Optimizing the design of products pipeline to reduce the contaminated volume

In the past time, the optimal design for products pipeline focused on finding the optimal points of station parameters such as pipe diameter, thickness, numbers of pump stations, suction/discharge pressure, etc.. It seldom took the impact factors of oil blending into consideration. The paper briefly introduces the impact factors for oil blending in batch products pipelines as follows: the non-uniform distribution of the vertical fluid velocity; the turbulent diffusion of the fluid flow in both vertical direction and axial direction; the resorted oil in dead section; the elevation difference; the density difference for varied batches; the potential shutdown of the pipeline, etc.. With reference to the advanced experiences from international pipeline operating companies and taking cutting down the contaminated volume as a subject, the optimal design program are discussed in the allocation of relief tank and valves, the design of pig launcher/receiver's diameter and their manifold, the starting-up way for pump units, the diameter design for station pipeline and Re number for transported medium.