Load sharing optimization for parallel and serial compressor stations
- Resource Type
- Conference
- Authors
- Kumar, Sant; Cortinovis, Andrea
- Source
- 2017 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) Control Technology and Applications (CCTA), 2017 IEEE Conference on. :499-504 Aug, 2017
- Subject
- Robotics and Control Systems
Topology
Load modeling
Computational modeling
Surges
Cost function
Adaptation models
- Language
Natural gas pipelines are powered by compressor stations which usually consist of multiple interconnected compressors units ensuring the required operational flexibility. The aim of load sharing optimization is to operate these compressor units in an energy efficient way while at the same time satisfying varying demands. This paper uses a two-step approach to first identify individual compressor performances and secondly to optimize the load distribution among the active set of machines given the up-to-date performance models. The impact of different cost functions on the saving potentials is investigated and the standard parallel arrangement is extended to the case of a serial compressor station. Results are obtained by a simulation case study covering a gas-turbine driven parallel and a serial compressor station with varying gas demands. The optimization results indicate that significant fuel saving potentials are expected for both cases with an improvement of up to almost 5%.