A crash course in changing the world.
When I investigated in the actual LEARN mission, I encountered an interesting way to generate electricity in plants which already exist almost everywhere in Germany. I took notice of a new kind of power plant at the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. Every year a jury loans sustainable entrepreneurs the “Watt d’Or”-Award. In 2010 the Swiss energy provider Gasverbund Mittelland AG received this award in the category “Energy Technologies”, because they fuel an energy generator by taking advantage of the throttling process of natural gas.
To transport natural gas in an economical way, it is highly compressed (about 100 bar) in the pipelines which go to the natural gas suppliers. Before injecting the gas into the network for households and industry, the pressure is lowered. In this process a lot of energy in terms of heat is released. With a natural gas pressure reduction generator this heat can be converted in electricity. While expanding from 100 to 7 bar, the gas moves a turbine. Simultaneously, this turbine moves a generator. Due to the heat release the gas would quench too much. Therefore it has to be preheated to 80°C in a heat exchanger of a thermal power station. This is managed by a cogeneration unit, which are fueled by natural gas. The generated electricity is fed in the city grid.
By the use of this innovative type of power plants, it is possible to generate several millions of kilowatts per year apropos of nothing, because heat, which accrues anyway, is turned to account. Otherwise this energy deflagrates. The level of efficiency is 60% (thermal) and 80% (electric). This is much better than conventional power plants are. Further, much carbon dioxin emission is saved. According to size, on average such a plant is able to supply circa 8,000 households and saves about 7,000 tons of carbon dioxin.
Of course, natural gas is no renewable energy. But by the use of the expansion plants we can contribute our share to energy saving.
© 2024 Created by Alchemy. Powered by
You need to be a member of Urgent Evoke to add comments!
Join Urgent Evoke