ENERGY EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITY AT UNDERGROUND GAS STORAGE FACILITY (UGS)

OKOLI
Ivan Zelenika1, Ivan Orešković1, Helena Matković1, Alen Paljušić1
1 Podzemno skladište plina d.o.o., Veslačka 2-4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. E-mails :
Ivan.Zelenika@psp.hr, Ivan.Oreskovic@psp.hr, Helena.Matkovic@psp.hr,
Alen.Paljusic@psp.hr,

ABSTRACT

During the operation of the Underground gas storage facility, kinetic energy of the withdrawal gas is reduced at the reduction station valves and gas pressure is finally
reduced to the value of the gas transport system pressure. During this process gas kinetic energy is irreversibly lost at the throttle valves. Energy loss can be recovered by
installing a turbo-expander with an electric generator in order to generate electricity via gas expansion process. Using industry process software, electricity production via
expansion turbine – generator system was estimated in dependence of gas production process parameters. Furthermore, possible solutions for process decarbonization
improvements were considered by installing a photovoltaic system at PSP Okoli site. Proposed solutions should be able on annual basis to produce an amount of electricity
comparable with total (every year) UGS Okoli consumption.

Keywords : underground gas storage, Exergy Expansion turbine, renewable energy sources, solar power plant.

UGS:

- Aquifers and depleted reservoirs

- Rock caverns
- Salt caverns

UGS FACILITY PRESSURE

REDUCTION STATION - Possible
„Expander” location and oportunity
Fig 1: Gas storages types for electricity production
Fig 2: Gas storages process

Electric
boiler
instead of
gas-fired
Heater

El.-grid

Fig 4: Turboexpander power output

Fig 3: Turboexpander installation location

CONCLUSION

The total amount of calculated

electricity generated from PV power
plant and turbo-expander during one Fig 5. Energy and mass balance of Turboexpander gas stream
gas withdrawal cycle from the
storage is approximately 10,460
MW. Intensity of electricity
production from the TE and the PV
plant is unevenly distributed, since
the TE generates electricity during
the gas production cycle, while the
solar power plant generates most of
the electricity during the summer
months while the storage is in the
gas injection cycle. Total estimated
electricity production per year
corresponds to the average annual
Fig 5. Possible location of PV Power plant at UGS Okoli site electricity consumption of the UGS
LITERATURE :
facility. Since produced electricity
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(LNG) for the production of electricity, Energy 7 (2009) 34, 827– 837. Okoli site
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