OPTIMIZATION OF COMPRESSOR STATION LOADING AT VARIABLE COSTS OF TRANSPORTED GAS

Abstract

During the operation of the gas pipeline system of the Russian Federation, a significant share of natural gas is consumed for the own needs of compressor stations of main gas pipelines.According to Gazprom's reporting, the share of natural gas for technological and fuel needs reaches 7 % of the production volume. The inefficient use of natural gas can be reduced by energy saving measures implementation.Energy saving issues are important not only for Gazprom PJSC, but also for the country's economy as a whole. The highest priority of the «Energy Strategy of Russia for the Period up to 2035» and «The Concept of Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency Improvement of Gazprom PJSC» is the maximal realization of all available energy saving potential.Saving of energy resources can be achieved by organization of their efficient con-sumption, the use of innovative energy-saving technologies and equipment, reduction of losses and gas consumption for the own needs of compressor stations.The article presents the results of the analysis of the parameters of natural gas pumping through the Chelyabinsk – Petrovsk main gas pipeline on the 112–292 km section operated by Gazprom Transgaz Ufa LLC.It has been established that the monthly unevenness of the gas supply through the gas pipeline under consideration varies from 0.062 to 0.195. As a result, in many modes, the compressor station, regardless of any possible schemes for switching on gas pumping units, does not allow the planned gas pumping mode to be ensured without bypassing part of the gas through the recirculation circuit of the station.One of the solutions to this problem is the installation of a recirculating valve, which allows to provide the required volume of gas flow through the recirculation line, while providing an economical mode of operation of the compressor station.