NATURAL GAS LETDOWN GENERATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD
Provided herein are systems and methods for utilizing a natural gas letdown generator at a natural gas regulating station. The system utilizes the gas letdown generator to generate electricity by converting high pressure inlet gas to low pressure outlet gas, which in turn creates low temperature outlet gas. Electricity generated can power a data center. Heat may be transferred, using a heat exchanger, from dielectric fluid of the data center to the natural gas prior to entering the gas letdown generator. Heat may be further transferred, using a second heat exchanger, from the dielectric fluid to the natural gas at the output of the gas letdown generator. The heat exchange may substantially cool the dielectric fluid for transmission to the data center and may heat the low temperature outlet gas for transmission to an end user.
1 . A natural gas system, comprising:
a letdown generator comprising an inlet configured to accept a supply of natural gas, the natural gas entering the inlet at a first temperature and a first pressure, and an outlet configured to output the natural gas from the letdown generator at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein the letdown generator is configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas and generate electricity;
a first heat exchanger located upstream of the letdown generator, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a remote system to the natural gas before the natural gas enters the inlet of the letdown generator; and
a second heat exchanger located downstream of the letdown generator, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the remote system to the natural gas after the natural gas exits the output of the letdown generator, and
wherein at least one electrical component of the remote system is powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator.
2 . The natural gas system of claim 1 , wherein the natural gas system is configured to heat the natural gas above a pre-determined temperature setpoint.
3 . The natural gas system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an electric heater configured to provide heat to the natural gas via the first heat exchanger, wherein the electric heater is powered by the electricity generated by the letdown generator.
4 . The natural gas system of claim 3 , further comprising a coolant loop filled with a coolant, the coolant loop configured to circulate the coolant between the electric heater and at least one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.
5 . The natural gas system of claim 1 , wherein the remote system is a data center comprising at least one electrical component that consumes electricity and/or produces heat.
6 . The natural gas system of claim 5 , wherein the data center is an immersion data center, comprising a body filled with a dielectric fluid, wherein the at least one electrical component is immersed at least partially in a dielectric fluid and the immersion data center is powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator.
7 . The natural gas system of claim 5 , wherein an amount of power generated from the letdown generator is greater than a power consumption of the data center thereby creating a surplus of power, the system configured to send the surplus of power to the electric heater such that the surplus of power is converted to heat.
8 . The natural gas system of claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises a coolant loop filled with a coolant, the coolant loop configured to circulate the coolant between the data center and the first heat exchanger.
9 . The natural gas system of claim 8 , further comprising a third heat exchanger located at the data center, the third heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the dielectric fluid of the data center to the coolant.
10 . The natural gas system of claim 9 , further comprising an electric heater configured to provide heat to the natural gas via the first heat exchanger, wherein the electric heater is powered by the electricity generated by the letdown generator, and wherein the electric heater is in fluid connection with the coolant loop and is located between the first heat exchanger and the data center.
11 . The natural gas system of claim 10 , wherein the natural gas is heated entirely by either heating provided by the data center or the electric heater.
12 . A method of controlling a natural gas letdown station, the natural gas letdown station comprising:
a letdown generator comprising an inlet configured to accept a supply of natural gas, the natural gas entering the inlet at a first temperature and a first pressure, and an outlet configured to output the natural gas from the letdown generator at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein the letdown generator is configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas and generate electricity;
a first heat exchanger located upstream of the letdown generator, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a remote system to the natural gas before the natural gas enters the inlet of the letdown generator; and
a second heat exchanger located downstream of the letdown generator, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the remote system to the natural gas after the natural gas exits the output of the letdown generator, wherein at least one electrical component of the remote system is powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator; and
wherein the method comprises:
monitoring a temperature of the natural gas that is exiting the outlet of the letdown generator;
determining that the temperature of the natural gas is below a pre-determined temperature setpoint; and
upon making the determination that the natural gas is below the pre-determined temperature setpoint, providing additional heat to the natural gas via the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the natural gas letdown station further comprises an electric heater configured to provide heat to the natural gas via the first heat exchanger, wherein the electric heater is powered by the electricity generated by the letdown generator.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
upon making the determination that the natural gas is below the pre-determined temperature setpoint, directing an increased amount of electricity from the letdown generator to the electric heater to provide additional heat to the natural gas.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining that the first heat exchanger is operating at maximum capacity;
determining that the electric heater is operating at maximum capacity; and
upon making the determination that the natural gas is below the pre-determined temperature setpoint and that the first heat exchanger and the electric heater are operating at maximum capacity, activating a gas-fired heater to provide additional heat to the natural gas.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining that the temperature of the natural gas is above the pre-determined temperature setpoint; and
upon making the determination that the natural gas is above the pre-determined temperature setpoint, deactivating the gas-fired heater.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining that the gas-fired heater is de-activated and that the temperature of the natural gas is above the pre-determined temperature setpoint; and
upon making the determination that the gas-fired heater is de-activated and the natural gas is above the pre-determined temperature setpoint, reducing power to the electric heater and re-directing power to earth ground.
18 . A natural gas system, comprising:
a letdown generator configured to accept a supply of natural gas, the natural gas entering the letdown generator at a first temperature and a first pressure, and exiting the letdown generator at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein the letdown generator is configured to reduce the pressure of the natural gas and generate electricity;
a first heat exchanger located upstream of the letdown generator, the first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from a remote system to the natural gas before entering the letdown generator;
and a second heat exchanger located downstream of the letdown generator, the second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the remote system to the natural gas after the natural gas exits the letdown generator, and
wherein at least one electrical component of the remote system is powered by electricity generated by the letdown generator.
19 . The natural gas system of claim 18 , wherein the remote system is a data center comprising at least one electrical component that consumes electricity and/or produces heat.
20 . The natural gas system of claim 19 , further comprising:
an electric heater configured to provide heat to the natural gas via the first heat exchanger, wherein the electric heater is powered by the electricity generated by the letdown generator.