Method for identifying obstructions in pipeline networks for transporting fluids

Abstract

It is described a method for detecting and identifying obstructions in a pipeline network for transporting fluids, wherein the network is composed of a plurality of pipeline sections (P) and a plurality of junctions (N). The method comprising the following phases: acquiring the geometrical data of a predefined number of pipeline sections (P) for which the presence of obstructions has to be evaluated; measuring the actual flow-rate values (Q) of the fluid in one or more pipeline sections (P) and of the actual pressure values (h) of the fluid at one or more junctions (N) of the network; comparison between the values of the nominal diameters (D) of said pipeline sections (P) and the corresponding equivalent diameters (D) of said pipeline sections (P); calculating, by means of a specific numerical model, the theoretic flow-rate values (Q) and pressure values (h) of the fluid for said equivalent diameters (D). With =(D)α×Dmethod provides a calculation phase of the value of the variables vector αwhich minimize a function based on the discrepancy between the actual flow-rate (Qi) and pressure (h) values effectively measured and the corresponding theoretical flow-rate (Q) and pressure (h) values, wherein said calculation phase is performed by applying a certain own fitness function J(α) of the genetic algorithms (GAs).