Natural Gas Cavern Storage Capacity via Refrigeration Cooling

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for natural gas storage in caverns result in increased compression costs due to elevated cavern temperature and pressure, which limits storage capacity and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration system is employed to cool the natural gas stream using a heat exchanger before or after compression, increasing gas density and reducing discharge temperature, thereby enhancing storage capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If natural gas is compressed for storage in caverns, then gas can be stored to meet peak demand, but cavern temperature and pressure increase resulting in higher compression costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidcompression cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary cooling of the natural gas stream before compression. By cooling the gas prior to compression, the gas density increases and the compression process becomes more efficient, reducing the energy required for compression while maintaining the ability to store increased quantities of gas in the cavern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter of the natural gas by introducing a refrigeration system that cools the gas stream. This parameter change (lowering temperature) increases gas density and improves compression efficiency, thereby reducing compression costs while enabling increased storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If natural gas is compressed to increase storage capacity, then more gas can be stored, but cavern pressure increases limiting further storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidcavern pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary cooling of the natural gas stream before compression. By cooling the gas prior to compression, the gas density increases and the compression process becomes more efficient, reducing the energy required for compression while maintaining the ability to store increased quantities of gas in the cavern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temperature parameter of the natural gas by introducing a refrigeration system that cools the gas stream. This parameter change (lowering temperature) increases gas density and improves compression efficiency, thereby reducing compression costs while enabling increased storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cooling process increases the mass flow rate and cavern capacity, optimizing the storage process by reducing compression costs and maintaining efficient gas injection and retrieval.

Implementation Method 1

effecting a heat exchange in a heat exchanger between a stream of coolant from a refrigeration or cooling plant and a natural gas stream to cool the natural gas stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

using a refrigeration system to cool the suction and/or discharge of natural gas compressors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefrigeration cooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS7854567B2Method to increase storage capacity of natural gas storage caverns with a refrigeration system

Publication Date: 2010.12.21 1304342 ALBERTA

AI summary

A method to increase the storage capacity of a natural gas storage cavern includes effecting a heat exchange in a heat exchanger between a stream of coolant from a refrigeration or cooling plant and a natural gas stream to cool the natural gas stream prior to injecting the natural gas stream into the natural gas storage cavern.