DE3213336A1 - Method of transporting methanol under pressure in pipelines over long distances - Google Patents

Abstract

Published without abstract.

Description

Process for the long-distance transport of methanol under pressure in pipelines.

The Invention "relates to the long-distance transportation of methanol under pressure in steel pipelines, whereby to increase the Calorific value of this liquid energy source are gaseous hydrocarbons dissolved in methanol.

It is known to use gaseous hydrocarbons, e.g. natural gas, in Dissolve methanol and this energy source depressurized in tankers to the consumers.

Furthermore, it is known from scientific publications that that the solution volume of the gaseous hydrocarbons in Methanol is dependent on pressure and temperature. It has been suggested to increase energy density To liquefy methane gas and at temperatures of -160 C through to transport insulated pipelines and in special tankers. Because of the low temperatures, these pipe systems would have to be shut down nickel alloy steels can be built with insulation. Because of the large distances to be bridged, there is one line from nickel steels to a high uneconomical capital expenditure.

If one now proceeds from the fact that large deposits of fossil fuels in the form of oil and oil gases, natural gas with liquid components of heavy hydrocarbons and hard coal and lignite, measured by the distance to the consumers, are in relative proximity to each other, so can these occurrences can only be evaluated by a common transport system if the solid and gaseous energy carriers converted into methanol by known processes and in pipeline systems under pressure over great distances be transported. This statement applies, for example, to the huge deposits of the three energy sources mentioned in Alaska Northern Canada, Western and Eastern Siberia, and China. According to new research the conditions in Antarctica seem to be similar.

The choice of methanol as an energy source is therefore an obvious choice because the production of methanol by synthesis gas from coals and the conversion of methane gas into methanol is possible in large-scale systems according to proven procedures,

The conversion to methanol from coal or natural gas is pure From an energetic point of view, with a very considerable loss of energy tied together·

This disadvantage is acceptable because the higher energy density of the liquid energy carrier methanol is under pressure can be promoted in a pipeline system, the structure of which significantly lower steel and machine expenditure and capital investment required than the classic gas transport of natural gas and synthetic gas from coal.

The inclusion of coal in the global energy supply, which will become absolutely necessary in the future, and the impossibility of transporting coal by ship or rail - especially in the case of large deposits - forces the transport of methanol in pipeline systems under pressure.

The evaluation of the coal deposits will be for a long transition period in addition to the promotion of classic energy sources Oil and gas exist.

The worldwide piping systems built in the last few decades for petroleum can be used for the transport of methanol, e.g. as a methanol-petroleum emulsion. Same thing applies to ship tanker transport.

The modern process of converting methanol into gasoline using zeolites also has the future Significance of the methanol is significantly increased.

In order to evaluate the task of evaluating natural gas and coal deposits in a common transport system, a Proposed steel piping system with the following features:

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In the methanol produced from gas or coal is under Pressure and suitable temperature methane gas and heavy gaseous Hydrocarbons dissolved in methanol to achieve a significant increase in calorific value.

This liquid energy carrier is transported in steel pipelines and part of the dissolved gas is used for energy supply the pumping stations distributed along the length of the pipeline.

Since the proportion of gas in the solution in methanol depends on the pressure and temperature is, but the pressure drops as a result of the pipe friction losses in the pipeline system and undesired gasification is avoided must be, the pressure and temperature of the energy source at the beginning of the line and the distance between the individual Pump stations are coordinated with each other so that the dissolved gas fraction. Sufficient to pass all through gas turbines to supply powered pumping stations of the line with energy.

The practical application according to the invention is given by way of an example explained:

Modern pipeline systems for natural gas are used for large energy flows built. In recent years a pipeline for natural gas for an energy flow of 31 χ 10 kilo-joules per Second put into operation.

If one were to jointly evaluate "the coal fields and gas deposits According to the invention, choose methanol as the energy carrier with a comparable energy content, then one would have to 7130 m methane promote per hour. At a system pressure of the methanol of 40 bar, at least 145,500 Nm per hour of methane gas to solve. The distance between the pumping stations is 100 km and the amount of gas dissolved as a gas in methanol is sufficient for the energy requirements of the pumping stations for a distance of "2500 km.

The above-mentioned amount of gas dissolved in methanol relates to to 15 ° C. For reasons of soil physics, in the large gas and coal fields in Canada and Siberia, the im Permafrost pipes are cooled.

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* Temperatures of the outer pipe walls must be -5 to -8 C _f to provide a stable position to reach the conduction system.

As the waste heat from the gas turbines, the centrifugal pump drives to Is available, the liquid energy carrier can be cooled using known absorption processes. According to the invention This cooling increases the proportion of dissolved gas in the methanol considerably by up to 2OJ4 and thus the possible conveying distance increased to almost 3000 km.

With the method according to the invention, the large fossil energy deposits in the vicinity of the Arctic Circle can be evaluated and for the above-mentioned conveyor routes ° 25OO - 3000 km Reach ice-free ports for tanker transport in any case.

A flow diagram of the pumping station is shown in the attached drawing.

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Supplementary sheet

1 Conversion of natural gas or coal into methanol

2 reducing valve on the guest's combustion chamber.

3 separation tank gas / methanol

4 Regeneration pump, methanol with drive motor

5 air compressors

6 combustion chamber

7 high pressure part

8 low pressure part

9 gears

10 Booster pump

11 Conversion of methanol into flow. fuel

12 z.R. - to the reserve unit

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Claims (1)

Expectations 1) Method of transporting methanol in pipeline under pressure up to 100 bar, characterized in that in the methanol to increase the calorific value gaseous Hydrocarbons are dissolved. 2) Method according to claim 1), characterized in that the methanol is transported at temperatures below -O ⁰ C to increase the saturation limit. 3) Method according to claim 1) and 2), in which centrifugal pump units be used for pipe transport of the liquid energy carrier, characterized in that the gas turbines to drive these centrifugal pumps are operated with gaseous hydrocarbons, the partial flows of the liquid energy carrier can be removed by relaxation. 4) Method according to 1) to 3) characterized in that the temperature of the partial flows is regulated by heating. 5) Method according to 1) to 4), characterized in that the initial pressure and the temperature of the liquid energy carrier when entering the pipeline system is selected so that the distributed over the length of the pipe Pump stations can be supplied with sufficient gaseous energy. '6) Method according to claim 1) to 5), characterized in that the distance between the distributed over the length Pump stations are chosen so that the gas content of the methanol for the energy supply of the one behind the other lying pumping stations to the end of the pipe system is sufficient. COPY 7) Method according to claim 1) to 6), characterized in that that the waste heat from the gas turbines of the pumping stations via known absorption processes Cooling and temperature control of the liquid energy carrier is evaluated.