Hydrogen turboexpander-generator
Encyclopedia
A hydrogen turboexpander-generator or generator loaded expander for hydrogen gas is an axial flow turbine
or radial expander
for energy recovery
through which a high pressure
hydrogen gas is expanded to produce work that is used to drive a electrical generator
. It replaces the control valve or regulator where the pressure drops to the appropriate pressure for the low pressure network.
is handled with up to 15,000 kW
power and a maximum expansion ratio
of 14, the generator loaded expander for hydrogen gas is fitted with automatic thrust balance, a dry gas seal
and a programmable logic control with remote monitoring and diagnostics.
in combination with hydrogen compressor
s and for the recovery of energy in underground hydrogen storage
. A variation are the compressor loaded turboexpander
s which are used in the liquefaction of gases
such as liquid hydrogen
Turbine
A turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work.The simplest turbines have one moving part, a rotor assembly, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades, or the blades react to the flow, so that they move and...
or radial expander
Turboexpander
A turboexpander, also referred to as a turbo-expander or an expansion turbine, is a centrifugal or axial flow turbine through which a high pressure gas is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a compressor....
for energy recovery
Energy recovery
Energy recovery includes any technique or method of minimizing the input of energy to an overall system by the exchange of energy from one sub-system of the overall system with another...
through which a high pressure
Pressure
Pressure is the force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to the local atmospheric or ambient pressure.- Definition :...
hydrogen gas is expanded to produce work that is used to drive a electrical generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
. It replaces the control valve or regulator where the pressure drops to the appropriate pressure for the low pressure network.
Description
Per stage 200 barBar (unit)
The bar is a unit of pressure equal to 100 kilopascals, and roughly equal to the atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level. Other units derived from the bar are the megabar , kilobar , decibar , centibar , and millibar...
is handled with up to 15,000 kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
power and a maximum expansion ratio
Expansion ratio
The expansion ratio of a liquefied and cryogenic substance is the volume of a given amount of that substance in liquid form compared to the volume of the same amount of substance in gaseous form, at a given temperature and pressure....
of 14, the generator loaded expander for hydrogen gas is fitted with automatic thrust balance, a dry gas seal
Dry gas seal
Dry gas seals are non-contacting, dry-running mechanical face seals consist of a mating ring and a primary ring. When operating, grooves in the rotating ring generate a fluid-dynamic force causing the stationary ring to separate and create a gap between the two rings...
and a programmable logic control with remote monitoring and diagnostics.
Application
The hydrogen turboexpander-generators are used for hydrogen pipeline transportHydrogen pipeline transport
Hydrogen pipeline transport is a transportation of hydrogen through a pipe as part of the hydrogen infrastructure.-Economics:Hydrogen pipeline transport is used to transport hydrogen from the point of production or delivery to the point of demand...
in combination with hydrogen compressor
Hydrogen compressor
A hydrogen compressor is a device that increases the pressure of hydrogen by reducing its volume. Compression of hydrogen gas naturally increases its temperature, due to Charles' Law....
s and for the recovery of energy in underground hydrogen storage
Underground hydrogen storage
Underground hydrogen storage is the practice of hydrogen storage in underground caverns, salt domes and depleted oil/gas fields. Large quantities of gaseous hydrogen have been stored in underground caverns by ICI for many years without any difficulties...
. A variation are the compressor loaded turboexpander
Turboexpander
A turboexpander, also referred to as a turbo-expander or an expansion turbine, is a centrifugal or axial flow turbine through which a high pressure gas is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a compressor....
s which are used in the liquefaction of gases
Liquefaction of gases
Liquefaction of gases includes a number of phases used to convert a gas into a liquid state. The processes are used for scientific, industrial and commercial purposes. Many gases can be put into a liquid state at normal atmospheric pressure by simple cooling; a few, such as carbon dioxide, require...
such as liquid hydrogen
Liquid hydrogen
Liquid hydrogen is the liquid state of the element hydrogen. Hydrogen is found naturally in the molecular H2 form.To exist as a liquid, H2 must be pressurized above and cooled below hydrogen's Critical point. However, for hydrogen to be in a full liquid state without boiling off, it needs to be...
See also
- compressed hydrogenCompressed hydrogenCompressed hydrogen is the gaseous state of the element hydrogen kept under pressure. Compressed hydrogen in hydrogen tanks at 350 bar and 700 bar is used for mobile hydrogen storage in hydrogen vehicles...
- letdown station
- hydrogen infrastructureHydrogen infrastructureA hydrogen infrastructure is the infrastructure of pipes and stations for distribution and sale of hydrogen fuel.-Hydrogen pipeline transport:Hydrogen pipeline transport is a transportation of hydrogen through a pipe as part of the hydrogen infrastructure...
- TurboexpanderTurboexpanderA turboexpander, also referred to as a turbo-expander or an expansion turbine, is a centrifugal or axial flow turbine through which a high pressure gas is expanded to produce work that is often used to drive a compressor....