Paper 4: The Storage of Gas by Compression

Abstract

This paper describes the installation of gas compressors connected to a Gas Board's grid main system. They are designed to increase the storage capacity of the system by raising the maximum working pressure. This is a technique known as ‘line packing’. Remotely controlled and unmanned, the automatic operation of the compressor stations is described in detail. Attention is drawn to the use of a simulator in the training of personnel. Operational experience to date is limited but items of interest are included. The paper concludes by indicating the future use of these machines in the natural gas era.