Energy Pipelines CRC – Innovation Roadmap – Pressure and Thermal Transients
Match research outcomes with future requirements
Research Activities
Thermal changes during
pipeline filling and emptying
Temperature measurement in
hydrostatic tests
Thermal loading of GRE pipe
Increase understanding of requirements
RP3-02B: understand
temperature excursions,
thermal transients, fatigue due
to fluctuating pipeline pressures
RP3-02G: Detailed
understanding of heat
transfer effects of
pipeline depressurisation
RP3-02D: improvement in the
accuracy of hydrostatic leak
testing of large diameter
pipelines
RP3-02G: improved
models for thermal
changes during pipeline
filling and emptying
RP3-2H: methods to improve
design of measurement
system / point placement for
hydrostatic tests
RP3-05: Understand mechanisms for
deformation / stress of the GRE pipe due
to thermal and mechanical loading
Knowledge Developed
*New knowledge of causes and sources of pressure and
thermal transients in pipelines
*Analysis of metal temperature of components where high
differential pressure results in large gas temperature drops
* New knowledge and quantification of uncertainty in pipeline
hydrostatic testing
* New knowledge of the deformation and stress of the pipe
due to thermal and mechanical loading during a temperature
ramp up and ramp down
© Energy Pipelines CRC 2015
Develop a solution
IP Developed
*Guidelines on how to optimise the
placing of sensors and the
interpretation of thermal data from
hydrostatic leak testing of pipelines
*Models for thermal changes during
pipeline filling and emptying
Implement solution
Needs / Requirements
Release developed
model and inform
AS2885.1 update
process
Improve accuracy of models for
thermal changes during pipeline
filling and emptying
Release developed
model and inform
AS2885.5 update
process
Improve temperature
measurement certainty during
hydrostatic tests
Inform AS 2885 and
ISO 14692 update
process
Improve the understanding of
the mechanisms that cause
failure in GRE pipe joints
Utilisation of IP
*Release of guidelines
*Improvement of existing
models / software
*Uptake of research in
AS2885 updates
Identify, record and utilise/commercialise IP
The aim of the research in area pressure and thermal transients is to understand and control thermal and pressure transients in pipelines. The first subproject, RP3-02B
‘Pressure and Thermal Transients - Scoping Study’ was a foundation study on present and future causes and sources of pressure and thermal transients in pipelines
which provided the base for the next project, RP3-02G ‘Pressure and Thermal Transients - Phase 2’. The research showed that less conservative material selection for
valves and associated piping installed in throttling service may be undertaken with confidence. The second related research strand aims to achieve significant
improvement in the accuracy of hydrostatic leak testing of large diameter pipelines. The results provide a new approach to the planning, completion and data analysis of
hydrostatic testing of large volume pipeline sections. It is envisaged that this new approach is incorporated into the AS2885.5. The third research stream covered by
project RP3-05 investigated the failure of screwed GRE pipe joints due to thermal fluctuations, using finite element (FE) modelling and scaled experimental testing. The
outcomes lead to a better understanding of the failure mechanisms and the service conditions that cause failure in screwed pipe joints.
outcomes lead to a better understanding of the failure mechanisms and the service conditions that
cause failure in screwed pipe joints
outcomes lead to a better understanding of the failure mechanisms and the service conditions that
cause failure in screwed pipe joints
thermal fluctuations, using finite element (FE) modelling and scaled experimental testing. The
outcomes lead to a better understanding of the failure mechanisms and the service conditions that
cause failure in screwed pipe joints
In project RP3-02D ‘Measurement Uncertainty in Hydrostatic Leak Tests, it was demonstrated by CFD simulations and laboratory-scale experiments that buoyancydriven flows and thermal stratification have a measurable effect on the measurement of bulk water temperature during a hydrostatic test (see report listing in Appendix
B). In the subsequent project in this area of research RP3-02H ‘Hydro Test Uncertainty - Phase 3’, data collected from the hydrostatic test on Test section 8 of QCLNG
pipeline further validated this effect in a real-scale hydrostatic test. An attempt was also made to cast the expression of uncertainty in a hydrostatic test temperature
measurement in a form recommended by the ISO. The final report in relation to this project is released in this quarter.
© Energy Pipelines CRC 2015