Process raises fuel-gas quality at compressor stations
Perry Pipeline Co., Giddings, Tex., has increased the power output of compressor engines at three of its gas gathering pumping stations by using low-temperature-separation, gas-conditioning units. The conditioned gas is also utilized to improve the performance of process heaters and instruments at the station. The units, developed and manufactured by Riley-Beard Inc., Shreveport, La., utilize the Joule-Thomson effect to separate ethane and heavier fractions from the incomming gas stream. The separated heavier fractions are reinjected into the pipeline to a gas processing plant and recovered there instead of being burned in the engines or heaters. At each station, gas gathered and pumped to the gas processing plant has a gross heating value of 1,200 BTU, and the ethane and heavier fractions exceed 5 gal/1,000 cu ft of gas. Station flows are 1.0, 1.6, and 0.9 MMcfd. Before installation of the conditioning units, the heavy fractions in the gas caused detonation in the compressor engines and required that the engines be run with the spark retarded, the Quenten Rhodes of Perry Pipeline co. Because the timing could not be set at the recommended advance, the power output of the engines was reduced. Before conditioning, about 13,500 hp was available at the three stations. And when this gas was used for instrumentation, liquid dropout in winter caused unplanned shutdowns and lost operating time.
- OSTI ID:
- 7051973
- Journal Information:
- Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 84:48; ISSN OIGJA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ALKANES
CALORIFIC VALUE
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
COMPRESSORS
CONTROL
DETONATIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENGINES
ETHANE
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FLOW
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT
HEAT ENGINES
HEAT RECOVERY
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
JOULE-THOMSON EFFECT
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PIPELINES
POWER GENERATION
PROCESS HEAT
PUMPING
QUALITY CONTROL
RECOVERY
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHUTDOWNS
SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
TIMING PROPERTIES
VARIATIONS