Magnetics-Based Turboexpander Enables Energy Recovery from Pressure Letdown Stations in Natural Gas Pipelines
October 5, 2020
Magnetic technologies are being employed in a wide range of applications to solve real-world problems involving high-speed machinery, especially in hostile or difficult environments. In this article, we will examine an interesting application: waste energy recovery from pressure reduction in natural gas pipelines.
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Natural gas is pressurized to facilitate transportation across long distances through pipelines. The pressure must be stepped down to lower levels for safe delivery through local-distribution networks. Pressure reduction is most commonly accomplished with mechanical regulating valves. These pressure letdown devices (PLD) are generally effective but also waste a significant amount of energy. Ideally, this kinetic energy can be captured and converted into electrical energy using a generator loaded turboexpander.