Mixed specification problems in pipeline network analysis: Partitioning Methods

Abstract

Matrix-based transformation methods have been used to analyse pipeline networks. The dualistic mesh and nodal approaches are very versatile and easy to apply, but they suffer from a drawback. In their existing forms, it is only possible to specify either all the nodal flows or all the nodal pressures. If it is desired to specify a combination of flows and pressures, then the standard transformation approaches cannot be used to solve the problem. In this paper, it is shown that if the transformation tensors are partitioned so as to reflect the mixed specification, then the problem can be solved easily. Partitioning based on the classical nodal approach is found to be better than that based on the mesh approach.