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Reducing Energy Consumption and CO 2 Emissions in Natural Gas Preheating Stations Using Vortex Tubes

Author

Listed:
  • Jaime Guerrero

    (CIRCE-Technology Center, Ranillas Av. 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Antonio Alcaide-Moreno

    (CIRCE-Technology Center, Ranillas Av. 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Ana González-Espinosa

    (CIRCE-Technology Center, Ranillas Av. 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Roberto Arévalo

    (CIRCE-Technology Center, Ranillas Av. 3D, 1st Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
    STEAM, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Paseo de la Alameda, 7, 46010 Valencia, Spain)

  • Lev Tunkel

    (Universal Vortex Inc., 410 Princeton Hightstown Rd., Princeton Junction, West Windsor, NJ 08550, USA)

  • María Dolores Storch de Gracia

    (REDEXIS, Ranillas Av. 1D, 2nd Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
    Department of Organizational Engineering, Business Administration and Statistics, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain
    Grupo de Investigación en Organizaciones Sostenibles (GIOS), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28006 Madrid, Spain)

  • Eduardo García-Rosales

    (REDEXIS, Ranillas Av. 1D, 2nd Floor, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

Abstract

This work proposes an innovative method for adjusting the natural gas from the grid to the consumer pipeline requirements in a full-scale pressure reduction station. The use of two counterflow vortex tubes instead of the traditional boiler to preheat the gas before throttling is demonstrated as a powerful alternative. Thus, a reduction of fossil fuel consumption is reached, which amounts to 7.1 % less CO 2 emitted. To ensure the optimal configuration, the vortex tube was thoroughly characterized in laboratory facilities using nitrogen as the working fluid. Various operating conditions were tested to determine the most efficient setup. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were conducted with nitrogen to validate the behavior of the vortex tube. Subsequently, the working fluid was switched to methane to assess the performance differences between the two gases. Finally, the vortex tubes were deployed at a full-scale installation and tested under real consumption demand. The results obtained from this study offer promising insights into the practical implementation of the proposed method for adjusting the natural gas flow, highlighting its potential for reducing fossil fuel consumption and minimizing CO 2 emissions. Further improvements and refinements can be made based on these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaime Guerrero & Antonio Alcaide-Moreno & Ana González-Espinosa & Roberto Arévalo & Lev Tunkel & María Dolores Storch de Gracia & Eduardo García-Rosales, 2023. "Reducing Energy Consumption and CO 2 Emissions in Natural Gas Preheating Stations Using Vortex Tubes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:4840-:d:1175878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eiamsa-ard, Smith & Promvonge, Pongjet, 2008. "Review of Ranque-Hilsch effects in vortex tubes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(7), pages 1822-1842, September.
    2. Olfati, Mohammad & Bahiraei, Mehdi & Veysi, Farzad, 2019. "A novel modification on preheating process of natural gas in pressure reduction stations to improve energy consumption, exergy destruction and CO2 emission: Preheating based on real demand," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 598-609.
    3. Arabkoohsar, A. & Farzaneh-Gord, M. & Deymi-Dashtebayaz, M. & Machado, L. & Koury, R.N.N., 2015. "A new design for natural gas pressure reduction points by employing a turbo expander and a solar heating set," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 239-250.
    4. Farzaneh-Gord, M. & Ghezelbash, R. & Arabkoohsar, A. & Pilevari, L. & Machado, L. & Koury, R.N.N., 2015. "Employing geothermal heat exchanger in natural gas pressure drop station in order to decrease fuel consumption," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 164-176.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcin Trojan & Piotr Dzierwa & Jan Taler & Mariusz Granda & Karol Kaczmarski & Dawid Taler & Tomasz Sobota, 2023. "Analysis of the Causes of the Emergency Shutdown of Natural Gas-Fired Water Peak Boilers at the Large Municipal Combined Heat and Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, August.

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