Pressure management of low pressure gas distribution networks

天然气分配网络的甲烷泄漏是一个严重的经济和环境问题。*甲烷对全球变暖的影响是二氧化碳的84倍(1)*全球天然气损失估计为30万GWh或每年160亿GB。*对全球变暖的影响相当于17亿吨二氧化碳。除了更换管道，这将带来巨大的资本成本，减少泄漏的唯一方法是改善管道的压力管理。由于泄漏与管道中的压力成正比，20%的压力降低将导致20%的泄漏。目前，压力由数千个气体调控器控制(英国为2.6万个)。其中大部分是手动调整的--通常是每年四次，这是一个很高的运营成本，在后勤方面也是一个挑战。唯一的其他远程压力管理技术可追溯到20世纪80年代，安装昂贵、耗时且需要持续的人工干预。UTomy的创新专利解决方案可调整网络中的压力，使其始终保持在尽可能低的水平，同时保持供应的安全性。UTomy自2019年1月以来一直在其现场网络上与SGN进行现场试验。这些试验成功地证明了核心技术。下一个监管期RIIO-2(4月21日至3月26日)包含Ofgem为泄漏和平均网络压力设定的目标。Utomy解决方案的部署将有助于英国GDNS(天然气分配网络)实现这些目标。尽管该技术已在现场试验中得到验证，但在它能够像往常一样在整个天然气网络中推广之前，还需要进一步的开发工作。该项目将完成这项工作，并将是商业化之前的最后一步。研发计划包括适应GB网络中存在的多种不同类型的调速器，为洪水等具有挑战性的环境的地下设施找到解决方案，并继续在网络安全方面做出进一步改进。该项目还将使该技术能够在英国以外的市场进行试验。

Methane leakage from gas distribution networks is a serious financial and environmental issue.* Methane's impact on global warming is 84 times greater than CO2(1)* Gas lost globally is estimated at 300,000 GWh or £16 billion p.a.* The impact on global warming is equivalent to 1,700 million tCO2e.Other than replacing pipes, which has a massive capital cost, the only means of reducing leakage is through improved pressure management in the network. As leakage is proportional to the pressure in the pipes, a 20% pressure reduction results in 20% less leakage.Currently, pressure is controlled by thousands of gas governors (26,000 in the UK). The majority of these are adjusted manually -- typically four times per year, which is a high operational cost and a logistically challenging. The only other remote pressure management technology dates from the 1980s, is expensive, time- consuming to install and requires continuous manual intervention.Utonomy's innovative, patented solution adjusts pressures in the network so that they are always as low as possible, while maintaining security of supply.Utonomy has been running field trials with SGN on their live network since January 2019. These trials have successfully proven the core technology.The next regulatory period RIIO-2 (April 21 to March 26) contains targets set by OFGEM for leakage and average network pressures. Deployment of the Utonomy solution will help the UK GDNs (gas distribution networks) to meet these targets.Although the technology has been proven in field trials, there is still further development work required before it can be rolled out across a whole gas network as "business as usual". This project will complete this work and will be the final step prior to commercialization. The R&D programme includes adapting to the many different governor types that are present in the GB network, finding a solution to underground installations with challenging environments such as flooding, and continuing to make further improvements in cyber security. The project will also enable the technology to be trialed in markets outside the UK.