Modelling and simulation of a multi-commodity pipeline network

Pipeline networks play an important role in the petroleum industry, because these systems provide a connection between ports, oil fields and refineries, as well as consumer markets. The refined products (commodities) such as gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, etc. are transported through a unique pipe. This is a way to avoid the additional cost of several pipes dedicated to specific products. This mode of transportation presents issues like product contamination, which increases the operation costs. Hence, the contaminated portion needs to be processed again or poured at low concentrations with other products. The issue of modeling and simulation of multi-commodity pipelines takes into account the pressure, velocity and including the fluid density. Then, in this paper a dynamic model of multi-commodity pipeline network is developed considering pipes interconnected with pumps. Moreover a mixture model is added to the network. This model allows to predict the contaminated interface in each pipe section.