Natural Gas Turbine Power for Hydraulic Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing operations face challenges with the use of diesel engines, which pose safety hazards and environmental pollution, necessitating a more sustainable power solution for hydraulic fracturing equipment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of natural gas turbine generators fueled by natural gas from the fracturing site's supply line, with a system that includes valves, compressors, filtration units, and pressure regulators to process and distribute the gas efficiently, ensuring optimal pressure and cleanliness for turbine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diesel engines are used to power hydraulic fracturing equipment, then the equipment can operate reliably, but safety hazards and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces diesel engine power systems with electric motor systems powered by natural gas turbine generators. This substitution eliminates combustion-based pollution and fire hazards while maintaining equipment operational reliability through an alternative energy conversion pathway (natural gas → turbine → electricity → motor → pump).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental energy parameter from chemical energy combustion (diesel) to mechanical energy conversion (turbine-driven electric motor). This parameter change transforms the harmful combustion process into a cleaner energy conversion process that produces electricity to drive the hydraulic pump, thereby eliminating exhaust emissions and reducing fire risks.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If natural gas turbine generators are implemented to replace diesel engines, then pollution and fire hazards are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a natural gas turbine generator that serves multiple functions: it generates electricity to power the hydraulic pump, provides excess power for other site operations, and can operate in various modes (base load, peak shaving, backup). This multi-functionality justifies the increased system complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single integrated power source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical power system as an intermediary between the natural gas turbine and the hydraulic pump. This intermediary electric power transmission method decouples the prime mover (turbine) from the load (pump), allowing independent optimization of each component and enabling flexible power distribution to multiple devices, thereby managing system complexity through modular electrical architecture.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If natural gas is diverted from the main supply line to fuel turbine generators, then clean energy production is enabled, but gas pressure and flow availability for fracturing operations may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fracturing operation gas consumption with the power generation gas consumption into a single integrated natural gas utilization system. The turbine generator and hydraulic pump share the same natural gas supply source, with the turbine providing power that enables the pump to deliver hydraulic energy. This merging allows the system to convert natural gas into both mechanical work (pumping) and electrical energy (power generation), optimizing overall gas utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a self-sufficient power system where the natural gas turbine generator produces electricity that powers the hydraulic fracturing pump and other site equipment. The system serves itself by generating its own power needs from the natural gas supply, reducing dependence on external power sources and ensuring continuous operation even when grid power is unavailable, thereby maintaining gas flow availability for fracturing operations.
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
This solution provides a cleaner, quieter, and more economical power source for hydraulic fracturing equipment, reducing environmental impact and operational costs while ensuring reliable energy supply.
Implementation Method 1
a sand trap can remove sand and other particulates from the natural gas stream
Implementation Method 2
a sand trap can remove sand and other particulates from the natural gas stream
Implementation Method 3
a separator can remove water and other liquids from the natural gas stream
Implementation Method 4
A regulator in the turbine gas line can effect a pressure drop to bring the pressure of the natural gas to a pressure range that is optimum for the compressors
Implementation Method 5
The natural gas stream can be directed to one or more compressors
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to hydraulic fracturing equipment powered by one or more natural gas turbine generators. Natural gas from a supply line is released via a valve into a turbine gas line. The turbine gas line includes one or more regulators to reduce the pressure of the natural gas stream in the turbine gas line to a pressure or pressure range optimum for one or more gas compressors. The gas compressors increase the pressure of the natural gas stream, which is then directed to one or more natural gas turbine generators. The natural gas turbine generators combust the natural gas to produce electricity, which powers electric hydraulic fracturing equipment.