The Compression of Fuel Gas for Turbines, Engines, and Boilers in Cogeneration Plants

Abstract

The proliferation of gas-fired cogeneration plants in recent years had led to many installations being located on sites remote from high-pressure gas pipelines. Since it is often impractical or not cost effective to provide a dedicated high-pressure gas supply, such installations are often based close to alternative sources of fuel, such as small natural gas wells, landfill sites, or sewage digester plants. This paper will look at typical gas sources and composition, requirements of the fired equipment, the types of fuel gas compressors normally used, methods of compressor capacity control, and the development of synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants for fuel gas compression duty.