A robust transient gas network simulation for predicting the dynamics before, during, and after extensive disruptions

Computer-aided hydraulic calculations allowing to predict the physical states of modeled gas networks are an important tool for the planning, design and operation of resilient gas infrastructures. Insecure gas supply situations, due to, e.g., acts of sabotage or political sanctions, raise the demand for simulation tools able to predict network behavior under non-design conditions. While transient modeling of the gas dynamics is mandatory to gain a comprehensive understanding of immediate ramifications, robust algorithms are needed for gas-network simulation far from design-point operation in case of severe changes to the system. This work presents a gas network simulation implementation for analyses of transient responses to extensive contingencies. This upgrade of a previously established, highly robust gas network simulation approach by transient simulation capabilities enables robust simulation of the gas dynamics for network layouts and parameter spaces for which conventional gas grid simulation tools fail to produce meaningful converged solutions. This new robust numerical transient approach uniquely allows to, e.g., predict system behavior and settling times after disruptive events, survival times in case of networks which get completely detached from any gas source or recovery times after repairs.