Optimization of advanced water hammer protection system for oil pipelines

Water hammer in oil pipelines, often resulting from manual misoperation and other factors, significantly affects safe pipeline operations. Implementing water hammer protection is crucial for ensuring safety, Starting with the water hammer advance protection system and its design scheme, a comparative analysis of the common setting methods for this system was conducted. The existing problems in various setting modes were identified, and their causes were analyzed. Taking the setting mode of the water hammer advance protection in the Yizheng⁃Changling Pipeline System Upgrade and Transformation Project as a case study, an optimal setting scheme was proposed: independent PLCs were established at key main stations throughout the pipeline as the master control for the water hammer advance protection system, while the control systems of other stations were designated as the slave control to create an inter-station linkage protection system. The standardized design and application of the water hammer advance protection system will enhance the construction of standardized stations and improve the safety levels of oil pipeline operations.