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

VERT建议开发一种从天然气分配系统中收集能源的新技术。VERT将开发新型锥形旋转膨胀机(CRE)，并作为商业合作伙伴与G-Plus科技有限公司合作，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进行分配。为了推动气体在系统中流动，其压力由位于主要进气点和网络中中间位置的大型压缩站来提高。这些压缩机总共消耗了数百兆瓦的电力来运行，并将配电网络内的压力提高到30-50bar。大多数最终用途所需的气体压力只有21mbar，通过节流分阶段降低压力，因此通过压缩添加到气体中的大部分能量最终都被浪费了。通过将天然气减压释放的能量从传输压力收集到终端使用压力，存在回收投资于天然气传输的能量的很大一部分的机会。从概念上讲，一种被称为膨胀机的装置将从天然气中获取能量，并驱动发电机。通过初步研究，Vert已经确定，我们专利的锥形旋转压缩机(CRC)独特的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空白。虽然Vert在一系列气体压缩和液体泵应用方面获得了丰富的经验，但膨胀机尚未得到解决。通过此次竞争，Vert将能够评估将CRC技术应用于膨胀机应用的技术和商业机会，使该公司能够探索能源收集领域的机会，最初是从天然气输送，后来是在一系列其他应用中。在该项目的第一阶段，VERT将专注于开发和评估一种新型的膨胀机技术。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将对膨胀机和相关技术进行进一步改进，而G-Plus将专注于工厂、系统级验证和生产/商业化之间的平衡。

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.