Study On Transportation Scheduling Of Pipeline Network Transporting Multiple Crude Oils

Appropriate schedule of batch transportation should be made for pipeline network transporting multiple crude oils to complete distribution tasks and coordinate the relationship between different parts of crude oil pipelines. It makes sure that not only crude oils produced by oil field or imported from abroad could be output timely but also oil needs of each refinery in the end of pipelines could be met.Based on the analysis of scheduling and optimal operation of crude oil pipelines combining with the actual situation of Yong-Hu-Ning pipeline network, the methods, basic principles and steps of making schedule were concluded. In the paper, a mathematical model of making transportation schedule for crude oil pipelines automatically was developed, which was solved with Simulated Annealing algorithm and Linear Programming method. What's more, allowed maximum quantity of flow in open and closed process during batch transportation was calculated. In addition, a mathematical model of optimal operation was developed whose objective function was minimising the power consumption, solved with dynamic programming method. Based on the study above, a software for transportation scheduling of Yong-Hu-Ning pipeline network was developed with software development platform——Borland C++ Builder 6.0 in Windows XP environment. It can make preliminary unloading plan of oil tankers and transportation schedule of Yong-Hu-Ning pipeline network according to the sail schedule of imported crude oils and oil demands of each refinery. Also, it could show the tendency of liquid level of each oil tank changing with time as well as the transportation schedule of pipelines in the form of curve diagram and Gantt chart. Calculations and analysis had been carried out for the actual situation of Yong-Hu-Ning pipeline network in a certain time, which had derived transportation schedule of the pipelines, unloading plan of oil tankers and so on. After six months of practical application, we can say that the software developed here which is used for making transportation schedule of Yong-Hu-Ning pipeline network is nimble, efficient and practicable. What's more, it provides accurate plans and information for pipeline operators to make sure that Yong-Hu-Ning pipeline network is operated under safe, stable and optimal conditions.