Matrix methods for pipe network analysis: Observations on partitioning and cut methods

O. Houache, L. Khezzar*, M. H. Benhamza

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The paper reviews the application of diakoptics and graph theory in the analysis of compressible flow in complex pipe network systems. A new method for partitioning the network based on alternative methods of cutting branches leads to an extension of the diakoptics theory which results, in practical terms, in a more computationally efficient solution for the simulation of pipe flows. An algorithm for re-referencing nodes and branches results in regular sparse matrices that are easily obtained from a branch-node connection list. The resulting matrices contain only non-zero elements. The computational advantages of the new cut method have been demonstrated by comparing them to other cut methods when applied to a range of pipe network simulation examples.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-328
Number of pages8
JournalChemical Engineering Research and Design
Volume74
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 1996

Keywords

  • Cut methods
  • Diakoptics
  • Networks
  • Pipes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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