Gas diesel engines prove competitive with gas turbines

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Pipeline and Gas Journal

OSTI ID:392572

Ahnger, A

Several years ago Waertsilae Diesel of Finland and Metra Engineering studied a totally new application area: compressor stations for natural gas pipelines based on gas-driven Waertsilae gas engines. Cooperation between the two companies made a good start because Metra Engineering had experience in the oil and gas industry and Waertsilae Diesel had a suitable product. The work has resulted in two compressor station versions based on the Waertsilae Vasa 32 and Waertsilae 46 gas diesel engines. At Waertsilae Diesel they are called GDC or Gas Diesel Compressor stations. Both use a conventional configuration comprising three gas diesel engine compressors. Two compressors are running and one is on standby. Before design of the GDC station began, a short economical feasibility study was made, which showed that GDC stations for distribution and transmission are very competitive compared with gas turbine solutions. The investment costs based on the final station design are also in a very good range for both GDC station types. Although the fuel for the prime mover in a compressing station is taken directly from the same gas pipeline, it is not free and gas companies are putting increasing emphasis on the diesels` high efficiency. They want a high yield on the gas transportation and distribution and in some cases the GDC station studies are based on consumer gas prices. An economical feasibility study was made showing that GDC stations for distribution and transmission purposes are very competitive compared with gas turbine solutions.

• OSTI ID: 392572
• Journal Information: Pipeline and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Pipeline and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 223; ISSN PLGJAT; ISSN 0032-0188
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
DESIGN
DIESEL ENGINES
DUAL-FUEL ENGINES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FUEL CONSUMPTION
GAS COMPRESSORS
GAS TURBINE ENGINES
NATURAL GAS
PIPELINES
TRANSPORT