41646_2004GMCFinal-Paper-Enhancing-Operation-of-the-Existing.pdf

ENHANCING OPERATION OF THE EXISTING NATURAL GAS COMPRESSION INFRASTRUCTURE – PHASE I 2004 GMRC Gas Machinery Conference – October 4-6, 2004 – Albuquerque, New Mexico By: Ralph E. Harris, Ph.D. Gary D. Bourn Anthony J. Smalley, Ph.D. Southwest Research Institute® ABSTRACT This paper presents results from the first phase of an investigation into methods to enhance operation of integral engine compressors in gas transmission service. The project is funded by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) as part of their Natural Gas Infrastructure Reliability Program, with co-funding from the Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC) and PRC International (PRCI). A number of technologies and methods have been evaluated and compared with baseline data, including global air fuel ratio control, knock detection for timing control, oil temperature control, high pressure fuel injection, automated combustion balancing, rod load monitoring, and new procedures for combustion balancing in automated or manual systems.