Experimental and simulation investigation of pulsed heat pipes in gas compressors

In natural gas pressure boosting stations, air coolers are used to reduce the gas temperature. Pressure drop as an essential factor in determining the energy performance of any pressure boosting station has a significant impact on the overall performance of the gas transmission. In this paper, a laboratory pilot is designed to investigate the effect of pressure drop reduction on the use of heating pipes at the air coolers. In addition, as a case for a gas pressure boosting station, its impact over energy performance index and pressure drop parameter has been calculated through simulating. The results show, implemented PHP tubes in an air cooler, lead to reduce tube length and improve pressure drop, 44.59, 40.4, 36.78, 23.34% in four gas flow rate. Also, this approach decreased fuel gas consumption more than 1,114,000 Sm3 and 3,889,440 kWh electrical consumption in air coolers, annually. Beside, investigation of energy performance indicators reveals that this approach might improve the total energy performance, thermal performance and electrical energy performance indices up to 3, 2.3 and 79%, respectively. Keywords: pressure drop; heating pipes; gas pressure boosting station; air cooler; energy performance index