Analysis of transient responses of steam flow in power plant piping networks

The development and numerical solution, utilizing the method of characteristics, of a dynamic mathematical model to describe the steam distribution network within the University of Alberta Heating Plant has been completed. This model consists of two first order partial differential equations to describe the pressure and flow characteristics of the steam.;Simulator predictions of the maximum pressure recorded during a steam turbine trip were made. (Abstract shortened by UMI.);Comparison of the simulator predictions with data collected from the Heating Plant steam line network showed that the pressure reducing valves were the dominant component in the model. Simulator predictions were compared with published results for a steam turbine trip and from a transient occurring in a small natural gas pipeline network. Comparison with the published turbine trip results illustrated that the simpler isothermal pipe model was sufficient to model this type of transient.