Innovative Pressure Surge and Water Hammer Mitigation Control Methodology in Upstream Liquid Pipelines

Abstract

This paper is to introduce the newly developed Anti-Surge valve and control methodology that is capable of mitigating and reducing the magnitude of pressure surges or water hammer phenomenon in liquid pipeline system. The innovative anti-surge valve is a full-bore valve with two circular/concave orifice plates, which can rotate 90 degree in the axial or horizontal interval based on the surge controller indication. Once the surge pressure is being generated in the pipeline, the two circular/concave orifice plates will be in a position, which are particularly able to dissipate the generated pressure waves and decelerate the fluid velocity which as a result can mitigate and reduce the magnitude of pressure surges in the pipeline. By dissipating the generated pressure surge and decelerating the high fluid velocity, the newly developed anti-surge valve is able to protect the pipeline safely and adequately with no external equipment for fluid release. Thus, it can effectively minimize the OPEX and CAPEX for the surge protection system in the upstream oil production facilities or pipelines. The device can enhance the surge protection system by self-dependence, which does not require any external source to be used for equipment operation compared to convention surge protection system using Nitrogen. As a result, it can improve the reliability and efficiency of the surge protection system. This innovative anti-surge valve and control have been officially granted as a new patent in the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under Patent No. 11,209,842. The new surge control methodology will eliminate water hammering and potential pipeline damages without the use of external equipment to mitigate the surge.