Energy harvesting to reduce the carbon footprint of the gas distribution network

能量收集以减少天然气分配网络的碳足迹

• 批准号: 81932
• 金额: $ 7.64万
• 依托单位: VERT ROTORS UK LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Small Business Research Initiative
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=81932
• 关键词: Energy; harvesting; reduce; carbon; footprint

Vert proposes to develop a novel technology for the harvesting of energy from the natural gas distribution system. Vert will develop the novel Conical Rotary Expander (CRE) and work with G-Plus Technology Ltd as commercial partner in the integration of the CRE into fully-functional systems. Natural gas is distributed primarily through fixed pipeline networks. To drive the flow of gas through the system, its pressure is raised by large-scale compression stations located at major feed-in points and intermediate locations within the network. Together, these compressors consume many hundreds of megawatts of power to operate and raise the pressure within the distribution network to 30-50bar. The gas pressure required by the majority of end use applications is only 21mbar, the pressure is reduced in stages by throttling, so the majority of the energy added to the gas by compression is ultimately wasted. An opportunity exists to recover a significant portion of the energy invested in gas transmission by harvesting the energy released by the decompression of the gas from transmission pressures to end-use pressures. In concept, a device known as an expander would harvest the energy from the gas and drive an electrical generator. Through preliminary studies, Vert has identified that the unique pressure and flow capabilities of our patented Conical Rotary Compressor (CRC) are well suited to the expander application and will fill a critical gap between established technologies. While Vert has gained substantial experience in a range of gas compression and liquid pumping applications, the expander has not yet been addressed. The R&D-focused project enabled by this competition will enable Vert to evaluate the technical and commercial opportunities for adapting CRC technology to expander applications, enabling the company to explore opportunities in energy harvesting initially from natural gas distribution and later in a range of other applications. Under Phase 1 of this project, Vert will focus on developing and evaluating a novel expander technology. G-Plus will contribute technical and commercial specifications and provide commercial focus. In Phase 2, it is anticipated that Vert will carry out further refinement of the expander and associated technologies while G-Plus will focus on balance of plant, system-level validation and production/commercialisation.

Vert建议开发一种新技术，用于从天然气分配系统中收集能量。Vert将开发新型锥形旋转膨胀机（CRE），并与G-Plus Technology Ltd合作，将CRE集成到全功能系统中。天然气主要通过固定的管道网络输送。为了驱动气体通过系统，其压力由位于网络内主要进料点和中间位置的大型压缩站升高。这些压缩机一起消耗数百兆瓦的电力来运行，并将配电网络内的压力提高到30- 50巴。大多数终端应用所需的气体压力仅为21 mbar，压力通过节流分阶段降低，因此通过压缩添加到气体中的大部分能量最终被浪费。存在通过收集由气体从输送压力减压到最终使用压力所释放的能量来回收在气体输送中投入的能量的显著部分的机会。在概念上，一种被称为膨胀器的设备将从气体中收集能量并驱动发电机。通过初步研究，Vert已经确定，我们获得专利的锥形旋转压缩机（CRC）的独特压力和流量能力非常适合膨胀机应用，并将填补现有技术之间的关键差距。虽然Vert在一系列气体压缩和液体泵送应用方面获得了丰富的经验，但膨胀机尚未得到解决。本次竞赛所支持的以研发为重点的项目将使Vert能够评估将CRC技术应用于膨胀机应用的技术和商业机会，使公司能够探索最初从天然气分销以及随后在一系列其他应用中进行能量收集的机会。在该项目的第一阶段，Vert将专注于开发和评估一种新型膨胀机技术。G-Plus将提供技术和商业规格，并提供商业重点。在第二阶段，预计Vert将进一步完善膨胀机和相关技术，而G-Plus将专注于工厂平衡、系统级验证和生产/商业化。