Energy efficiency of “hot” oil pipelines under partial load conditions

Abstract

The article discusses trenchless methods of pipeline repair, which can be used in the repair of oil pipelines in conditions of incomplete loading. Trenchless pipeline reconstruction technologies are widely used due to certain advantages that ensure environmental safety and economic efficiency. Such technologies can be used in conditions where it is impossible to use open methods of repair, with minimal volumes of earthworks, without damage to existing underground communications, as well as when working in unstable soil conditions. The main attention is paid to the repair according to the “pipe in a pipe without destruction” scheme. The article is devoted to solving the optimization problem of choosing the diameter and wall thickness of the internal pipeline, which runs in the repaired one, according to the criteria of minimal heat loss at maximum throughput, in which energy costs for transporting the product will be minimal, which will allow obtaining maximum energy efficiency. The authors use analytical methods and conduct a study of the influence of changes in pipeline characteristics on product pumping parameters. The results of the study show that the methods of trenchless repair of “hot” oil pipelines are effective from an economic and energy point of view. The work established that during the repair of long “hot” oil pipelines with intermediate heating points, the selection of the diameter of the internal pipeline requires taking into account the energy consumption at these intermediate heating points. The work contains an algorithm for choosing the optimal diameter and wall thickness of the pipeline, which can be useful for oil transportation enterprises and energy companies to optimize work and reduce energy costs for transporting the product