you wish to automate this transfer of data, the simplest procedure is to use Excel macros as all the standard Excel timing, graphical and other procedures are available and use can be made of the Excel macro written by SIROGAS to display all requested data. FlowTran includes demonstration and template Excel workbooks of linked Tracking and Prediction.

This can be set up by your own staff or we can do it for you. Staff Training is included in FlowTran Maintenance

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

Generating

First the desired scenario is created in a standard SIROGAS simulation in which all the quantities measured by the SCADA are output to a standard SIROGAS output table. The program PsuedoScada.exe supplied with FlowTran is run to read this table and supply the measurements at Scada time intervals. Various types of error can be added to simulate measurement errors of various types. Time compression is also available. Three measurement data formats are available and more can be added as the complete VB project of PsuedoScada is supplied.

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

Checking

SIROGAS includes a device that will force the pressure at a measurement site to be equal to the measurements, and determine the flow necessary to maintain the pressure. If all measurements were perfect then this would be zero unless a leak was present in the pipeline. Thus consistency of measurements may be checked by examination of these flows. Similarly if demand points are simulated as know variable pressures, then SIROGAS calculates the flow which can be used to check measured flow.

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

Modelling

Why you might want to simulate pipeline networks

    • test out the steady state or transient behaviour of a proposed network;
    • examine the effect of compressor station changes or additions;
    • look at the effect of changes in gas composition;
    • see if additional short term demands can be met;
    • check that proposed additions to your network meet requirements;
    • examine the effects of compressor failure;
    • find survival times after a pipe failure.
    • We can do all these as part of our consulting service, or we can train your staff to do it.

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

Leak Detection

Leak detection in long distance gas pipelines is a controversial subject. It will only work if you have accurate and well maintained instrumentation. But if you do then SIROGAS can determine

    • Mass of gas lost to date
    • Current Leak size
    • Leak location
    • Time at which leak began

To set this up you

    • set up a FlowTran model of your network which also creates a map of the network,
    • define at least one leak detection zone by clicking on all pipes in the zone on the map of the network,
    • define the measurements (flow, pressure, temp etc) by clicking on their locations,
    • enter measurement accuracies,
    • supply the measurements in the suggested format,
    • and start leak detection.

Start FlowTran SIROGAS Tracking Prediction Checking Modelling Leak Detection

This page is maintained by Bill Turner (support@FlowTran.com.au). Last modified on 31 March 2010.



Best experienced with Microsoft Internet ExplorerClick here to start.