Optimise Reference Documentation

Production Buffers

Production Buffers
A buffer is a reservoir that is useful to maintain production within part of a
system while there are interruptions being experienced elsewhere. A buffer
can maintain downstream production flow if a failure occurs upstream of it or it
can maintain upstream production if a bottleneck occurs downstream.
Buffers are defined within Branches. Branches are used to define the overall
network production of models.
The following fields define a buffer:
• the initial buffer volume;
• the maximum buffer volume;
• the buffer fill behaviour;
The initial buffer level must be less than the maximum buffer level. Both the
initial and the maximum buffer level must be no less than zero.
Buffer Location
Adding a buffer to a branch means the buffer can help mitigate failure of any
equipment failures within that branch and any branches further upstream.
That is, conceptually, the buffer is situated downstream of the branch it is
defined in.

Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 1: Buffer location with respect to parent Branch.

Buffer Drainage
When a failure occurs that requires a buffer to partially or completely
supplement production flow, the buffered branch will outflow at its required
output production rate until:
• the buffer is completely exhausted; or
• the buffer is no longer required (e.g. the failed component is repaired).

Branch A Branch B Buffer Branch C

Figure 2: Buffer stops draining when exhausted. Branch A has a failure within it.

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Production Buffers

Branch B
Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 3: Buffer stops draining when it is no longer required (Branch A failure is repaired).

Buffer Filling
If a buffer has been reduced to less than its maximum level and the buffer has
met its conditions for refilling , the components upstream of the buffer will run
at maximum production (where possible) in order to refill the buffer. Once the
buffer volume is restored to the maximum level, all upstream components will
return to their usual production rate. If the buffer volume is exhausted/empty
the buffered branch will restrict its outflow to no higher than the production
rate it receives product at (ie. flow out = flow in).
Branch A
Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 4: Buffer does not fill or empty while it is full and system is at normal production rate.

Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 5: Buffer drains to mitigate upstream failure (failure in Branch A).

Branch B
Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 6: Buffer refills when system is able to produce at normal again.

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Production Buffers

Buffer Fill Conditions

Buffers can have two different filling philosophies. Their fill behaviour can be
either:
• Normally Full; or
• Normally Empty.
Note that being Normally Full or Normally Empty will not affect a buffers
drainage behaviour. Both types of buffers will drain if there is a downstream
shortfall.
Normally Full buffers
Normally Full buffers will fill whenever there is spare production potential
upstream of them that is not being used to satisfy the demand of the delivery
points in the model. These buffers move flow downstream1 where possible,
so that the buffer most downstream fills with priority, since that buffer has the
largest scope for loss mitigation.
Figure 6 shows the typical Normally Full fill condition. Branch C (the delivery
point) is able to maintain its required production outflow without the use of the
Buffer and the Branches upstream of the buffer are able to provide excess
production.
Normally Empty Buffers
Normally Empty buffers are designed to continue product flow from upstream
equipment when there is an unexpected restriction downstream of the buffer.
In order to do so, they must normally stay empty until these specific conditions
occur in the model. These conditions that cause a normally empty buffer to fill
are:
2
• outflow from the branch containing the buffer is less than its normal ; and
• at least one branch directly upstream of the buffer can achieve an outflow
rate higher than what it is giving.
Branch C
Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 7: Normally Empty Buffers will remain empty under normal conditions.

1
Normally Full Buffers fill the most upstream Buffer along the branches of the same priority
only. Where buffers exist in a model with different delivery point priorities, the higher priority
Buffers will fill with priority. See Branch Priorities for further information.
2
This first step is evaluated based on the production flow achieved before buffers have been
considered. That is, without buffer involvement, how much product is passing out of this
branch.

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Production Buffers

Branch A
Branch A Branch B Branch C

Figure 8: Normally Empty Buffers will fill in order to keep upstream feed branches flowing
when there is a downstream interruption (Failure at Branch C).

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