Binary Cycle Gas Fired Turbine for Gas Compression Service

Three years ago a survey was made of the various prime movers available to the pipeline industry for gas compression. This survey included gas turbines and two and four-cycle reciprocating gas engines. The purpose of this study was to determine which of the existing equipments would be most economical and whether or not there was a need for the development of additional equipment. As a result of this economic study, it appeared there was a definite requirement in the industry for a high-speed, low-cost, gas turbine-centrifugal compressor unit for both field and main-line-station gas compression. As a result of the studies two gas-turbine-driven centrifugal compressor units were placed in operation early in 1960 at Cypress Station near Houston, waste-heat recovery systems being installed in the summer of 1961. Performance tests were satisfactory and subsequently six small gas-engine-driven compressor units have been installed at two main-line compressor stations.