Assessment of interrelation between specific consumption of fuel gas and gas temperature at the process compressor inlet in operational conditions
The article describes the results obtained from examination of gas pumping units operation under the conditions of seasonal fluctuations in gas consumption and temperature modes. On the basis of the data processed and obtained from daily operational sheets of the units and gas dynamic characteristics of process compressors it is shown that seasonal fluctuations in ambient temperature are accompanied by similar changes in gas temperature at the process compressor inlet, and specific consumption of fuel gas decreases in proportion to reduction of gas temperature at the process compressor inlet. The examination results confirmed the conclusions of theoretical researches stating that by reducing gas temperature at the process compressor inlet, decrease in specific fuel gas consumption per unit of pumped gas can be achieved, i.e. the efficiency of the gas pumping unit operation can be enhanced.