MEG Improvement

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Cadent Gas

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 June 2012

01 February 2013

14 months

£103,946

Technical Consultancy

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Cadent Gas

The aim of this project is to assess the practical and financial feasibility of the technology offered by TTP to significantly improve the effectiveness of the current Gas Conditioning process. Output report from the feasibility study that prove the technology as suitable and cost effective for use on the gas distribution network. Clear statement of future work aims, success criteria and desired outcomes.

The introduction of dry natural gas in the 1970s caused the yarn in these joints to dry out, creating leakage paths. For many years National Grid has replaced the lost moisture by operating gas conditioning plant, which injects mono-ethylene-glycol (MEG) into the gas stream at selected system source points chosen because of high levels of lead yarn joints downstream. The MEG is adsorbed by the yarn causing it to re-swell and re-seal the leak path. Existing gas conditioning equipment is very old and supplier support for spare parts is increasingly difficult. In addition, the existing technology is difficult to control since the flow of MEG into the system is not matched to demand and the consistency of the fog in terms of drop size means the distance the fog can go in the system is limited. National Grid operates 33000Km of cast and spun iron mains throughout its UK Low Pressure distribution networks. Approximately 8000Km of this iron main material was constructed using lead & yarn joints. The number of active MEG units is over 300, with approx 60% extra planned to still be commissioned by 2021. This project will provide an opportunity for National Grid to develop an alternative to the Norgren heads and vaporiser unit control panels, both of which are currently not in production. This project will assess the practical and financial feasibility of the technology offered by TTP to improve the effectiveness of the current Gas Conditioning process. This will be conducted via a feasibility study, to demonstrate the capacity to spray MEG in a form that could be adopted for use in the gas distribution system. We are currently only committed to Stage 1 of the project as this is a knowledge gaining exercise to determine whether application of the technology is suitable.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

10/09/18