Thermodynamic Rationale for Using Expander-Compressor Gas Turbine Power Unit

Natural gas is transported through a network of main gas pipelines under high pressure, and the process of its consumption requires a decrease in pressure of gas laid mainly in throttling devices. It is beneficial to use part of the available energy potential of natural gas for electricity production by means of expander-generator technologies. However, the task of finding ways to increase the capacity and efficiency of gas turbine power units using the energy of excess pressure of natural gas does not lose its relevance. The study poses and solves the problem of developing a new thermal cycle diagram of a combined power unit to substitute throttling pressure regulators at gas distribution stations with an expander-compressor gas turbine unit. A distinctive feature of the unit is the replacement of the gas turbine drive of the air compressor with its drive from the turbo-expander by using the energy of excess pressure of natural gas. This results in significant increase in the absolute thermal efficiency and decrease in the specific fuel and energy costs. We developed analytical dependencies relating the operating parameters of the expander-compressor gas turbine unit and its output characteristics. Thus, it was possible to find an approach to calculating the unit, the approach being based on proven methods for thermal cycle calculation. The results of the performed calculations show that, in comparison with gas turbine units, the expander-compressor gas turbine unit has a significantly lower specific consumption of equivalent fuel and a lower negative impact on the environment

References

[1] Trukhniy A.D. Thermodynamic basis for use of recycling turbo-expander plants. Vestnik MEI [Bulletin MPEI], 1999, no. 5, pp. 11--15 (in Russ.).

[2] Agababov V.S., Koryagin A.V., Arkharova A.Yu. Comparative analysis of different gas-heating methods in turboexpander-generator unit on change of power plant thermal efficiency. Izvestiya vuzov. Problemy energetiki [Power Engineering: Research, Equipment, Technology], 2005, no. 1-2, pp. 11--21 (in Russ.).

[3] Agababov V.S., Galas I.V., Dzhuraeva E.V., et al. A comparison of different methods for heating the gas in an expander generating unit. Therm. Eng., 2003, vol. 50, no. 11, pp. 924--928.

[4] Davide B., Devia F., Brunenghi M.M., et al. Waste energy recovery from natural gas distribution network: CELSIUS project demonstrator in Genoa. Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, no. 12, pp. 16703--16719. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su71215841

[5] Kulichikhin V.V. Practice of operation of expander-generator units at Mosenergo CHPPS. Historical overview. Nadezhnost’ i bezopasnost’ energetiki [Safety & Reliability of Power Industry], 2017, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 159--166 (in Russ.).DOI: https://doi.org/10.24223/1999-5555-2017-10-2-159-166

[6] Kulichikhin V.V., Tyunyaev M.V. Consequences of introducting expander-generator units in thermal scheme of heat power plant. Novosti teplosnabzheniya, 2017, no. 5, pp. 28--33 (in Russ.). Available at: https://www.rosteplo.ru/Tech_stat/stat_shablon.php?id=3472

[7] Kulichikhin V.V. Fulity of use of expander-generator sets at thermal power plants. Nadezhnost’ i bezopasnost’ energetiki [Safety & Reliability of Power Industry], 2018, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 161--166 (in Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.24223/1999-5555-2018-11-2-161-166

[8] Aleksandrov A.A., Agababov V.S., Dzhuraeva E.V., et al. The analysis of gas expansion unit and heat pump co-working. Izvestiya vuzov. Problemy energetiki [Power Engineering: Research, Equipment, Technology], 2004, no. 7--8, pp. 50--60 (in Russ.).

[9] Agababov V.S., Baydakova Yu.O., Kostyuchenko P.A. Raising efficiency electricity production in fuel-free plant using windpower plant. Energosberezhenie i vodopodgotovka, 2010, no. 4, pp. 22--24 (in Russ.).

[10] Agababov V.S., Smirnova U.I., Kolosov A.M. Performance evaluation of the fuelless electrical energy installations in the gas-supplying system. Vestnik MEI [Bulletin MPEI], 2010, no. 2, pp. 15--20 (in Russ.).

[11] Agababov V.S., Rogova A.A., Baydakova Yu.O., et al. Free fuel units for joint production of electricity, heat and cold. Energosberezhenie i vodopodgotovka, 2012, no. 4, pp. 66--69 (in Russ.).

[12] Strebkov A.S., Zhavrotskiy S.V. Assessment of electric energy production efficiency when using power potential of fuel gas. Vestnik BGTU [Bulletin of Bryansk State Technical University], 2013, no. 4, pp. 77--86 (in Russ.).

[13] Shpak V.N. Gazoraspredelitel’naya stantsiya s energeticheskoy ustanovkoy [Gas distribution station with power plant]. Patent 2009389 RF. Appl. 25.05.1992, publ. 15.03.1994 (in Russ.).

[14] Zhavrotskiy S.V., Strebkov A.S., Osipov A.V., et al. Gazoraspredelitel’naya stantsiya s detander-kompressornoy gazoturbinnoy energeticheskoy ustanovkoy [Gas distribution station with expander-compressor gas turbine power plant]. Patent 176799 RF. Appl. 09.08.2016, publ. 29.01.2018 (in Russ.).

[15] Arsen’yev L.V., Tyryshkin V.G., eds. Gazoturbinnye ustanovki. Konstruktsii i raschet [Gas turbine units. Design and calculation]. Leningrad, Mashinostroenie Publ., 1978.