Utilization Of Natural Gas Research Articles

Influence of boundary effect on supersonic flows and non-equilibrium condensation in a Laval nozzle for natural gas dehydration

The natural gas extraction process is often accompanied by large amounts of water vapor, so natural gas dehydration is the first step in achieving natural gas utilization. Current work focuses on a clean technology that captures water vapor in natural gas through expansion refrigeration. Using water vapor as a medium, a mathematical model for predicting spontaneous condensation caused by non-equilibrium state is established and validated. The influence of boundary effect including surface roughness and wall temperature on supersonic flows and non-equilibrium condensation are studied. The surface roughness affects the energy and momentum exchange between the fluid in the main stream area and near the wall, and thus affects the Wilson point, boundary layer, and non-equilibrium condensation. When the roughness rises by 0.1 mm, the boundary layer thickness increases by 56.7%, and the radial nucleation range decreases by 11.4% from y=±5.27 mm to y=±4.67 mm. The influence of wall temperature on the central area in the nozzle is not significant, but it affects the presence of liquid phase. The radial scope of liquid-phase drops by 3.58% when the wall temperature increases by 100 K.

Tailored microporous graphitic carbon adsorbents from the urea-assisted method for efficient selective gas adsorption and separation of CH4/N2 and CH4/H2

Currently, the adsorption and separation of methane (CH4) from CH4/N2 and CH4/H2 have attracted global attention as an essential technique for the utilization of unconventional natural gas and to meet energy demand. This technique completely relies on the adsorbent; the development of the adsorbent can achieve selective CH4 adsorption and separation. In this context, microporous graphitic carbon adsorbents were tailored using hydrothermal and calcination methods. The textural features of adsorbents were precisely tailored using a hydrothermal approach by optimizing the glucose-urea ratio, and they were then activated with the non-corrosive reagent K2CO3, which gives a specific pore structure that aids in performance. Adsorbents’ textural characteristics, such as surface area and porosity, were significantly influenced by the glucose-urea ratio, which plays an essential role in gas adsorption and separation. A series of tailored microporous graphitic carbon adsorbents named 0.5-HTAC, 1-HTAC, 1.5-HTAC, 2-HTAC, 1.5-HTAC-a, 1.5-HTAC-b, and 1.5-HTAC-c. Among them, 1.5-HTAC adsorbent displayed superior CH4 gas adsorption (36.86 cm3/g) and excellent selectivity of CH4/N2 (6.29) at room temperature, owing to its microporosity, good surface area, and morphological effect. Meanwhile, H2 gas adsorption was not detected at room temperature, indicating that the 1.5-HTAC adsorbent is extremely selective for CH4 gas. However, an additional study of H2 uptake performed at 77 K revealed excellent H2 adsorption of about 314.3 cm3/g. Furthermore, the 1.5-HTAC adsorbent exhibited a low heat of CH4 adsorption as well as impressive reversibility, indicating that it can be reused more effectively.

Analysis of the Rebound Effect and Induced Effect of Non-residential Natural Gas Consumption: Empirical Evidence from China

Following the Paris Agreement, economic development demands energy services while reducing emissions. This study focuses on non-residential natural gas consumption, which plays a crucial role in transforming the energy sector; however, market-based mechanisms are still in the early stages and have not yet been explored. Based on the analysis of data collected from 2000 to 2020 in China, this study constructs a simultaneous equation model to analyze the rebound and induced effects of non-residential natural gas consumption. This paper finds that industrial economic growth has a significant promoting effect on non-residential gas consumption. In addition, implementing and promoting natural gas utilization policies and increases in natural gas prices can significantly reduce gas consumption intensity. This article innovatively calculates the rebound and induced effects of non-residential gas consumption, providing a decision-making reference for accelerating the realization of the dual-carbon goal.

Comprehensive utilization of natural gas for simultaneous production of electricity, urea, and liquefied natural gas with inherent carbon capture

Comprehensive utilization of natural gas for simultaneous production of electricity, urea, and liquefied natural gas with inherent carbon capture

Aromatic pore engineering in microporous metal–organic frameworks for high-production one-step methane purification from ternary alkanes mixtures

The exploitation of competent isolation and purification technology of methane (CH4) is an imperative and challenging task for full utilization of clean natural gas in petrochemical industry. Compared to traditional energy-intensive low-temperature distillation, adsorptive separation using porous metal–organic framework (MOF) materials provides an alternative technique with low energy consumption and high efficiency. In this situation, an aromatic pore engineering strategy in a series of pillar-layered Zn-based MOFs by introducing organic linkers with different degrees of aromatic units was investigated to tune pore size and pore environment for simultaneously removing propane (C3H8) and ethane (C2H6) from C3H8/C2H6/CH4 mixtures. Compared to the other two analogues, i.e. Zn(BDC)(TED)0.5 and Zn(ADC)(TED)0.5, obtained Zn(NDC)(TED)0.5 showed high adsorption capacity for C3H8 (5.18 mmol/g) and C2H6 (5.04 mmol/g) and selectivity for C3H8/CH4 and C2H6/CH4 at 298 K and 1.0 bar. Breakthrough tests proved the three MOFs can effectively separate ternary C3H8/C2H6/CH4 mixtures, and Zn(NDC)(TED)0.5 especially exhibited excellent high-purity CH4 yield of 10.07 mmol/g. Computational simulations showed that suitable pore space and surface aromatic environment in Zn(NDC)(TED)0.5 created beneficial interactions with C3H8 and C2H6 molecules, which ultimately contributed to its favourable adsorption and separation property. This system work provides insights for the development of pore control method in MOF materials for natural gas purification.

Highly microporous activated carbons synthesized from sacrificial templating of melamine for CH4 and H2 storages and CH4/H2 adsorptive separation

Achieving carbon neutrality necessitates advancements in adsorbent-based gas storage technologies, particularly for maximizing the utilization of natural gas (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) as sustainable energy sources. Activated carbons, characterized by their high surface area, stability, and cost-effectiveness, emerge as promising candidates for CH4 and H2 storage applications. Here, we report highly microporous activated carbons prepared using sacrificial templating of melamine followed by Cs+ ion activation. The resulting activated carbon demonstrates exceptional microporous characteristics, boasting a significantly high micropore surface area (2311 m2/g) and micropore volume (1.070 cm3 g−1). These structural attributes translate into impressive CH4 (11.92 mmol/g at 298 K and 70 bar) and H2 (2.74 mmol/g at 298 K and 70 bar) storage capacities, underscoring its potential as a viable ambient temperature gas storage material. Furthermore, our evaluation extends to the performance of the activated carbon for adsorptive CH4/H2 separation. The activated carbon exhibits a notable CH4 working capacity (3.13 mmol/g at 298 K, 1–10 bar pressure swing) coupled with a moderate Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) selectivity (25). These findings highlight the suitability of the activated carbon for both CH4 and H2 storage applications, as well as the separation of H2 from CH4.

Progress, Challenges, and Strategies for China’s Natural Gas Industry Under Carbon-Neutrality Goals

In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of energy-saving, emission-reducing, and environmentally protective policies. These policies have gradually decreased the proportion of high carbon-emitting energy consumption, such as coal, in China’s energy structure. The proportion of natural gas consumption as a clean energy source has been increasing year by year. In the future, with the deepening decarbonization of the energy structure, the applied scope of natural gas utilization will expand, increasing demand. Therefore, this study first evaluated the development of China’s natural gas industry from the perspectives of development evolution, technological applications, and industry achievements. Secondly, based on the current situation of conventional and unconventional natural gas development, both resources and technological potential were analyzed. By taking several typical projects in the natural gas industry as examples, medium- and long-term prospects for natural gas development were planned and predicted. Building on this analysis, we employed the SWOT method to examine the development prospects of China’s natural gas industry and propose development goals. Finally, based on top-level design considerations and previous research analysis, suggestions and measures were proposed for technology implementation, regional layout, industrial chain collaboration, and support policies. These recommendations aim to provide planning support and management references for the development of China’s natural gas industry.

DFT study of gas responses to CH4, H2S, and CO on TM Atom (Sc, V, Cr, Mn)-modified HfSe2 monolayers

In this study, the adsorption of waste gases (CH4, H2S, CO) generated during the extraction, processing, and utilization of natural gas on TM atom (Sc, V, Cr, Mn)-modified HfSe2​ surfaces were analyzed using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Initially, the doping effects of the four TM atoms were examined, followed by a detailed investigation of the adsorption of these three gases in terms of adsorption energy, band structure, density of states (DOS), charge transfer, and recovery time. Among the TM atoms, Sc doping was found to be the most favorable due to its highest adsorption energy. However, in subsequent gas adsorption processes, it was observed that V and Mn-modified HfSe2 surfaces exhibited better adsorption performance for H2S and CO. Furthermore, it was discovered that at high temperatures, V-HfSe2 can function as a gas sensor for CO, while at room temperature, V-HfSe2 and Mn-HfSe2 can serve as high-precision real-time monitoring sensors for H2S and CO, respectively.

Optimizing Air Separation and LNG Cold Utilization: Energy Savings, Exergy Efficiency, and System Reliability

AbstractAir separation processes are time‐consuming and energy‐intensive. Most of the energy used in air separation unit (ASU) is used for air compression. During the air compression process, some energy is lost, which is converted into waste heat. This wasted energy is used to warm liquefied natural gas (LNG). At some point, LNG ships will dock at an LNG regasification facility. Here, LNG is converted back to gas and supplied to the distribution and transmission systems. During the regasification process, cryogenic LNG has a huge opportunity for cold energy recovery. An innovative air separation process that is integrated with the cold utilization of LNG is presented in this study along with a thorough conceptual design and analysis. The results of this study show that producing high‐purity oxygen and nitrogen, respectively, requires 0.28 kWh kg−1 and 0.06 kWh kg−1 of specific energies. Prior to integration with cold utilization of natural gas, 25 141.6 kW is needed for air compression. However, following integration, 10 554.6 kW of energy is needed, resulting in a 58.01 % energy savings. Exergy destruction as well as efficiency have been calculated for the primary components of the system. Sensitivity analysis is carried out to examine the effects of LNG streams on important parameters. In conclusion, a cryogenic ASU is integrated with an LNG‐direct expansion cycle‐organic Rankine cycle power cycle to supply the necessary power for operation and reduce extraneous power inputs. Overall, this integrated approach increases efficiency, lowers costs, benefits the environment, allows for flexibility and adaptability, and raises system dependability.

Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of hydrogen liquefaction system with binary refrigerant precooling cycle

A hydrogen liquefaction process is proposed with the liquid natural gas utilization, binary refrigerant precooling and helium cryogenic cycles combined, and a general model is built for analyzing the variation of hot and cold composite curves and heat transfer temperature difference (HTTD) along with refrigerant parameters. The relationship between temperature and enthalpy of the precooling cycle and the variation of HTTD are deduced. Based on this, the composite curves and HTTD curves are constructed, and the influence of refrigerant on the HTTD and the refrigerant outlet temperature is analyzed. The optimization procedure of refrigerant is proposed based on the temperature-enthalpy relationship and HTTD considering the temperature glide. For the proposed hydrogen liquefaction system, the optimal binary refrigerant includes 60.21 % nitrogen and 39.79 % propane (mass fraction), and its mass flow rate and inlet temperature are 23,821.96 kg/h and −199.72 °C, respectively. The corresponding specific energy consumption (SEC) of the hydrogen liquefaction system is 4.44 kWh/kgLH2, reduced by 10.30 %, and the coefficient of performance (COP) and exergy efficiency are 27.10 % and 28.26 %, increased by 11.34 % and 17.80 %, respectively.

Theoretical and experimental study on total heat recovery of condensing gas boiler flue gas by gas engine-driven compression heat pump

How to improve the utilization efficiency of natural gas and achieve the goal of carbon reduction has gradually become the focus of people’s attention. The exhaust temperature of the condensing gas boiler is between 50℃ and 80℃, which still contains some heat that is not used, so it is necessary to recover this part of the heat. This paper mainly studies the total heat recovery and utilization of waste heat from low-temperature flue gas of condensing gas boiler. In the research field of gas boiler flue gas waste heat recovery, the use of gas compression heat pump to recover gas boiler flue gas waste heat is still very few. Based on the principle of reducing the cold source temperature, a low-temperature flue gas recovery scheme of a gas engine-driven compression heat pump coupled condensing gas boiler is proposed. The low-temperature chilled water produced by gas engine-driven compression heat pump is used to recover flue gas waste heat from condensing gas boiler and gas engine, which can improve the utilization efficiency of natural gas and eliminate the “white smoke phenomenon” simultaneously. In addition, the waste heat of flue gas is used as the low-temperature heat source of gas engine-driven compression heat pump to ensure the stable operation of the heat pump in the low-temperature environment. The flue gas waste heat recovery technology has been improved compared with other flue gas waste heat recovery technologies in terms of primary energy utilization efficiency, system stability, corrosion resistance of flue gas heat exchangers, and investment recovery cycle. The experimental results show that when the water inlet temperature of the flue gas heat exchanger is 15℃, the overall power of the unit can reach 645 kW, and the final exhaust temperature is below 25℃. The overall primary energy utilization rate of the GEHP&CB can reach 110 %, which is 10 %∼20 % higher than that of the condensing gas boiler. The payback period of the increased initial investment is 1.4 heating seasons. Due to the improvement of natural gas utilization efficiency significantly reduces natural gas consumption and pollutant discharge.

Hidrocarburos y cambio climático: análisis del enfoque propuesto por la Resolución 40066 de 2022

Introduction: This paper presents a legal analysis of Resolution 40066 of 2022 of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, since its implementation in Colombian regulations; the benefits and challenges for companies in the hydrocarbons sector; and its legal connection with hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation contracts. Objective: Study the legal framework, balances, challenges, and prospects of Resolution 40066 of 2022, as part of the global strategy to combat climate change in terms of control in the detection, repair of leaks, utilization, flaring, and venting of natural gas. Methodology: The methodology of the paper is the documentary analysis of national doctrine and current regulations. With these sources, the information collected in legal and specialized databases was classified and, as a result, the authors analyzed the Colombian constitutional, legislative, and regulatory context. Conclusions: The paper presents some considerations of the assembly process of the resolution with the hydrocarbon exploration and/or exploitation contracts.

Experimental study on hydrogen-enriched natural gas jet fire hazards: Assessment of the flame geometrical parameters

In the future, hydrogen will be more frequently injected into natural gas networks for storage and transportation purposes. A diffusion jet flame forms when gaseous fuel leakage occurs during the transportation or utilization of hydrogen-enriched natural gas, and the fuel is ignited by an ignition source in still air. In the study, methane was chosen to simulate natural gas. Experiments with the hydrogen addition fraction reaching up to 20% were performed to study the effects of the initial flame angle (θ = 90°, 60°, 30°, 0°, and −30°), variable nozzle diameter (de = 3.15, 4, 4.94, 5.65, and 6 mm) and a multitude of fuel flow rates (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 L/min) on the morphological parameters of the gas jet flames. The geometrical features of the jet flame were determined via video processing for each experiment. The geometrical parameters of hydrogen-enriched natural gas were quantified under different conditions. The experimental results indicate that a dimensionless prediction model was established for the flame height of hydrogen-enriched natural gas by modifying the flame Froude number (Frf) for vertical jet flames. For upward jet flames, the normalized flame horizontal projection length (Lx) of hydrogen-enriched natural gas is well correlated with Q∗. A global prediction model for inclination angles of 0° ≤ θ ≤ 60° and 2000 < Q∗<20,000 was proposed based on the experimental data. For downward jet flames, the normalized horizontal projection length and downward extension length (Ld) of the hydrogen-enriched natural gas jet flame are correlated with Q∗, with powers of 2/5 and 3/5, respectively. Dimensionless prediction models for the horizontal projection length and downward extension length are given by modifying the flame Froude number. Quantitative results were proposed in order to gain insight into the development of the key parameters and the effects on the environment, from which extinguishing concepts and safety areas can be directly derived.

Post-Pandemic Natural Gas Utilization in Trinidad and Tobago: A Sectoral Analysis (2020–2023)

This paper examines the impact of post-pandemic shifts on natural gas utilization in Trinidad and Tobago, one of the largest producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Latin America and a significant exporter of ammonia and methanol. Employing a qualitative analysis supplemented by Granger Causality tests, the study analyzes the changes in natural gas demand across key sectors from 2020 to 2023. The findings reveal substantial volatility in natural gas prices post-COVID-19, influenced by global events that have heightened the sensitivity of Trinidad and Tobago’s economy to international market dynamics. With the nation at the crossroads of diversifying energy sources and addressing climate change imperatives, the study suggests strategic investments in renewable energies, energy efficiency, and technological upgrades. The research highlights the economic benefits of using natural gas for petrochemical production over electricity generation and points to the resilience offered by the diversity in the petrochemical export market, contrasted with the concentrated LNG export market. The study concludes with a call for integrated policy planning and an accelerated energy transition, advocating for a sustainable and resilient energy sector aligned with global climate goals.

Water-participated mild oxidation of ethane to acetaldehyde

The direct conversion of low alkane such as ethane into high-value-added chemicals has remained a great challenge since the development of natural gas utilization. Herein, we achieve an efficient one-step conversion of ethane to C2 oxygenates on a Rh1/AC-SNI catalyst under a mild condition, which delivers a turnover frequency as high as 158.5 h−1. 18O isotope-GC–MS shows that the formation of ethanol and acetaldehyde follows two distinct pathways, where oxygen and water directly participate in the formation of ethanol and acetaldehyde, respectively. In situ formed intermediate species of oxygen radicals, hydroxyl radicals, vinyl groups, and ethyl groups are captured by laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometer. Density functional theory calculation shows that the activation barrier of the rate-determining step for acetaldehyde formation is much lower than that of ethanol, leading to the higher selectivity of acetaldehyde in all the products.

A Review of Residual Pressure Utilization of Natural Gas

Natural gas needs to be depressurized before wellhead to gas gathering station or long-distance pipeline to users. At present, choking technique is widely used at wellhead and pressure regulating station, which will cause a lot of energy loss. Considerable economic and social benefits will be generated, if these residual pressures can be recycled. In this article, the pressure energy contained in the natural gas wellhead and pressure regulating valve station will be calculated based on exergy analysis. The technology and present situation of residual pressure utilization of natural gas are summarized. The existing problems and future research directions in the process of residual pressure utilization are pointed out through cases. At present, there are many studies on the use of residual pressure in the pressure regulating station, but there are relatively few studies in the natural gas wellhead. Residual pressure utilization technology improves energy utilization efficiency and makes an important contribution to energy conservation and emission reduction.

Analysis of an efficient liquified natural gas utilization cascade Brayton cycle and an improved cold energy recovery evaluation criterion

The cold energy utilization of liquified natural gas is a promising solution for electricity generation systems to raise power output. In order to enhance cold energy recovery performance, here we propose a cascade Brayton cycle, which can efficiently utilize the waste heat from gas turbine and the cold energy of liquefied natural gas. The temperature pinch in natural gas evaporator is successfully reduced by adopting helium as the working fluid. The optimal working condition is determined through parametric sensitivity analysis, and the exergy and economic performance is assessed and compared. The design case outperforming high energy efficiency (68.61 %), competitive exergy efficiency (58.51 %) and excellent levelized cost of electricity (0.0481$·(kW·h)−1). Moreover, the exergy destruction in natural gas evaporator reduced by 4.05 MW, resulting in 23.2 % improvement compared to conventional systems. Simultaneously, a modified criterion of “real specific work contributed per kg/s liquified natural gas” is proposed, which provides a more accurate cold energy recovery evaluation method for cold energy utilization power systems. The comparison of reported cold energy utilization systems are conducted based on the modified criterion, and our model delivers the best result among them.

Study on separation of CO2 condensation from natural gas based on cellular automaton method

ABSTRACT The CO2-containing natural gas is increasing, and there is an urgent need for green treatment of natural gas containing CO2 to realize the utilization of natural gas. Conventional natural gas decarbonization methods have drawbacks such as non-environmental friendliness, and the low-temperature condensation separation of carbon dioxide (snowing-separation) method as a green method of carbon capture is proposed in this paper. Aiming at the characteristics of CO2 condensation in the snowing-separation process, the growth process of CO2 crystals is obtained by simulation using the CA (Cellular Automata) method and finds that the effect of supersaturation on the growth of CO2 crystals is exponential. The snowing-separation process at .5 MPa is analyzed, and it is found that the condensation range is 158.51 K–173.86 K, the upper limit of CO2 mole fraction in natural gas is 10.1%, and the minimum separation time is 8.65 × 10−8s. Analyzing the influencing factors of CO2 separation efficiency, combining the simulation results with the experimental results, the maximum relative error is 13.93%, which can better predict the snowing-separation technology of CO2 in natural gas, and then promote the development of efficient low-temperature carbon capture process.

Predicting Ghana’s Daily Natural Gas Consumption Using Time Series Models

In recent years, natural gas utilisation has seen a considerable increase because, it presents an alternative energy source that is reliable, economical and environmentally friendly for consumers. In Ghana, natural gas consumption has over the years increased due to mainly the rise in industrial and residential demands. Accurate prediction of natural gas consumption will provide stakeholders with vital information needed for planning and making informed policy decisions. This paper explores the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) to predict Ghana&amp;apos;s daily natural gas consumption. The data employed for the study is daily natural gas consumption in Ghana from 2020 to 2022. The results show that both ARIMA and SARIMA models can predict the consumption of natural gas in Ghana with a good degree of accuracy. The SARIMA model slightly outperforms the ARIMA model, with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 22.25 and a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 6.96%, compared to an RMSE of 23.27 and a MAPE of 7.29% for the ARIMA model. The model forecast suggests a steady natural gas consumption in Ghana but with some intermittent fluctuations.

Forecasting of energy-related carbon dioxide emission using ANN combined with hybrid metaheuristic optimization algorithms

Energy-related CO2 emissions are one of the biggest concerns facing urban design today, increasing rapidly as cities grow. This study uses as inputs the GDP of the G8 nations (from 1990 to 2016) depending on the utilization of various energy sources, including coal, oil, natural gas, and renewable energy. Multilayer perceptrons (MLP) are combined with various nature-inspired optimization algorithms, such as Heap-Based Optimizer (HBO), Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Vortex Search algorithm (VS), and Earthworm Optimization Algorithm (EWA), to create a dependable predictive network that takes the complexity of the problem into account. Our key contributions lie in developing and comprehensively evaluating these hybrid models assessing their efficacy in capturing the intricate dynamics of carbon emissions. The study found that TLBO and VS outperform other algorithms in CO2 emission computation accuracy. TLBO has a higher training MSE (3.6778) and lower testing MSE (4.4673), suggesting larger squared errors on training data and lower testing MSE, suggesting less overfitting due to better generalization to the testing set.