WO2011141220A1

WO2011141220A1 - Arrangement and method for the self-sufficient supply of energy to measuring stations for monitoring pipelines, and use of said arrangement in a pipeline

Info

Publication number: WO2011141220A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/054676
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Kautz; Jochen SCHÄFER
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2010-05-10
Filing date: 2011-03-28
Publication date: 2011-11-17
Also published as: DE102010028803A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the self-sufficient supply of energy to measuring stations for monitoring pipelines, said arrangement comprising a pipe section (1) of a pipeline through which a fluid (2) can flow and which has an opening (7). At least one expansion device (3) which generates mechanical energy from the expanding fluid (2) is disposed in the opening (7). The invention further relates to a pipeline for transporting natural gas or oil in which the arrangement of the invention is disposed at predetermined recurring intervals.

Description

description

Arrangement and method for self-sufficient power supply of monitoring stations for pipeline monitoring and use of the arrangement in a pipeline

The present invention relates to an arrangement and a method for self-sufficient energy supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring, with a pipe section of a pipeline, which is traversed by a fluid and having an opening. Furthermore, of the products contained ^¬ constricting invention relates to a pipeline for the transport of gas or oil, wherein at predetermined repeating intervals, the inventive arrangement is provided.

Pipelines for natural gas or oil often lead through uninhabited, climatically extreme terrain. To monitor a pipeline, monitoring, measuring or monitoring stations are installed at regular intervals, eg every few kilometers. These stations require electrical energy, eg for sensors and data transmission. A typical value of electrical power needed for such a station is 5kW. A reliable power supply in inaccessible areas is a major challenge is generating high costs and is often to ensure only high on ^¬ wall.

Usually, small gas engines are operated with generators for power supply in the stations. Alternatively, diesel engines can be used instead of gas. The Moto ^¬ ren with generators need to be redundant because of the security of supply. This increases the costs and leads to a high space consumption and maintenance. Relatively short maintenance intervals additionally increase the maintenance and maintenance costs.

Object of the present invention is therefore an arrangement and a method for autonomous power supply of Specify pipelined monitoring stations that function reliably, require low maintenance, and generate low costs. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pipeline for the transport of gas or oil, which can be reliably monitored with the aid of which it ^¬ inventive arrangement and the inventive method and / or regulated or controlled, with little effort and at low cost. The stated object is with respect to the arrangement for au ^¬ strong energy supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring with the features of claim 1, with respect to the method for self-sufficient energy supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring with the features of claim 11 and with respect to the pipeline for transporting gas or Oil with the features of claim 14 solved.

Advantageous embodiments of the arrangement for self-sufficient energy supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring, the method for self-sufficient energy supply of monitoring stations for pipeline monitoring and the pipeline for the transport of gas or oil will be apparent from the respectively associated dependent claims. The features of the main claims can be com ^¬ bined with each other and with features of the dependent claims and features of the dependent claims with each other.

The inventive arrangement for self-sufficient energy supply of stations for the pipeline monitoring comprises a pipe section of a pipeline, and which is a fluid can flow through ^¬ having an opening. At least one expansion device is arranged at the opening, which is in fluidic contact with the one pipe section. The arrangement provides a reliable power supply to pipeline monitoring stations, which operates autonomously in remote regions and does not require a high level of maintenance. This reduces costs compared to knew power supplies, which either in densely populated areas requires a grid connection to the energy networks, or is complicated and maintenance-intensive with gas or diesel engines. The energy is provided as mechanical energy of the fluid flow (gas or oil) at high pressure, and converted by the expansion device into mechanical rotational or thrust energy during expansion, ie, reducing the pressure by volume increase. The me ^¬ chanic energy can eg be delivered to a generator, which generates electrical energy. The mechanical or electrical energy can be used to operate monitoring stations for pipeline monitoring. An additional supply of energy by gas or oil from tanks, which must be filled by hand, for example, or by fresh networks is no longer necessary. The energy is taken directly from the fluid flow that is transported in the pipeline at high pressure and mechanical energy is generated by expansion of the fluid. The expansion device may include a turbine, in particular an axial and / or radial turbine, and / or a Kolbenmo ^¬ gate. In the case of the piston engine, the engine is not driven by combustion in its engine chambers, but by the expansion of the fluid or reaction products of the fluid, which are generated outside of the piston engine. The mechanical energy, which is stored in the high pressure of the fluid in the pipeline, can be used by the turbine or the piston engine with expansion of the fluid directly in rotation ^¬ energy, in particular for driving a generator.

The expansion device may have an outlet on which an afterburner is arranged. Thereby, e.g. Natural gas to be converted into carbon dioxide, the latter being less harmful to the climate.

The afterburner can convert a flame burner, a pore burner, a FLOX burner and / or a catalytic burner. believe it. All other types of burners are also suitable.

The expansion device may have an inlet, in fluidic contact with the one pipe section, wherein between ^¬ input and opening a combustion chamber may be arranged. By arranging the combustion chamber upstream of the expansion device, the enthalpy of the fluid, which serves as internal ^¬ material may be used to drive the expansion device. By combustion of the fluid, an additional pressure increase or volume increase is generated, which uses the Ent ^¬ voltage device, for example in a turbine for generating rotational energy. The arrangement may include a device for generating a

Support flame to ensure security of supply ^¬ capture. Thus, in the case of a flame break, the flame, for example, of the burner can be ignited again. The arrangement may comprise at least one generator, in particular in mechanical connection with the expansion device for generating electrical energy from the mechanical energy of the expansion device. The electrical energy can also be used for self-sufficient energy supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring and also for the transmission of data from the measuring stations, for example by radio to a central monitoring station.

There may be provided a shaft and / or a linkage and / or a rope and / or a belt and / or a gear, designed to transmit mechanical rotational energy from the expansion device to the at least one generator. Thus, the mechanical energy, in particular Rota ^¬ tion energy generated in the expansion device, transmitted to the generator and used to generate electrical energy. The arrangement may comprise a controller or a controller for adapting the power which can be taken from the at least one generator to demand values. Thereby, a more ^energy-¬ cient arrangement be provided which removes only as much energy to the fluid of the pipeline, as is necessary for the Messein ^¬ direction.

The fluid may be natural gas or petroleum, or the fluid may include natural gas and / or petroleum. Other fluids are conceivable.

The inventive method for autonomous power supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring, in particular using a previously described arrangement, comprises the passage of a pipe section of a pipeline from a fluid. A portion of the fluid is supplied via an opening in the pipe section of a relaxation device, in which the part of the fluid is expanded. In this case, mechanical ^¬ African energy is generated, which for example can be converted into electrical energy.

The mechanical energy of the expansion device can be supplied to at least one generator, in which the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. The electrical current and / or voltage of the electric we ^¬ nigstens a generator can be used for operating at least a power supply of stations for the pipeline monitoring. In the expansion device, a pure relaxation of the fluid can take place without combustion. In an afterburner combustion of the fluid can take place, for example, to release less harmful gases to the environment. In a combustion chamber, a combustion of the fluid can take place and the fuel enthalpy may be used in the for drinks ^¬ drying apparatus for generating mechanical energy, in particular in a micro-gas turbine. A pipeline according to the invention for transporting gas or oil comprises a previously described arrangement repeated at predetermined intervals, in particular at intervals of 10 km and / or redundantly.

With the method of self-sufficient power supply of monitoring stations for pipeline monitoring and with the pipeline for the transport of gas or oil, i. Petroleum, associated benefits are analogous to the advantages previously described with respect to the autogenous power supply arrangement for pipeline monitoring stations.

Preferred embodiments of the invention with advantageous developments according to the features of the dependent claims are explained in more detail with reference to the figures, but without being limited thereto.

It is shown in the figures:

1 is a schematic sectional view of the inventive arrangement of a relaxation device 3 at an opening 7 of a pipe section 1 of a pipeline with an afterburner 5, and in

Fig. 2 shows the illustrated in Fig. 1 of the invention Anord ^¬ voltage, with a combustion chamber 5 prior to the expansion device 3 instead of an afterburner 4. In FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the inventive arrangement. A pipeline is made up of a series of, for example, welded together pipes. The pipes can be made of plastic or steel. In Fig. 1 is a section along a longitudinal axis of a pipe or a pipe section 1 Darge ^¬ represents. As a rule, tubes are hollow cylindrical. If the pipeline through which a fluid 2, as given, for example, by a gas or oil, the fluid 2 flows generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of Rohrabschnit ^¬ tes 1. In Fig. 1 the flow direction of the fluid 2 by an arrow is shown.

In the fluid flow 2, mechanical energy in the form of a high pressure of the fluid 2 is stored. The fluid is typically pumped into pumping stations along the pipeline to be moved across the pipeline in the longitudinal direction via pressure differentials in the pipeline and to compensate for friction losses of the fluid 2 with the wall of the pipeline pipe.

In order to be able to measure quantities such as pressure, flow velocity or gas composition of the fluid 2 in the pipeline at regular intervals, pipeline monitoring stations are installed along the pipeline. These usually contain a number of sensors, for. B. to be able to control the fluid flow online. Sun can be found among other things, whether there is a leak in the pipeline is or the fluid 2 flows too slowly and the pump Leis ^¬ processing must be increased. An arrangement according to the invention is designed to supply energy to a measuring station even in remote areas. Thus, mechanical energy, power and / or voltage can be provided, for example, to supply sensors with energy and to transmit their data to a control device by radio.

For this purpose, a relaxation device 3 is arranged on a pipe section 1 of a pipeline, as shown in FIG. 1. In the pipe section 1, which consists in the Re ^¬ gel of a hollow cylindrical tube, an opening 7 is formed in the wall of the tube. The opening 7 may be circular, but other shapes are possible. At the opening 7 is attached or arranged directly or via a fluid-tight ^¬ introduced pipe, a relaxation device 3. The expansion device 3 may be a turbine or a piston engine. A fluid, such as natural gas or petroleum, which is pumped or flows through the pipe section 1 at high pressure, can escape to a small extent through the opening 7 and the expansion device 3 are supplied. That is, it flows under high pressure from the interior of the pipe section 1 in the expansion device 3 and is relaxed there. It expands in the expansion device 3 and thereby performs work, ie drives, for example, a turbine or a piston ^¬ motor. In this case, the pressure difference between the inner region of the pipe section 1 and the environment (outside of the

Pipe section 1) used to generate mechanical energy by Ent ^¬ voltage of the fluid in the expansion device 3 or win. In order to reduce harmful environmental influences by the pipeline entwei ^¬ sponding fluid 2, it can be burned in an afterburner 4, wherein the expansion device is disposed at the output 9. Thus, for example natural gas, which is ^air-¬ harmful than carbon dioxide, are converted into carbon dioxide by the combustion.

The expanded fluid 2 can then be released to the environment, either directly from the expansion device 3 or via the afterburner 4 into more environmentally friendly fluid.

In Fig. 2, an alternative embodiment is Darge ^¬ represents. Instead of performing a combustion of the fluid in an afterburner 4, as shown in Fig. 1, the fluid is burned in a combustion chamber 5. The combustion chamber 5 is arranged between the opening 7 in the pipe 1 of the pipeline and the expansion device 3. A portion of the fluid 2 from the pipeline escapes at high pressure the pipe section 1 via the Öff ^¬ tion 7 and by the combustion in the combustion chamber 5, the pressure can be further increased. The fluid 2 with a further increased pressure is fed to the expansion device 3 and can, by the expansion, ie expansion under pressure decrease, generate mechanical energy in the expansion device 3. witness, as previously described in the embodiment. Thereafter, the fluid 2 is released to the environment. By combustion, for example, is converted to a climate-damaging natural gas in a climate-friendly ^¬ Licheres carbon dioxide, and during the combustion in the form of pressure increase generated (by converting a gas smaller in a gas with a greater volume per molar) energy may be in the expansion device 3 be used in addition to the generation of mechanical, eg rotational energy.

A simplicity in the figures not shown generator, the mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy Ener ^¬, which for example is used in the form of current and / or voltage for operating a measuring station for monitoring Pipelineüberwa-. Instead of or in addition to a measuring station, other devices can also be operated, such as radio stations for the transmission of data.

Further combinations and additions of the embodiments shown in the figures are also possible. As Flu ^¬ id 2 for transport in the pipeline, a number of substances such as gas, oil, water, but also for example carbon dioxide can be used. In the case of, for example, water or Kohlendi ^¬ oxide as a fluid, the expansion apparatus 3 without combustion chamber 5 or to use the afterburner 4, that is the arrangement according to the invention comprises in this case only the Rohrab ^¬ section 1 of the pipeline, the opening 7 and the relaxation ^¬ Device 3, without combustion chamber 5 or afterburner 4. The pipe section 1 may be made of a variety of materials, such as plastic coated steel sheet or pure plastic. Between pipe section 1 and expansion device 3 and at the outlet 9 of the expansion device 3 valves can be arranged. These can be used to control or control the fluid flow taken from the pipeline or pipe section 1. Before and / or behind the combustion chamber 5 or the afterburner 4 valves can also be arranged for control or Control of eg combustion processes. Further, not shown for simplicity or described stan ^¬ dard provided on pipelines existing devices or to Bren ^¬ partners and turbines or piston engines devices can also be construed environmentally of the inventive arrangement.

Claims

claims

1. Arrangement for autonomous power supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring, comprising a pipe section (1) of a pipeline, which can be traversed by a fluid (2) and has an opening (7), characterized in that at the opening (7) at least one expansion device (3) is arranged in fluidic contact with the one tube ^¬ section (1).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the expansion device (3) comprises a turbine, in particular an axial and / or radial turbine, and / or a piston engine.

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the expansion device (3) has an input (8), in fluidic contact with a pipe section (1), and an output ^¬ gang (9), wherein at the output (9) a Afterburner (4) is arranged.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the afterburner (4) comprises a flame burner, a pore burner, a FLOX burner and / or a catalytic burner.

5. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the expansion device (3) has an input (8), in fluidic contact with the one pipe section (1), and an output (9), wherein between the input (8) and Opening (7) a combustion chamber (5) is arranged.

6. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a device for the generation of a support flame to ensure security of supply.

7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arrangement comprises at least one generator, in particular in mechanical connection with the Ent ^¬ voltage device (3) for generating electrical energy from the mechanical energy of the expansion device (3).

8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that a shaft and / or a rod and / or a rope and / or a belt and / or a transmission are provided, adapted for the transmission of mechanical rotational energy from the expansion device (3) on the at least one generator.

9. Arrangement according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a control or a Re ^¬ gelation for adapting the at least one generator removable power to demand values.

10. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid (2) consists of natural gas or petroleum or that the fluid (2) includes natural gas and / or petroleum.

11. A method for autonomous power supply of measuring stations for pipeline monitoring, in particular using an arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a pipe section (1) of a Pipe ^¬ line is traversed by a fluid (2) and a part of Fluid (2) via an opening (7) in the pipe section (1) of a relaxation device (3) is supplied, in which the part of the fluid (2) is expanded, whereby mechanical energy is generated.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the mechanical energy of the expansion device (3) we ^¬ least one generator is supplied, in which the me ^¬ chanische energy is converted into electrical energy, and in particular, the electrical current and / or the electric voltage of the at least one generator for the operation is little ^¬ least a power supply of stations used for the pipeline monitoring.

13. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that in the expansion device (3) a pure relaxation of the fluid (2) takes place without combustion and / or in an afterburner (5) combustion of the fluid takes place, or that in a combustion chamber (5) combustion of the fluid (2) takes place and the fuel enthalpy is used in the expansion device (3) for generating mechanical energy, in particular in a micro gas turbine.

14. pipeline for transport of gas or oil, characterized in that the pipeline repeated at ^¬ claims 1 to 11 at predetermined intervals, comprising a redundant array according to one of the special ^¬ 10 km intervals and / or.