MEG Improvement Phase 2C

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 May 2014

01 September 2014

4 months

£48,400

Technical Consultancy

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Cadent Gas

The overall aim of the MEG Improvement initiative is to design, develop, manufacture, install and commission a TouchSpray MEG Fogging system for use on the National Grid Gas Distribution network, in order to achieve a major improvement in MEG saturation levels across the network. The objective of this project, under Phase 2C, is to enhance the TTP air based facility built as part of Phase 2B ahead of droplet size testing occurring. The success of this project will be learning regarding the analysis and development of deployment methods to optimize MEG saturation to take forward into the TouchSpray MEG Fogger trial. This information will inform the overall initiative of improving MEG saturation levels across the gas distribution network.

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 focus on developing equipment to the prototype stage and understanding the droplet dynamics in the pipe flow. Within the scope of this work is the construction of a TTP test capability.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

10/09/18