Hydraulic isothermal pressure reduction turbine: An efficient and low-cost electricity generation source

Abstract

There is currently a large amount of energy being wasted on pressure reduction valves across the world. This paper argues that this energy could be harnessed with isothermal depressurization by applying a hydraulic isothermal pressure reduction turbine. The hydraulic isothermal pressure reduction turbine consists of two tanks filled with water or an organic liquid. The pressurized gas enters the tank, displacing the liquid, which flows through a turbine, generating electricity. The proposed system has efficiencies surrounding 90%, which is higher than usual pressure reduction turbines. The estimated cost for the proposed technology is 1300 USD/kW. The proposed technology could be feasible to harness the potential for electricity generation wasted in pressure reduction valves. The need for this technology will increase significantly in a future hydrogen-based economy, given the low volumetric density of hydrogen and the significant energy losses when compressing and decompressing hydrogen.