Dual-purpose low-carbon emission compression station

Abstract

A low carbon emission compression station is disclosed. The compression station is connected to the gas treatment system and the power grid and includes at least one electric motor driven compressor. Further, the compression station is connected to the auxiliary energy source and the energy storage device, includes a monitoring system, and is configured to operate in a dual mode, i.e., configured to: compress gas in the gas treatment system and / or store excess energy into the energy storage device using power from the power grid; and / or using the auxiliary energy source and / or the stored energy to compress the gas in the gas treatment system and / or also to deliver excess energy to the power grid.

Description

[0001] manual Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to improvements to compressor stations commonly used in gas pipelines and storage facilities that can improve overall system efficiency by reducing carbon emissions. In particular, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a compressor station provided with an electric motor driven compressor and an auxiliary renewable energy and energy storage system, the arrangement and size of which can achieve extremely optimized integration between the power grid and the gas infrastructure. Background Art

[0003] As is well known, natural gas is extracted from deep underground rock formations and needs to be transported to end users. Where possible or economically feasible, pipelines and underground gas storage systems are usually used to transport and store natural gas. In order to compensate for the pressure loss during transportation, pipelines require compressor stations, which are usually arranged at regular intervals along the pipeline. These compressors must work with high reliability and availability. Specifically, since pipelines extend over long distances and compressor stations can be located in remote locations, lacking power grids, or even if power grids are available, such power grids are unreliable, so compressor stations usually include dedicated power generation islands to provide power to auxiliary systems, thereby allowing the compressor station to operate separately from the power grid, or operate when the power grid is not running. It is also known that in order to make these compressors work reliably, compressor stations usually include auxiliary energy sources and / or auxiliary energy storage systems. For example, seasonal changes in gas demand can cause the remaining gas to be extracted from the pipeline and compressed, stored, and then taken out of the gas storage facility at peak demand. By combining such compressors with gas turbines, the stored gas can be used as fuel for the gas turbine to drive the compressor and ensure the necessary operability of the compressor.

[0004] It is also known from the prior art that compressor stations for pipeline applications and other rotating equipment for applications in the oil and gas industry can be conveniently driven by electric motors connected to the electrical grid. The use of variable frequency drives (VFDs) enables speed variations with maximum efficiency over the entire operating range, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0005] Therefore, an improved compression station capable of achieving a high degree of integration between the gas pipeline and the power grid will increase the reliability of the compression station and will be welcomed in the art. In addition, such an improved compression station will allow carbon reduction by reducing emissions and reducing electricity consumption. More specifically, it is desirable that the compression station including an auxiliary energy source and / or an auxiliary energy storage system is designed to operate in a dual mode, that is, either using electricity from the power grid to compress the gas in the pipeline and storing the excess energy in the energy storage system, or using a renewable source and the stored energy to compress the gas in the pipeline and also deliver the excess energy to the power grid, which has higher flexibility and reliability. Summary of the invention

[0006] In one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a low emission compression station comprising an electric motor driven compressor together with an auxiliary energy source and an energy storage system, including possible integration with a battery pack, wherein the integration between the different sources and loads is controlled / monitored by a monitoring system depending on variables including gas and / or energy costs, available storage capacity, and auxiliary energy source capabilities.

[0007] On the other hand, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a low-emission compression station, wherein the compression station is supplemented with auxiliary energy sources, such as renewable sources (e.g., solar panels or wind turbines), fuel cells, electrolyzers, and energy storage devices (such as batteries and gas storage devices), to allow the low-emission compression station to operate in a dual mode when integrated with an external power grid, i.e., either consuming electricity from the grid or delivering electricity to the grid, depending on variable overall conditions (such as seasonal variations in gas demand).

[0008] In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a low emission compression station wherein a monitoring system is configured to manage all energy sources (battery, emergency, renewable sources) to coordinate with each other.

[0009]

[0013] In another aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to a low emission compression station wherein the monitoring system is configured to manage load reduction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete appreciation thereof will be readily obtained as the disclosed embodiments of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 shows a scheme of a low emission compression station according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 2 shows a scheme of a low emission compression station according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 3shows a scheme of a low emission compression station according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0014] Figure 4 A scheme of a low emission compression station according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Reference Figure 1 According to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, a low-emission compression station includes an electric motor driven compressor (indicated by numeral 10) together with an energy storage system 11 and an oil and gas compression station facility auxiliary system 12, wherein the energy storage system includes one or more of, for example, a battery pack, a battery energy storage system (BESS), liquid air energy storage (LAES), compressed air energy storage (CAES), hydrogen storage, etc., and the size of the oil and gas compression station facility auxiliary system is set and the oil and gas compression station facility auxiliary system is controlled / monitored by a monitoring system 13 to ensure a completely uninterrupted power supply to the compressor station by managing the availability of electrical energy generated / stored by other components of the compression station. Figure 1 Also shown are one or more renewable power systems 14 , a generation island 15 , and an emergency generation island 16 , which is optional according to the present disclosure. The renewable power systems 14 , generation islands 15 , and emergency generation islands 16 are also controlled / monitored by the monitoring system 13 .

[0016] Specifically, during the day and night, the renewable energy system 14 can supply renewable electricity to the electric compressor 10, and any excess electricity is stored in the energy storage system 11. The power generation island 15 can include one or more gas turbines to generate electricity through the combustion of natural gas or renewable gas, such electricity is used to operate the electric compressor 10 at night.

[0017] Specifically, the solution according to the present disclosure utilizes renewable electricity to decarbonize compression, i.e., compressing the gas of the gas processing system by simultaneously reducing CO 2. In addition, through the solution according to the present disclosure, the gas processing system may include compression equipment, transportation equipment, injection equipment, and storage equipment.

[0018] Figure 2A low emission compression station according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system configuration includes an electric motor driven compressor 20 and an associated motor, including an oil and gas compression station facility auxiliary system 22, one or more renewable power systems 24, a power generation island 25 and an emergency power generation island 26, which is optional according to the present disclosure. The above components are controlled / monitored by a monitoring system 23 to ensure a completely uninterrupted power supply to the compressor station. In this embodiment, the energy storage system is configured as a hydrogen storage system 21, which is composed of an electrolyzer 211 that produces hydrogen, together with a compressor 212 and a storage tank 213 and a connection with a processing system 214, wherein hydrogen can be optionally blended with natural gas. Hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank 213 is optionally supplied to the turbine of the power generation island 25 in the form of a blend including natural gas. Hydrogen optionally mixed with natural gas and sent to the gas processing system through a connection 214 can also be used to operate the turbine of the power generation island 25. The combustion of the blend consisting of hydrogen and natural gas also helps to reduce the production of CO2.

[0019] Figure 3 A low emission compression station according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system configuration includes an electric motor driven compressor 30 and an associated motor, including a hydrogen storage system 31, an oil and gas compression station facility auxiliary system 32, one or more renewable energy systems 34, a power generation island 35 and an emergency power generation island 36, which are controlled / monitored by an electrical monitoring system 33 to ensure a completely uninterrupted power supply to the compressor station. The power generation island 35 includes a fuel cell 37 (such as a solid oxide fuel cell). The hydrogen storage system 31 is composed of an electrolyzer 311, a compressor 312 and a storage tank 313 and a connection to a gas processing system 314, wherein hydrogen can be optionally blended with natural gas. The turbine and fuel cell 37 of the power generation island 35 are supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tank 313 and / or hydrogen or natural gas or a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas from the gas processing system 314.

[0020] Figure 4 A low emission compression station according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system configuration includes an electric motor driven compressor 40 and an associated motor, including a hydrogen storage system 41, an oil and gas compression station facility auxiliary system 42, one or more renewable energy systems 44, a power generation island 45 and an emergency power generation island 46, which are controlled / monitored by a monitoring system 43 to ensure a completely uninterrupted power supply to the compressor station. The power generation island 35 is composed of a fuel cell 47 (such as a solid oxide fuel cell). The hydrogen storage system 41 is composed of an electrolyzer 411, a compressor 412 and a storage tank 413 and a connection with a pipeline 414. The fuel cell 47 is supplied with hydrogen from a hydrogen storage tank 413 and / or hydrogen or natural gas or a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas from a gas processing system 414.

[0021] Although the present invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, variations and omissions are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. In addition, unless otherwise indicated herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or reordered according to alternative embodiments.

[0022] Reference has been made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure, rather than by way of limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope or substance of the present disclosure. References to "one embodiment" or "embodiment" or "some embodiments" throughout this specification are intended to mean that the particular features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" that appear in multiple places throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, in one or more embodiments, particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0023] When introducing elements of various embodiments, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements besides the listed elements.

Claims

1. A low carbon emission gas compression station, the low carbon emission gas compression station connected to a gas processing system and a power grid, wherein the gas compression station: - comprises at least one compressor driven by an electric motor; - Also connected to an auxiliary energy source and energy storage device; - includes a monitoring system, and - is configured to operate in dual mode, i.e. is configured to: - using electricity from the grid to compress gas in the gas processing system and / or to store energy in the energy storage device; and / or - Utilizing auxiliary energy sources and / or stored energy to compress the gas in the gas processing system and / or to deliver energy to the grid.

2. A low carbon emission compression station according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured to balance different sources and loads based on available storage capacity and auxiliary energy source capabilities.

3. The low emission compression station of claim 2, wherein the monitoring system is configured to balance different sources and loads also based on gas and / or energy costs.

4. The low emission compression station according to claim 1, wherein the gas processing system includes compression equipment, transportation equipment, injection equipment and storage equipment.

5. The low emission compression station of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary energy source comprises one or more of a power generation island, a renewable source, a fuel cell, and an energy storage device.

6. The low emission compression station of claim 5, wherein the power generation island comprises one or more gas turbines.

7. The low emission compression station of claim 5, wherein the renewable source comprises solar panels or wind turbines.

8. The low emission compression station according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes a battery pack (or BESS), a hydrogen storage system, a liquid air energy storage device (LAES) and a compressed air energy storage device (CAES).

9. A low emission compression station according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is an emergency power generation system.

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