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Development and practical application of a natural gas expansion turbine for power generation without additional heating equipment.

Number: pap. 1242

Author(s) : VASUTHEVAN H., BRÜMMER A., BADURA C.

Summary

The efficient transportation of natural gas takes place in a high pressure state before it is distributed to the consumer at lower pressure. Generally, pressure reduction in gas grids is realized in pressure control stations with a regulating valve, where the dissipative energy remains as heat in the fluid. Nevertheless, the gas temperature decreases during the pressure reduction due to the Joule-Thomson-Effect, the magnitude depending on pressure change across the regulating valve. For higher pressure differences, it is necessary to preheat the natural gas to prevent condensate formation and freezing of pipelines. Instead of using a regulating valve, an expansion machine can be used for pressure reduction and power generation apart from pressure control stations. For this purpose, a single stage axial flow turbine is developed for power generation in a natural gas pipeline. The “preheating” of natural gas is realized solely with geothermal energy out of the upper layer of earth and thus without additional heating equipment. The temperature of natural gas at the inlet of the expansion machine is given by the temperature of the ground providing geothermal energy, typically Tin = 278 - 283 K. The expansion turbine outlet temperature should not fall below a level of about Tout = 273 K. The design criterion for the expansion machine is, therefore, the temperature difference, not the pressure difference as is common for expansion processes. Design of an axial flow impulse turbine for this application is carried out using mean diameter calculations. Losses are predicted for blade rows using empirical models. The axial flow turbine is designed in a compact module (generator inside the pipeline) for a natural gas pipeline with relevant safety standards. A first prototype of a single stage axial turbine with partial admission is manufactured and tested in a natural gas pressure control station. Results from field measurements and simulation are compared and analyzed with respect to the operational behavior of this new concept of an axial turbine for natural gas without preheating equipment.

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Pages: 10

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Details

  • Original title: Development and practical application of a natural gas expansion turbine for power generation without additional heating equipment.
  • Record ID : 30024261
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2018 Purdue Conferences. 24th International Compressor Engineering Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2018/07/09

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