ENERGY RECOVERY IN PRESSURE REDUCTION STATIONS OF NATURAL GAS USING TURBOEXPANDERS

Natural gas transport, and consumption take place at different pressure levels. The shift from the pressure of the transport system to that corresponding to the distribution is carried out in dedicated reduction stations. This article analyzes the solution of exploiting the energy potential of reducing the gas pressure from 20 bar to 6 bar by expanding it in a turboexpander. The main disadvantage in this case is the considerable decrease in temperature at the exit of the turboexpander. Considering the necessity of gases heating prior to their entry into the turboexpander, was analyzed two solutions namely: - The natural gas preheating solution by burning a gas share in a furnace and expanding it in a turboexpander; - Gas intermediate preheating solution and fractional expansion.