Main Applications

A unique proprietary solution for fueling

gas turbines Transportation Pipeline / Gas Gathering
GE’s FuelEx is a new skid designed to Lean Fuel Gas Raw Gas
separate heavier hydrocarbons (NGLs) from
fuel gas in turbocompressor applications. On/Off Shore Upstream Plants
This separation makes available a stream of
clean gas for fueling the power turbine while
Compressor Reinjection Plants
the separated NGLs are returned to the RECOVERY
pipeline or to a storage facility. SKID
The FuelEx system recovers NGLs by Gas Turbine
Gas-Oil Separation Plants
controlling the dew point, causing the NGLs
Raw Gas
to condense from the gaseous phase.
As an example, with the use of FuelEx in a
typical gas pipeline with a rich gas fuel
containing 8-10% of NGL, an additional 500- NLG Raw Gas In cases where the gas is too rich to be used as a fuel, FuelEx can separate
700 kg per hour of NGLs could be recovered C2 and higher hydrocarbons to deliver a pure methane gas turbine fuel, while
for each 25MW gas turbine along the reducing CO2 emissions.
pipeline. The skid is particular applicable for any gas turbine with a DLN/DLE
combustor because they are generally are very sensitive to C2+.

Case Study
Leveraging GE EC series turboexpanders and PGT25 - Gas consumption and NGL recovery
BCL compressor technology
The table shows the rich gas stream prior to NGL recovery compared to the lean
The NGL recovery will be obtained through a gas after processing with FuelEx. The additional NGL retrieved is monetized and
simple Low Temperature Separation system (LTS) immediately available for sale or use.
with a GE Turboexpander specifically equipped
with active magnetic bearing (AMB) to avoid any
oil contamination in the produced clean gas (fuel).
1. The incoming raw gas at high pressure flows
Gas turbine fuel composition
through a heat exchange section where it is 5
cooled.
2. The cooled gas then flows to a GE expander
Heat Exchanger Without NGL Recovery With NGL Recovery
where the pressure is reduced, further cooling
the gas to below the dew point of the NGLs.
Dehydration Gas (kg/h) Gas (kg/h) Total NGL Recovery
3. The gas and condensate mixture leaves the Unit 1
(Optional)
turboexpander and flows to the separator Nitrogen 45 Nitrogen 45
vessel. 2 Turboexpander Gas (kg/h)
CO2 75 CO2 75
4. The separated (cold) NGLs are pumped back to Vessel
Methane 3,250 Methane 3,900 Ethane 275
3
the injection point, passing through a heat Ethane 435 Ethane 160 Propane 251
exchanger to chill the inlet raw gas.
Heat Exchanger 4 NGL Reciprocating Pump Propane 270 Propane 19 n-Butane 74
(Optional)
5. The NGL-free fuel gas is reheated, simultaneously n-Butane 75 n-Butane 1 i-Butane 59
chilling the raw gas in another heat exchanger,
i-Butane 60 i-Butane 1 n-Pentane 11
and is then compressed to the desired fuel inlet
Raw Gas (with NGL) i-Pentane 12
system pressure by the compressor side driven Lean Fuel Gas (without NGL) n-Pentane 11 n-Pentane 0
NGL
by the expander (GE expander compressor). i-Pentane 12 i-Pentane 0 n-Hexane 11
Other key elements of the skid are the Dehydration n-Hexane 11 n-Hexane 0
Unit* based on molecular sieve absorption
technology and the NGL reciprocating pump*
driven by a variable speed electric motor.
* Optional and hence not included in the basic on-skid supply
 Get more from your
Gas Turbines

FuelEx™
NGL Recovery Skid designed for Gas Turbines from GE and other OEMs

ggg Increased production

ggc Higher efficiency
ggc Compliance with environmental regulations
ccc Availability and Reliability
gcc Life extension

In applications where raw natural gas is used for fueling gas turbines,
Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) are burned together with the methane and
hence, revenues from this valuable product are lost.
Furthermore, the presence of NGL in the fuel can cause hot gas path (HGP)
parts to degrade more rapidly and produces higher CO2 emissions, posing
a serious challenge to complying with upcoming environmental regulations.
Separating NGLs from fuel gas offers three key advantages:

Economical unlock NGL commercial value and generate additional

revenue streams for pipeline operators from NGL sales.

Operational extend HGP life and improve the maintenance of

gas turbines.

Environmental reduce the C02 level (up to 3%) in the gas turbine exhaust
and facilitate compliance with greenhouse gas emission
regulations.

* FuelEx is a trademark of Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.

a product of
ecomaginationSM

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GE imagination at work

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