Segmented Pipeline with Different Pipe Lengths Using Component Array

The model described in Segmented Pipeline Using Component Array represents a pipeline that consists of N identical segments. In contrast, this example shows how you can model a segmented pipeline with segments of different lengths by using an array of components.

This segmented pipeline model is a composite component that consists of an array of pipe segments, connected in series. Individual pipe segments are represented by the Pipe (IL) blocks from the Foundation library. The block user provides the lengths of the individual pipe segments, and the model automatically determines the size of the array based on that data.

component SegmentedPipelineDifferentLengths
  parameters
     segm_lengths = { [3 7 4 5 7 6], 'm' }; 	% Lengths of pipe segments
  end

  % Ports at the two ends of the pipeline
  nodes
     A = foundation.isothermal_liquid.isothermal_liquid; % A:left
     B = foundation.isothermal_liquid.isothermal_liquid; % B:right
  end

  % Declare array of components, size matches number of segment elements 
  for i=1:numel(segm_lengths)
     components (ExternalAccess=none)
	pipe(i) = foundation.isothermal_liquid.elements.pipe(length = segm_lengths(i));
     end
  end

  % Connect all segments in series
  for i=1:(numel(segm_lengths)-1)
     connections
	connect(pipe(i).B, pipe(i+1).A);
     end
  end

  % Connect two ends of pipeline to first and last segment, respectively
  connections
     connect(A, pipe(1).A);
     connect(B, pipe(numel(segm_lengths)).B);
  end
end

The segm_lengths (Lengths of pipe segments) parameter is a one-dimensional array where the block user enters the lengths of the individual pipe segments. The model automatically determines the size of the array of components by using numel(segm_lengths) as the upper limit for the for-loop iterator when it declares an array of member components:

  for i=1:numel(segm_lengths)
     components (ExternalAccess=none)
	pipe(i) = foundation.isothermal_liquid.elements.pipe(length = segm_lengths(i));
     end
  end

The length of each pipe segment specified in segm_lengths is passed as a parameter to the appropriate member of the component array, length = segm_lengths(i).

Use another for-loop to connect all segments in series, by connecting node B of each pipe segment (except the last one) to node A of the next segment:

  for i=1:(numel(segm_lengths)-1)
     connections
	connect(pipe(i).B, pipe(i+1).A);
     end
  end

Finally, connect the internal chain of segments to the two ends of pipeline, by connecting node A of the composite component to node A of the first segment and connecting node B of the composite component to node B of the last segment:

  connections
     connect(A, pipe(1).A);
     connect(B, pipe(numel(segm_lengths)).B);
  end
end

The resulting block has two isothermal liquid ports, A and B, and one modifiable parameter: Lengths of pipe segments.

Segmented Pipeline with Different Pipe Lengths Using Component Array

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