Compressor stations are a necessary part of long-distance gas transmission pipeline projects. Efficient use of fuel and monitoring of machinery health are key to minimising costs and preventing unplanned downtime. Standard service intervals and calculated power values are not the complete solution to pipeline asset management.
For a recent pipeline carrying gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe, several compressor stations were required, powered by 30MW Gas Turbines.
The performance of these stations required single point remote monitoring to determine efficient operation and highlight in advance any maintenance issues. The Torquetronic Continuous Duty Torquemeter was installed to provide accurate shaft horsepower data and trending, to maximize gas flowing to paying customers, and minimise gas used to fuel the compressors. The ability of the Torquetronic system to provide values accurate to +/-1%, immediately identifies changes in system performance allowing remote operators to make smart decisions on compressor/turbine maintenance.
Key features of the installations include;
