Improving the energy efficiency of gas transportation by optimizing the operation modes of electric drives

Abstract

The optimal mode of operation for trunk gas pipelines is determined to be the maximum
utilization of their throughput capacity (gas transmission) with minimal energy consumption for
compression, cooling, and transportation, and is defined by the operation of compressor stations and
characterized by the unevenness of gas supply and consumption. A promising direction for
improving the operation modes of gas pipelines is maintaining the maximum design pressure of gas
in the pipeline, reducing the temperature of the transmitted gas by cooling it, as well as using
pipelines with larger diameters with cleaning of the internal cavity of the pipeline. The developed
principles of energy-efficient transportation of natural gas through trunk gas pipelines based on
regulatory and technical documents are considered. A method of trunk gas transportation is
proposed, which ensures the highest energy efficiency under any operating conditions of trunk gas
pipelines. This is achieved by measuring and automatically adjusting the temperature and pressure
of compressed gas at the outlet at the beginning of each linear section under the condition of
maintaining them at an optimal level according to the task and the values of external disturbances
acting on the parameters of the gas flow in the pipelines. A diagram and modern technical means of
frequency-controlled electric drives and control algorithms for technological units of compressor
stations for trunk gas transportation are provided. The use of the proposed method of trunk gas
transportation ensures automatic stabilization of pressure and temperature of the gas at the outlet,
thereby practically completely eliminating unacceptable deformations and stress states of the
pipeline and possible destruction of its anti-corrosion insulation, which increases operational
reliability and optimizes the integral energy costs for driving compressors and fans.