Northeast Energy Center (NEC) and Chart Energy & Chemicals select Siemens Energy to supply a gas/electric hybrid drive system for NEC’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant being built in Charlton, Mass., according to Siemens. The NEC project reportedly will be the first LNG facility in the world to feature a system of this type, which Siemens says increases efficiency no matter the weather or temperature. Siemens Energy will serve as the single-source supplier of the integrated drive, providing all rotating equipment and associated control systems.
The hybrid drive system will combine a Siemens Energy low-emissions industrial gas turbine, integrally geared compressor and electric motor-generator to ensure stable and efficient operation of the plant’s main refrigeration/liquefaction train throughout the year while reducing emissions, reducing costs and increasing efficiency, according to the company.
Available power from gas turbines decreases as the ambient temperature increases. As a result, units installed at industrial facilities are often oversized to ensure sufficient power during the hot and humid weather, says Siemens. However, the same gas turbine may generate much more power during cold time than is required, leading to reduced efficiency and increased emissions. The hybrid drive refrigeration compressor system offers a solution by combining an electric motor-generator with a gas turbine that features a dry-low emissions (DLE) design with lowest achievable NOx emissions levels. The same system allows reduces the need to purchase power from the grid, while allowing the sale of power back to the utility.
The gas turbine’s output will decrease when LNG production increases to 250,000 gallons per day on hot summer days when the motor-generator will function as a motor to supply additional power to the compression system. The NEC facility is expected to produce a baseload of 170,000 gallons of LNG per day for Boston Gas under a firm contract and up to 250,000 gallons per day to other utilities, according to Siemens Energy.
Read the press release at: www.siemens.com
