Natural gas reliquefaction-storage-sendout system using mixed alcohol as refrigerant system de reliquefaction; de stockage et d'expedition de gaz naturel en utilisant un alcool mixte en tant que refricgerant System de reliquefaction, de stockage et d

摘要

Gas demand varies tremendously over the course of a day in Japan. Conventional spherical gas holders have been installed in gas consuming areas in order toease the strain on gas production and supply volumes during peak hurs of gas demand. These holders receive gas at night, and release gas during peak hours to flatten out production and supply equipments. A natural gas reliquefaction-storage-sendout system is a facility that functions very much like a gas holder in reducing peaks during the day. Conventional peak-shaving facilities that handle seasonal variations use either refrigerating facilities to liquefy the natural gas, or gas to fuel the process of vaporizing liquefied natural gas, whereas the present system combines mixed alcohol as a refrigerant with cold energy storage (CES) technology that greatly reduces the amount of power required for liquefaction and vaporization. CES technology is used to store LNG cold energy in a refrigerant, and the extract stored cold energy as required. In the process of developing CES technology, Osaka Gas first concentrated on understanding the basic characteristics of refrigerants, and then implemented various bench tests that were eventually followed by demosntration tests at pilot plant. Adopting this system enables larger gas storage capacities and higher gas sendout pressure than conventional gas holders.