OPTIMIZATION OF DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM SECTIONS

The paper proposes the optimum distribution of the differential pressure between gas supply system sections and gas consumption, depending on the settlement planning and development. This provides a 10–15 % reduction in metal and material consumption of gas supply systems and a 4–5 % cost reduction. The hydraulic analysis of differential pressure distribution does not allow to purposefully distribute the calculated pressure drop. The pipeline diameter is usually selected according to the estimated gas flow rate and specific pressure loss per unit length of gas supply system sections. Then, in accordance with the State standard, the condition of compliance and non-exceedance of the obtained differential pressure is checked with the standard value. If this condition is not met, the pipeline diameter is adjusted for design reasons. This work conducts additional research into the differential pressure distribution between gas supply system sections. Materials and methods include the assessment methodology for the effectiveness of differential pressure distribution between gas supply system sections. Although many publications are devoted to the optimization of gas pressure distribution systems, the proposed solutions and the recommendations developed in this paper are fragmentary, often contradictory, since they do not consider the completeness and diversity of strategic factors. The paper shows that the pressure loss values obtained for domestic gas-based units with a reduced nominal pressure, are much less than those given in regulatory documents. According to the analysis, the settlement development, population density in gas-supplied territories, and technical conditions of gas-supplied buildings, have a decisive influence on the unit costs of gas supply systems.