Parallel Expanders for Fluid Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In applications like natural gas distribution, stringent pressure control requirements make it difficult to use energy-producing expanders for fluid expansion, as they must ensure a predefined low pressure without excessive pressure downstream, which is challenging and often not approved, preventing energy generation during expansion.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control valve and parallel-connected expanders, where the expanders are controlled based on the fluid flow rate through the control valve, allowing reliable pressure control while enabling energy production, using either on/off or flow-regulable expanders, and optionally combining both types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a governor valve is used for pressure control, then reliable pressure control is achieved, but no energy can be produced during expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the fluid flow into two separate paths: one through the governor valve for pressure control and another through the expander for energy production. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between reliable pressure control and energy production capability.
2Loss of energy
If an expander is used for energy production, then energy can be generated, but pressure control reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the pressure control function (governor valve) from the energy production function (expander) into parallel paths. The governor valve maintains reliable pressure control while the expander generates energy from the separated flow, eliminating the compromise between these two objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the governor valve and expander operations. It monitors system conditions and adjusts the expanders' operation based on the governor valve's pressure control performance, ensuring both functions work harmoniously without interfering with each other's reliability.
3Loss of energy
If expanders are used in parallel with control valve, then energy production is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system design allows the fluid stream to serve multiple functions by splitting it into parallel paths: pressure control through the governor valve and energy production through the expanders. This multi-functional approach enables both objectives to be achieved simultaneously without requiring entirely separate systems, thereby managing complexity more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements feedback mechanisms that monitor the system state and automatically adjust expander operations based on pressure control requirements. This feedback loop simplifies the overall system management by enabling automatic coordination between the governor valve and expanders, reducing the operational complexity despite the added hardware.
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 ensures reliable pressure control at the outlet while allowing energy production from fluid expansion, reducing the stringent requirements on expanders and utilizing existing control valves for pressure regulation, with advanced control strategies to maximize energy production and optimize maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
Such an expander exploits the energy difference of the fluid between the high pressure and the low pressure to decrease the enthalpy of the fluid and convert it into another form of energy, such as rotational energy of a shaft
Implementation Method 2
a control valve between the aforementioned inlet and outlet for expanding the fluid to a predefined pressure level
Data Source
AI summary
Device for expanding a fluid, which device (1) comprises an inlet (2) for a high pressure fluid, an outlet (3) for a low pressure fluid, and a control valve (4) between the aforementioned inlet (2) and outlet (3) for expanding the fluid to a predefined pressure level, characterized in that the device (1) is further provided with one or more expanders (5) for expanding the fluid, of which one or more expanders (5) are connected in parallel with the control valve (4), whereby the device (1) is provided with a controller (8) configured to control the expanders (5) based on a flow rate (Qklep) of the fluid through the control valve (4).