Energy, Exergy, Economic an‎d Environmental Analysis of Screw Expan‎der in Natural Gas Pressure Reduction Station

9/21/2025 12:00:00 AM

In this research, the performance of a twin-screw expan‎der in a natural gas pressure reduction station was investigated through a comprehensive energy, exergy, economic, an‎d environmental analysis. In the first step, a one-dimensional model of the expan‎der was developed in GT-SUITE software based on the geometry of a reference machine. The validation results confirmed the model’s high accuracy in predicting the actual behavior of the expan‎der. Subsequently, real operational data from the Vostochnaya pressure reduction station in Russia (including pressure, temperature, an‎d flow rate over two different periods) were applied to the model, an‎d the recoverable power output an‎d annual energy generation of the expan‎der were calculated. The findings revealed that the annual electricity generation of the expan‎der is 3,855,945 kWh, which corresponds to a continuous average power of approximately 440 kW. This indicates the significant capability of the expan‎der to recover the wasted energy associated with natural gas pressure dro‎p-in city gate stations. Moreover, the exergetic efficiency of the system was estimated at 81.8%, demonstrating the high effectiveness of the process in converting available energy into useful work under real operating conditions. From an economic perspective, the internal rate of return (IRR) of the project was calculated to be 26.5%, with a payback period of approximately 4.6 years. These results confirm that the utilization of the expan‎der is not only technically feasible but also economically attractive, offering long-term profitability. In terms of environmental performance, the application of the twin-screw expan‎der was found to prevent the annual emission of nearly 1,731 tons of CO₂. Such a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions contributes directly to mitigating climate change impacts an‎d supports global strategies for lowering carbon intensity in the energy sector. Overall, the outcomes of this study demonstrate that integrating a twin-screw expan‎der into natural gas pressure reduction stations provides a multidimensional solution—enhancing energy efficiency, reducing exergy destruction, improving economic indices, an‎d decreasing environmental burdens. Therefore, this technology can be considered a practical an‎d scalable approach for sustainable development in natural gas transmission networks.

اكسپندر پيچشي , ايستگاه تقليل فشار گاز طبيعي , تحليل اگزرژي , تحليل اقتصادي , انرژي بازيافتي

screw expander , natural gas pressure reduction station , exergy analysis , economic assessment , energy recovery

Hassan Gholizadeh Zavieh

Mahdi Moghimi