Scheduling of a branched multiproduct pipeline system with robust inventory management

Abstract

As the main transportation mode of refined products, multiproduct pipelines play an important role in ensuring the downstream energy supply. Before the market-oriented reform of refined products, the construction and management of multiproduct pipelines were monopolized by giant state-owned enterprises, forming the self-operation mode. However, with the development of refined products market, the market-oriented operation mode has gradually formed. Under the new mode, the market demand presents a stronger uncertainty, resulting in the scheduling method under self-operation mode may not be able to cope with the supply interruption risk caused by demand uncertainty. The robustness of the obtained schedule is low. Aiming at above issue, this paper proposes a method for scheduling of branched multiproduct pipeline system under market-oriented mode. The method considers market demand uncertainty and robust inventory management. It can not only reduce additional operation cost caused by demand uncertainty, but also decrease the adjustment frequency of schedule, so that the schedule is still feasible within a certain fluctuation range. Finally, the proposed model is validated by applying it to a real-world multiproduct pipeline system.