Development of Complex Gas Treatment Facility Technology for Field Gas Motor Fuel of Low-Tonnage Production

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Abstract

High international standards of ecology, safety and reliability that a modernized fleet of vehicles must meet in Russia increases the importance of growing use of gas motor fuel. In terms of available reserves, technology development and cost for consumers, gas motor fuel has a number of advantages over traditional fuel. Russia has been implementing a program for developing its gas motor fuel market since 2013 and currently has ambitious forecasts for its consumption and production in the coming years. First part of this paper analyzes current gas motor fuel market situation from the economic, social and environmental point of view. Legislative background for the transition to gas motor fuel is also considered. As for technologies, the analysis of this paper is based on small-scale LNG production so it provides the main technologies for gas liquefaction. It is also proposed to consider one of the liquefaction technologies, its disadvantages and application options for maximizing its cold potential (energy that is might be transferred to the low-temperature gas stream and used for cooling the feed gas at the early stages, hereinafter referred to as free cold). A promising option is to utilize a liquefaction unit after a complex gas treatment unit. Natural gas is taken from the first stage of separation, and two types of motor fuel are obtained by fractionation and conventional liquefaction. This is all done by means of Aspen HYSYS simulation environment. After gas motor fuel market analysis, it came out that despite favorable conditions for its development, there are a number of difficulties that hinder its progress. The main obstacles to transfer of vehicles to gas motor fuel are related to imperfect legal regulations and poor infrastructure of gas stations. Without state support, the development of the industry is difficult. The results obtained in the case study indicate that it is possible to use the full cold potential of the liquefaction plant after a complex gas treatment unit. This solution allows producing two types of motor fuel by means of simple physical methods, as well as immediately sell products on the market. Estimated economic evaluation of this decision shows that two years will be enough to recover the expenses for additional equipment. The relevance of this thesis consists in the fact that despite the proven benefits of gas motor fuel, a large-scale transition of transport to it has not still been implemented. Although there are availability of resources and technical development necessary to replace traditional fuels, which can now be used more effectively.

Details

Translated title of the contributionEntwicklung einer umfassenden Technologie der Aufbereitung von Gas zur Herstellung von Kraftstoff für Gasmotoren in der Produktion mit geringer Tonnage
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDipl.-Ing.
Awarding Institution
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date1 Jul 2020
Publication statusPublished - 2020