Turboekspander jako perspektywiczna technologia dla systemu gazowego

The paper presents the possibility of electricity generation at the pressure reduction stations (PRS) in the natural gas transmission and distribution system. This possibility may be realized using turboexpanders (expansion turbines) which generate electricity while reducing the gas pressure. A thermodynamic model of the turboexpander system was presented and the relevant thermoeconomic indicators were defined. Case studies for two different PRS were performed to analyze the thermodynamic quality and the economic feasibility of the turboexpander application for varying design parameters, i.e. the gas preheating temperature and the turboexpander isentropic efficiency.